Napa Valley offers more than 400 wineries to choose from for the millions of people who visit every year. With so many choices, Napa Wine Tours has created a list of 10 must see wineries on Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail. Chimney Rock Winery is set against a hillside covered with vineyards. This premier fine wine producer offers a daily tasting and a food and wine pairing. Pine Ridge Vineyards’ tasting room was recently named by The San Francisco Chronicle as one of the “Best of the Best Tasting Rooms in Napa.” Pine Ridge offers a selection of tastings, some include gourmet meats and cheeses, and others include specially prepared foods by Pine Ridge’s Chef. A tour of the estate begins in the vineyards, continues through the production facilities, and ends with a seated wine and cheese pairing in the wine caves. Robert Sinskey Vineyards’ tasting room was named Sunset magazine’s tasting room of the year. It was also featured by the Wine Spectator as a must visit winery in Napa Valley. Robert Sinskey offers daily tastings, a cave tour, and a Farm to Table Experience. The Farm to Table Experience takes guests into the vineyard garden, cellar, and caves before ending with a delicious wine and food pairing. PlumpJack Winery has earned the reputation for creating full-bodied wines that enchant the senses. Although most well-known for impeccable Cabernet Sauvignon, PlumpJack also produces other varietals including Chardonnay, Merlot, and Syrah. PlumpJack offers daily tastings. Clos Pegase, located near Calistoga, offers an unforgettable experience combining masterful wines, art, and architecture. Choose from a variety of public and private tastings and tours. Casa Nuestra Winery & Vineyards is a small, historic, family-owned winery producing award-winning, internationally acclaimed wines. Visits are scheduled by appointment only. Duckhorn Vineyards
Napa Valley offers more than 400 wineries to choose from for the millions of people who visit every year. With so many choices, Napa Wine Tours has created a list of 10 must see wineries on Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail. Chimney Rock Winery is set against a hillside covered with vineyards. This premier fine…
Someone, somewhere, a long time ago, thought of a delicious idea - the pairing of wine and cheese. For thousands of years this pairing has been satisfying the taste buds and filling the appetites of humankind. There are plenty of suggestions for pairing wine and cheese. Some suggest pairing the wine and cheese from the same region with each other such as Chianti paired with parmesian. Other suggestions include pairing tannic wines with harder cheeses, pairing creamy cheeses with more acidic wines, and salty cheeses with a sweet wine. After much delicious research, Napa Wine Tours created this simple guide for our readers featuring some of our favorite wines from Napa Valley. Napa Valley Red Wine and Cheese Pairings Napa Valley Cabernet Franc A Napa Valley Cabernet Franc will pair wonderfully with Blue cheese, Brie, and Cheddar cheese. We suggest trying a distinctive Cabernet Franc from Inglenook, or one of Jarvis Winery’s most highly demanded wines 2005 Jarvis Cabernet Franc, or the limited release 2007 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Franc. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon This varietal also pairs nicely with blue and cheddar cheeses, and with parmesian. Try any elegant Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, exceptional Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, or award-winning Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley Syrah Cheddar, parmesian, and gouda - either one of these will pair with Syrah. If you’re not already familiar with Keever Vineyards, a family-owned and operated winery, make sure to make an appointment to taste their perfectly balanced Syrah (and more!) and take a tour of their winery and wine caves. Napa Valley Malbec Up to this point, we’ve tried to suggest cheeses easily found. However, when it comes to this next cheese, it’s important to make sure to purchase an artisanal, high quality cheese. Manchego is the cheese to pair with your impeccable,
Someone, somewhere, a long time ago, thought of a delicious idea – the pairing of wine and cheese. For thousands of years this pairing has been satisfying the taste buds and filling the appetites of humankind. There are plenty of suggestions for pairing wine and cheese. Some suggest pairing the wine and cheese from the…
Persistence. Dedication. Hope. Just a few of the characteristics needed to create and sustain historic wineries in Napa Valley. Napa Wine Tours has selected a few Napa Valley historic wineries to share. Each with their own unique stories. Becoming a historic winery in Napa Valley was not easy. In the 1890’s vines were destroyed by the almost microscopic insect related to aphids, phylloxera. In 1920, Prohibition banned the production, sale, and transportation of liquids containing alcohol. Then, in 1929, the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. In the late 1980’s through the 1990’s, phylloxera hit Napa Valley again with devastating effects. These are just a few of the obstacles these historic wineries have confronted and defeated. Charles Krug Winery Charles Krug immigrated from Prussia to the United States. In 1861 he established the first commercial winery. His determination, hard work, and creative thinking inspired others and by 1889, more than 140 wineries were founded. After his death in 1892 the winery became the property of James Moffitt until 1943 when Moffitt sold Charles Krug Winery to Cesare Mondavi. Today, Charles Krug Winery continues to thrive under Peter Mondavi and his family. Beringer Vineyards Jacob Beringer left his home in Germany and arrived in New York in 1868. The lure of California and Napa Valley captured more than his attention and in 1875 he and his brother purchased the land where they would plant their first vineyard. Beringer Vineyards was founded in 1876. Since 2001 Beringer has been designated as a historic district and is in the National Register for Historic Places. Today Beringer offers a variety of tours of their extensive, historic grounds along with tastings of their impeccable wines. Freemark Abbey The first woman on record to own a winery in Napa was Josephine Tychson. In 1886,
Persistence. Dedication. Hope. Just a few of the characteristics needed to create and sustain historic wineries in Napa Valley. Napa Wine Tours has selected a few Napa Valley historic wineries to share. Each with their own unique stories. Becoming a historic winery in Napa Valley was not easy. In the 1890’s vines were destroyed by…
Interested in trying the world-renowned wines of Napa Valley but aren't able to travel to Napa? Napa Wine Tours is happy to assist with tips for hosting your own Napa Valley wine tasting party. Bring together some of your favorite people, and discover wines you haven’t tried before. Supplies You’ll need: - Napa Valley wine - one glass per guest - a pitcher of water to rinse glasses between tastings - a “dump bucket” - pen and paper for each guest to take notes - bread or crackers and water to cleanse the palate between tastings - a CD with background music You won’t need: - to decorate with scented candles or flowers Tasting Options It’s your party, try anything you want to. - Will you provide the wine or ask your guests to bring a bottle? - If your guests will bring a bottle, consider asking them to bring a certain type of wine (sparkling, white, red, port) - Maybe your wine tasting party will focus on the same type of wine produced by different wineries (for example, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon) - Consider a “blind” tasting where no one is allowed to see the type of wine and the Napa Valley winery that created it until after each wine has been tasted - Will you prepare a bite (appetizer, cheese, or chocolate) to pair with each wine or ask your guests to provide the perfect bite to pair with the wine they bring? Tips - Ask your guests to refrain from wearing cologne or perfume - Each tasting pour should be 2 ounces (1/4 cup) - Offer a maximum of 4 to 6 wines - If you have a variety of wines, start with sparkling, whites, reds, then dessert wines and ports - Start with your driest to
Interested in trying the world-renowned wines of Napa Valley but aren’t able to travel to Napa? Napa Wine Tours is happy to assist with tips for hosting your own Napa Valley wine tasting party. Bring together some of your favorite people, and discover wines you haven’t tried before. Supplies You’ll need: – Napa Valley wine…
You’ve visited several Napa Valley wineries and have collected more than a few bottles of wine. A smile brightens your face as you lift each bottle and remember each winery, each taste, and each delicious reason why you knew there was no way you were going to walk out of the tasting room without that precious bottle (or bottles!) in your hand. Suddenly the euphoria is interrupted by the question, “What can I make to go with this?” Napa Wine Tours has collected a few simple, tasty ideas to answer that question including some from renowned chefs. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon The obvious pairing is a juicy steak. But for some of us, cooking steak can be tricky. A safer bet would be a recipe we found on Epicurious.com for Napa Valley Cabernet Burgers. Highlights: You’ll coat your burgers while they grill with a Cabernet Sauvignon, shallot, butter, and brown sugar mixture. Then, the finished burger is set upon sliced focaccia that has been covered with rosemary butter. Napa Valley Chardonnay While lobster and Chardonnay rank as one of the most enjoyable food and wine pairings, I am easily intimidated by the thought of unintentionally making eye contact before lowering the lobster into the pot. This recipe for Shrimp Scampi with Linguine from Chef Tyler Florence is a fantastic option. Napa Valley Malbec Another recipe for the grill, Grilled Lamb Chops with Vegetable Kebabs Served with Couscous. This easy to make and follow recipe from Martha Stewart will have an impressive dinner served in just a little over an hour from preparation to finish. Napa Valley Merlot This heavy wine deserves a hearty meal like spaghetti with bolognese sauce. This recipe, “Wolfgang’s Hearty Beef Bolognese Sauce,” comes from Chef Wolfgang Puck. Highlight: This is the only recipe for bolognese sauce
You’ve visited several Napa Valley wineries and have collected more than a few bottles of wine. A smile brightens your face as you lift each bottle and remember each winery, each taste, and each delicious reason why you knew there was no way you were going to walk out of the tasting room without that…
This final part of a three-part series dedicated to the 16 sub-appellations of Napa Valley shares more of the characteristics of each AVA that make Napa Valley the diverse, outstanding, world-renowned resource for stellar American wines. Atlas Peak District The highest point of the peak itself sits 2,663 feet above sea level. The majority of vineyards grow on hillsides and the grapes grown in Atlas Peak find their way to wineries throughout Napa Valley. Most well-known for exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon, visitors to the Atlas Peak AVA can also find many other wines including Malbec, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Most wineries are open by appointment and some are not open to the public. Antica Napa Valley offers a tour and sit-down tasting of wines only available for purchase at the winery. Mount Veeder District Steep slopes and rugged conditions rule in this AVA where 85% of the land is covered in dense forest. The terrain demands that the majority of the work in the vineyards be performed by hand. With the longest growing season and lowest yields, the Cabernet Sauvignon from this sub-appellation is distinctly delicious. Other wines to be found in this district include Chardonnay and Syrah. Visit the Hess Collection for tastings in their Visitor Center and to explore their Art Museum. Oak Knoll District This historical district consists of wineries that have received international acclaim for a diverse collection of wines such as Merlot Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Oak Knoll wineries also produce Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Visitors to Trefethen Family Vineyards sip their critcally acclaimed wines in their historic building. Black Stallion Winery is located on a historic equestrian center. Robert Biale Vineyards offers tastings of their acclaimed Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Coombsville District Coombsville became the 16th AVA in 2011. Located only
This final part of a three-part series dedicated to the 16 sub-appellations of Napa Valley shares more of the characteristics of each AVA that make Napa Valley the diverse, outstanding, world-renowned resource for stellar American wines. Atlas Peak District The highest point of the peak itself sits 2,663 feet above sea level. The majority of…
Part 2 of this three part series brings attention to five more of the 16 sub-appellations in Napa Valley. The sub-appellations presented this week share the same theme as last week’s sub-appellations, some are more well-known than others with winery names that might be more recognizable, but all excel at creating high quality Napa Valley wines that the world has come to expect. St. Helena District In this historical sub-appellation, the number of people growing grapes and making wine was more than 100 by 1880. Today, visitors can visit the historic Beringer Vineyards for a variety of tours and tastings including a wine and chocolate pairing. Another historic winery to visit in the St. Helena District is the century old winery, Freemark Abbey. A smaller, family winery creating exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons is Corison Winery. The talents of winemaker Cathy Corison make this winery a must-see. Yountville District The varied terroir of the Yountville sub-appellation allows vintners to create an array of wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Zinfandel, and many more. Enjoy sparkling and still wines at Domaine Chandon, incredible Cabernet Sauvignon at the by appointment only Keever Vineyards, or visit Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley in Yountville for a wine collective experience of Napa Valley wines. Diamond Mountain On the northeast tip of Napa Valley sits the Diamond Mountain sub-appellation. The volcanic soil featuring small pieces of volcanic glass helped give this area its name. Best known for producing big Cabernet Sauvignon, the wineries in this sub-appellation also create Malbec, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and more. Taste critically acclaimed wines at Reverie Winery. Howell Mountain Located above the floor of the valley, the slogan of the Howell Mountain sub-appellation is “above the fog.” This beautiful, off-the-beaten path, picturesque area includes award-winning wines from multiple wineries. Clif Family Winery offers a
Part 2 of this three part series brings attention to five more of the 16 sub-appellations in Napa Valley. The sub-appellations presented this week share the same theme as last week’s sub-appellations, some are more well-known than others with winery names that might be more recognizable, but all excel at creating high quality Napa Valley…
Within the Napa Valley appellation, there are 16 sub-appellations - legally defined and protected geographical locations where grapes are grown and crafted into amazing Napa Valley wines. Some sub-appellations are more well-known than others but all are dedicated to creating wines that truly represent the distinct area of Napa Valley where they come from. In this first part of a three part series, Napa Wine Tours introduces you to the first group of Napa Valley sub-appellations. Calistoga District Famous for relaxing hot springs, massages, and mud baths, the Calistoga sub-appellation located on the northern tip of Napa Valley is home to well-known wineries such as Chateau Montelena Winery, Clos Pegase Winery, Frank Family Vineyards, and Schramsberg Vineyards. Oakville District The wineries in the Oakville sub-appellation are known for their critically acclaimed, award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy a tour of the wine cave and of the winery at Miner Family Vineyards, book a private appointment at Gamble Family Vineyards, or stop by Plumpjack Winery for a walk-in tasting. Rutherford District This sub-appellation is approximately 6 square miles and at its widest point, 2 miles wide. The vineyards receive more sun than some of the other sub-appellations and are refreshed by cool evenings. Although Rutherford produces award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, winemakers and growers also produce almost 20 other varietals including Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Merlot. Visit the historic Beaulieu Vineyard, taste estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc at St. Supery Vineyards & Winery, or choose from a variety of private experiences at Peju Province Winery. Spring Mountain District The excellence to be found in the Spring Mountain sub-appellation comes from a collective of family-owned and operated wineries mostly creating Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Visitors to Pride Mountain Vineyards will find, along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Viognier, and Chardonnay. At Robert
Within the Napa Valley appellation, there are 16 sub-appellations – legally defined and protected geographical locations where grapes are grown and crafted into amazing Napa Valley wines. Some sub-appellations are more well-known than others but all are dedicated to creating wines that truly represent the distinct area of Napa Valley where they come from. In…
With over 450 wineries in Napa Valley, events that bring together multiple wineries in one location is one way for visitors to experience as much as they can in one day. On Saturday, June 14th, Charles Krug Winery hosts the 19th Annual Taste of Howell Mountain. From 12pm to 5pm, ticket holders will be able to choose wines from 35 wineries creating wines from grapes grown in the Howell Mountain sub-appellation of Napa Valley. Participating Wineries include: Black Stallion Winery Current Releases include Red Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Rose, and Sauvignon Blanc. If you have an opportunity to visit the winery on another day, you’ll find comfortable outdoor seating with vineyard views. Bravante Vineyards Their estate-grown Howell Mountain wines include a selection of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc. Make an appointment to visit the winery for a tasting and tour of their Howell Mountain estate which includes exploration of their vineyard and wine cave. CADE Winery Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon at it’s best! The winery offers a variety of experiences for tasting, tasting and tour, and the ultimate experience for small groups including both a tasting and tour and private lunch. Along with stunning wines, visitors will enjoy food pairings from winery chefs, and live music performed by the Hummingbirdz Blues Band. The afternoon begins with wine tasting, food pairings, and a silent auction, all until 3pm. From 3pm to 5pm, the wine tasting continues with dessert pairings and a live auction. Auction items include wine experiences at wineries, rare wines from select wineries, and exclusive dining and travel experiences. This year’s event is especially meaningful because it falls on the 30th anniversary of the Howell Mountain AVA. Proceeds from this special event benefit Howell Mountain Education Foundation.
With over 450 wineries in Napa Valley, events that bring together multiple wineries in one location is one way for visitors to experience as much as they can in one day. On Saturday, June 14th, Charles Krug Winery hosts the 19th Annual Taste of Howell Mountain. From 12pm to 5pm, ticket holders will be able…
Old Stone Age peoples were creating art by sculpting forms, decorating objects, and painting on cave walls. Art is a part of who we are. The symbols used in art are just as important to communication as letters and numbers. Art is a shared experience. A sharing of thoughts, feelings, opinions, and events. Napa Valley celebrates different art mediums, as well as the art of winemaking, next month during the 2014 Napa Valley Arts in April. The events scheduled during this special month in Napa Valley are numerous and include conversations with artists, artist receptions, art shows, art workshops, special winery tours incorporating art and special wine and food pairings, artist lectures, artist led tours, a Chalk Festival, and a sneak peek from the Napa Valley Film Festival. Spotlighted art forms include paintings, sculptures, glass, photography, performance art, pottery, and more. With the incredible amount of special events happening, it’s best to start planning now for which ones you’d like to attend. Here are a few ideas to get started. Perspective Napa Valley Join members of the Napa Valley Vintners and photographer, Sam Aslanian for an artistic evening in true Napa Valley style. Guests will receive a signed copy of the book “Perspective Napa Valley” which showcases all things Napa in fine art photographs taken by Sam Aslanian. The evening also includes Napa Valley wine tastings and a photography show. BASH at Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena Celebrate the arts of Napa Valley food and wine with an evening of pairings created by Greystone student chef teams, and local St. Helena restaurants, caterers, and food purveyors. Guests will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite pairing of the evening. Cirque de Raymond at Raymond Vineyards For one day, on April 19th, visitors to Raymond Vineyards are invited
Old Stone Age peoples were creating art by sculpting forms, decorating objects, and painting on cave walls. Art is a part of who we are. The symbols used in art are just as important to communication as letters and numbers. Art is a shared experience. A sharing of thoughts, feelings, opinions, and events. Napa Valley…
