ChangeMe  
Grape Picker
Posts: 2
 | | 02-17-2007 05:27 AM |
| I wanted to plan a Napa Valley trip for one other person and I. We've both never gone before and are pretty much amateurs about wine. I being more of the bigger amateur. I was just wondering if anyone could provide tips for me about great places to stay (hopefully hilton family hotels since i get employee discounts). And which wineries to go to. Also, pricings etc. Considering I am only 22 on a hostessing wage =( But if its worth it, I will foot the bill. I really have no idea to go about this. It'd actually be better if he planned it but this is actually a surprise gift to him. I know he very much enjoys cabernets so if that helps in anyway. Also i believe we will be arriving afternoon, and leaving evening/nighttime the next day | | |
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LC17SMP
Cypress, Ca.
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1055
| | 02-17-2007 07:29 AM |
| | Welcome to VC batgirl. There is soo much fun to be had in Napa and you will likely get tons of ideas from posters here. I will start by asking a few more questions. What are you looking for? Are you looking for an educational tour to learn more about the wine making process? Maybe a winery with great views and somewhere to picnic? Or do you just want to taste some great wine? Some wineries have all of these, some have none but depending on what you want to do there will be many options. I personally love a good tour. Well worth your time if you go to the right place. | | | LC17SMP | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts: 2
| | 02-17-2007 10:59 AM |
| thank you for welcoming me =)
well most likely no# 1 on the list is mos definently tasting. I figure we'd mostly be dining out. Views and tours sound great. My attention span is a little low though. So nothing too indepth i guess? Like maybe a quick tour paired with a lot of wine tasting. Do you know how much it costs typically to go wine tasting? | | | |
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Tim Halloran
Grape Destemmer
Posts: 50
| | 02-20-2007 03:57 AM |
| Del Dotto does one of the best casual tours for a person new to the area. They are near the Silverado Country Club. For quality wineries in Napa where you'll have no problem getting in, I suggest Miner, Silver Oak and Merryvale. While you're near Merryvale you can eat at Taylor's Refresher for lunch.
For an easy 1/2 day, Cline and Gloria Ferrer are right next to each other in Carneros and are both good places for scenery and a lot of tasting.
If you are pretty serious about wine or seeing the quiet side of wine country, you will want to spend a lot more time in Russian River (Rochioli, J, Gary Farrell, etc.)
Have Fun! | | | |
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kpak
Alaska
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3021
| | 02-20-2007 06:46 PM |
| Check out some of the classes atCOPIA.
And visit some of the larger wineries and do the tours. Mondavi has some good intro's to wine.
Have fun. | | | In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is
.ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
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whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts: 2875
| | 02-21-2007 07:24 AM |
| Batgirl,
Welcome!
My #1 suggestion would be to contact Ric Henry at Karl Lawrence.ric@karllawrence.com -- if that doesn't work I can pm you his comcast e-mail. He is a great guy and can show you around some barrel samples of Karl Lawrence stuff as well as give you lots of tastes of Sequoia Grove wines.
I would also contact John Oglesby (DJ Hombre) via PM on this site to set up a tasting at Etude. They make great Cabs as well as Pinots.
Beyond that, I thinkthis is an excellent list.
As for where to stay, I would reccomend the Best Western Elm House Inn in the city of Napa. It is NOT a typical American Best Western but is a quaint 19 or so room quasi-independant hotel that should be available for $130/night or so. Really surprisingly nice place, especially for the name and price.
Let us know what you decide and how you like it.
cheers!
whiner | | I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts: 2875
| | 02-21-2007 08:08 AM |
| | By the way, as to your question about price of wine tasting... tastings open to the public tend to vary from $10-$30/person (Del Dotto is $30/person). Private wine tastings are generally free (and usually better). | | I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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PlanoWino
Plano, TX
Grape Stomper
Posts: 181
| | 02-21-2007 04:40 PM |
| All great suggestions. I especially enjoyed visiting the amazing winery at Palmaz. Dug into the hillside and the equivalent of 18 stories of gravity flow processing. The "cave crawl" barrel tasting at Del Dotto which was mentioned earlier is unique because of the number of wines you will taste and the number and types of barrels from which these wines are drawn. It doesn't hurt to ask them for a better rate for the tour. They sometimes start as high as $40 per person depending upon their mood.
Schramsberg is a very commercial tour but it is fun going into the caves, hearing the history, and tasting several of their sparklers. You will also probably see a bottle sabered open which is fun if you haven't seen it before.
Shafer is also a great opportunity to taste some excellent wines (reservations absolutely necessary). I believe they opened a new visitor center since I was there last summer. A lot of people enjoy the Sterling visit if for no other reason than the tram ride up to the visitors' center. There are also some interesting small wineries on Spring Mountain and Diamond Mountain.
I am not a big fan of the wine train which gets a lot of hype in the area but if you have the money, a hot air balloon ride over the valley is great fun.
There are many people on the board who live and work in the area and many more, whom I swear spend more time there than they do at home. You should get a lot of great idea. Restaurants can be pricy and making reservations is advisable if you don't want to be disappointed. Likewise, for legal and other reasons, making an appointment at most wineries is also advisable.
Enjoy your trip. | | Here's to the corkscrew - a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly.
W.E.P. French | |
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LC17SMP
Cypress, Ca.
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1055
| | 02-21-2007 05:19 PM |
| | I would suggest a trip to Spring Mountain. I would certainly stop at Pride Mountain Vineyards. (www.pridewines.com) They just finished their new tasting room and the wines are always good. They have a quick tour that is pretty informative. The views from up there are very good also. Even the trip up to Pride is very cool. It would be good to try wines made by Robert Foley. (Pride) Many people love the style. They tend to have a very distinct chocolate/mocha taste. | | | LC17SMP | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 02-21-2007 10:00 PM |
| These are some great suggestions but many of these places don't have their Cabs for sale. I would go to Mondavi especially since you are a "beginner". Check out their website. They have interesting classes and tours everyday. And they have wines in several variatles and price ranges.
I would also recommend Merryvale. They also have a couple of educational wine tours but not every day. They have a class called "component tasting" that is perfect for beginners.
The Del Dotto "experience" is a "must-do" once. It is expensive. I would suggest you do Del Dotto late in the afternoon because I guarantee you will leave the place more or less plastered.
Somewhat more upscale would be the sit-down Duckhorn tasting.
All of the above "tours" have people to "explain" the different wines you will drink. They will also want to sell you something but it isn't a high-pressure sell like one usually gets just going to a tasting room with someone who maybe knows nothing about wine. It happens all the time.
Tasting rooms I recommend for beginners:
Mondavi
Merryvale
ZD
Darioush
PlumpJack
Neal
Chateau Montelena
Clos Pegase
Rombauer
V. Sattui
Cakebread
Domaine Chandon
Rubicon
These wineries know how to act with novices. Many of the more "in" wineries don't. These wineries also have wine you can buy, And they are experts in handling any shipping that you might want.
This is a short list. There are literally hundreds more up and down hiway 29 and the Silverado Trail.
Winery Map | | | |
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LC17SMP
Cypress, Ca.
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1055
| | 02-22-2007 02:25 AM |
| | Davidn's list reminded me that Cakebread was my first tasting/tour and it is well worth while and the wines will be available if you want them. | | | LC17SMP | |
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ttepper
Wine Thief
Posts: 2533
| | 02-23-2007 11:25 PM |
| Quote:
It doesn't hurt to ask them for a better rate for the tour. They sometimes start as high as $40 per person depending upon their mood.
Thats a good one...The bar tastings are $20 and the cave tour is $40...
Batgirl, send me a PM if you want to come by and if I'm in a good mood I'll give you the good mood price... | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 02-24-2007 08:58 PM |
| Quote:
Quote:
It doesn't hurt to ask them for a better rate for the tour. They sometimes start as high as $40 per person depending upon their mood.
Thats a good one...The bar tastings are $20 and the cave tour is $40...
Batgirl, send me a PM if you want to come by and if I'm in a good mood I'll give you the good mood price...
I was going to say something but out of respect for Ty I won't. Just call ahead to make sure he is there. He is definitely the one to see! | | | |
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stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5564
| | 02-25-2007 07:12 PM |
| The obvious choice for hotels, given that Batgirl wants to stay within the Hilton family, isthe Embassy Suites Napa.
I agree with everything that David said. The good news is that the Embassy Suites is well-situated for a romantic evening for the hammered post-cave tour couple.  | | | Cheers, y'all | |
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tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3264
| | 02-28-2007 01:51 AM |
| | I think Batgirl flew the cave... | | | TN posted on Cellartracker"
I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais | |
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