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Wine Trip
Posted on 11/18/20 at 8:44 am
Posted on 11/18/20 at 8:44 am
My wife and I are thinking about doing a wine trip for a long weekend next spring. I am not sure what shape Napa and Sonoma are in from the wildfires and how badly they were effected. My wife has thrown out Napa but I tend to like Oregon and Washington wines more. Is Napa superior to everything else for scenery, vineyard drinking, and restuarants?
Has anyone done something similar in Willamette or Wawa Valley?
Has anyone done something similar in Willamette or Wawa Valley?
10
Posted on 11/18/20 at 11:54 am to Saskwatch
We've been to Napa (10 years ago) and Willamette (2 years ago). Both kind of far away (not sure where you live) so a "long weekend", in my opinion, is too short.
So much to see and do around those areas besides wine, but that's another story.
Personally, I also prefer Oregon wines (Pinot Noirs for me, Pinot Grigio for my wife) to the bold Cabs of Napa, but to each his own.
I had no idea that Willamette had just as many wineries as Napa. They are all a bit more spread out though, but all the little towns have interesting B&B's, restaurants, bars, tasting rooms. I would recommend staying in McMinnville, kind of central to Willamette (and home to one of the greatest aviation museums you'll ever see--on par with the Smithsonian and home to Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose).
We always say when we go back we'll go back to Willamette.
Here's an article from an Oregon paper on how Willamette's been affected, and I'm sure Napa's similar. Hopefully better by next spring. LINK
So much to see and do around those areas besides wine, but that's another story.
Personally, I also prefer Oregon wines (Pinot Noirs for me, Pinot Grigio for my wife) to the bold Cabs of Napa, but to each his own.
I had no idea that Willamette had just as many wineries as Napa. They are all a bit more spread out though, but all the little towns have interesting B&B's, restaurants, bars, tasting rooms. I would recommend staying in McMinnville, kind of central to Willamette (and home to one of the greatest aviation museums you'll ever see--on par with the Smithsonian and home to Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose).
We always say when we go back we'll go back to Willamette.
Here's an article from an Oregon paper on how Willamette's been affected, and I'm sure Napa's similar. Hopefully better by next spring. LINK
Posted on 11/18/20 at 12:03 pm to Saskwatch
I am by no means a wine guy, but incase you're just looking for options, we used to do wine tours in Upstate New York around the Finger Lakes when my brother lived up there.
I believe it was around either Seneca or Cayuga Lake, really pretty area of the country.
I believe it was around either Seneca or Cayuga Lake, really pretty area of the country.
This post was edited on 11/18/20 at 12:04 pm
Posted on 11/18/20 at 12:43 pm to Saskwatch
Go to Wilamette. It's prettier.
Haven't been to Walla Walla.
Make a stop in Hood River for a couple days if you visit both.
Haven't been to Walla Walla.
Make a stop in Hood River for a couple days if you visit both.
Posted on 11/18/20 at 1:40 pm to Saskwatch
Try Walla Walla
Posted on 11/18/20 at 1:45 pm to Saskwatch
We have done Napa/Sonoma 5 or 6 times, and we were in McMinnville when all of the stay at home orders came down in March.
Oregon was good, however, we prefer Napa/Sonoma. It simply boils down to the availability of nice restaurants in the immediate area in the wine region that makes it a more enjoyable destination for us. The area just feels like more of a "destination" than Williamette did for us. However, some people are looking for that too.
We are headed to Napa the 2nd weekend of Dec. It will always be a great getaway for us.
Oregon was good, however, we prefer Napa/Sonoma. It simply boils down to the availability of nice restaurants in the immediate area in the wine region that makes it a more enjoyable destination for us. The area just feels like more of a "destination" than Williamette did for us. However, some people are looking for that too.
We are headed to Napa the 2nd weekend of Dec. It will always be a great getaway for us.
Posted on 11/18/20 at 1:53 pm to Saskwatch
A long weekend is really too short to get a bunch in. Healdsburg, Ca is in the heart of the Russian River Valley which is known for its Pinot Noir. Within 5 miles of town, there are tons of exceptional wineries to visit/tour.
The town itself is pretty little town with a lot to do including wine tastings right there in town and a brewery. For a long weekend, this would be my destination.
The town itself is pretty little town with a lot to do including wine tastings right there in town and a brewery. For a long weekend, this would be my destination.
Posted on 11/18/20 at 1:58 pm to CoachChappy
Thanks all. Just looking to get away for 4 or so days. As of right probably fly out. Spend two days vineyard hopping and eating then fly back on 4th day.
Posted on 11/18/20 at 2:05 pm to Saskwatch
We flew out arse early from Houston to SFO and were at a winery by 12. You can do plenty of damage if you get there early and check in after 5. Most tours/tasting stop around 5/6. Then, you can go enjoy everything a town has to offer if you still can 
If you do pick Healdsberg, post it here. I can give you several recommendations.
Posted on 11/18/20 at 2:17 pm to CoachChappy
quote:
We flew out arse early from Houston to SFO and were at a winery by 12. You can do plenty of damage if you get there early and check in after 5. Most tours/tasting stop around 5/6. Then, you can go enjoy everything a town has to offer if you still can
That sounds like the way to go
Posted on 11/23/20 at 4:04 pm to Saskwatch
I like Napa/Sonoma. Been a few times, usually tied to a work meeting with time extended before or after.
One area I liked was Calistoga where they had pools heated by underground springs. There were 3 pools at our area at 3 different temps. The hotel itself wasn't great, basically just a room. But it was nice to go to dinner and go back and chill in the pool with some wine. One pool was over 100 degrees so it was basically a giant hot tub.
I believe it's on the very north end of Napa so it's definitely not central. Nice enough little town where you could walk to many restaurants. I will say if it's your first trip and you want to hit more "famous" restaurants it's probably not the area to stay.
Our first trip there was a B&B in downtown Napa. Very easy walk to some good restaurants. On that trip we hired a driver to takes us around for two days. Nice way to spend the time with no worries about planning or drinking and driving. Told the guide what we liked and were looking for and she planned everything, including lunches.
One area I liked was Calistoga where they had pools heated by underground springs. There were 3 pools at our area at 3 different temps. The hotel itself wasn't great, basically just a room. But it was nice to go to dinner and go back and chill in the pool with some wine. One pool was over 100 degrees so it was basically a giant hot tub.
I believe it's on the very north end of Napa so it's definitely not central. Nice enough little town where you could walk to many restaurants. I will say if it's your first trip and you want to hit more "famous" restaurants it's probably not the area to stay.
Our first trip there was a B&B in downtown Napa. Very easy walk to some good restaurants. On that trip we hired a driver to takes us around for two days. Nice way to spend the time with no worries about planning or drinking and driving. Told the guide what we liked and were looking for and she planned everything, including lunches.
Posted on 11/23/20 at 4:33 pm to Saskwatch
Kind of depends on what you're looking for. I will say that Napa is probably the best first time wine destination, but it's also the most expensive. It's easy to navigate; there's winery upon winery, and lots of restaurants. I would also recommend a Platypus tour for a first timer. Plus, you can roll over to Sonoma for a day if you're feeling froggy.
As far as superiority, Napa offers the best dining experiences, hands down. Not sure that can even be reasonably debated. Scenery can be a push in Napa vs Sonoma. Willamette is pretty but not really comparable to Napa or Sonoma IMO. As many times as I've been to Napa, the view at Kuleto Estates still knocks my socks off (although their wine is just OK).
As far as drinking, it comes down to preference. It's tough to beat a Napa cab and their Sauv Blancs are good, but their Chardonnays are downright bad. Sonoma has the famous RR valley pinots, but personally, if we're talking about California pinots, I like the ones from Carneros better.
The reality is you can get just as good (and often better) wines in Oregon and Washington that are half the price of what you will pay down in Napa. Napa and Sonoma are perceived as better only because they have better marketing.
Nobody mentioned it here, but my personal favorite is the Columbia Gorge AVA on the border of OR/WA. Stay in Hood River; it's an hour from Portland and you don't have to deal with the shitty SFO/OAK traffic. Fewer people too.
As far as superiority, Napa offers the best dining experiences, hands down. Not sure that can even be reasonably debated. Scenery can be a push in Napa vs Sonoma. Willamette is pretty but not really comparable to Napa or Sonoma IMO. As many times as I've been to Napa, the view at Kuleto Estates still knocks my socks off (although their wine is just OK).
As far as drinking, it comes down to preference. It's tough to beat a Napa cab and their Sauv Blancs are good, but their Chardonnays are downright bad. Sonoma has the famous RR valley pinots, but personally, if we're talking about California pinots, I like the ones from Carneros better.
The reality is you can get just as good (and often better) wines in Oregon and Washington that are half the price of what you will pay down in Napa. Napa and Sonoma are perceived as better only because they have better marketing.
Nobody mentioned it here, but my personal favorite is the Columbia Gorge AVA on the border of OR/WA. Stay in Hood River; it's an hour from Portland and you don't have to deal with the shitty SFO/OAK traffic. Fewer people too.
Posted on 11/23/20 at 5:32 pm to Saskwatch
Missed out on a trip to Napa a couple years ago. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over it.
The wife and I have made multiple trips to Northern GA to Dahlonega and Helen.
The views and wine selections there are damn good.
The wife and I have made multiple trips to Northern GA to Dahlonega and Helen.
The views and wine selections there are damn good.
Posted on 11/26/20 at 11:40 am to Saskwatch
Depending how long you're staying, you can probably do Mendoza Argentina for the same price as a Napa Valley trip. Especially with the state of the ARS right now. We ate like kings in Buenos Aires in 2018 for $25/person and the exchange rate was 31:1 vs 81:1 now
Posted on 11/26/20 at 1:47 pm to Dave Worth
Calistoga is beautiful.
Lots of great info in this thread
Lots of great info in this thread
Posted on 11/26/20 at 1:48 pm to LSUsuperfresh
quote:
We ate like kings in Buenos Aires in 2018 for $25/person and the exchange rate was 31:1 vs 81:1 now
Posted on 11/26/20 at 6:25 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
It was 5:1 in 2013. They're starting to spiral out of control
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