Wine is an important part of many cultures, both in ceremony and festivity.
This causes a trip to Napa Valley, or any major wine region, to be a kind of pilgrimage.
Even if you are not a great connoisseur of wine, there is something magical about the place.
The Napa countryside is breathtaking. Rolling hills flank a long valley carpeted in grape vines. Highway 29 runs right up the middle of the valley and is occupied almost solely by the vineyards. Some names you will recognize, others may become new friends.
The basic purpose of the trip is the opportunity to sample wines from a number of vineyards. It is a convenient and inexpensive way to discover some new favorites. But there is something more here. Just as the Disneyland experience is more than the sum of the rides and the sights, a day in Napa is more than simply tasting wine
To get the most out of your day I suggest a little bit of planning.
There are 3 important points in time during a day visit.
What time will you arrive in Napa, what time will you eat lunch, and what time will you leave?
You should try to arrive about 10:00 am, when the first wineries open.
The finishing time is pretty easy also, most wineries close between 4:00 and 5:00 pm.
Lunch is critical.
You want to visit 1 or 2 wineries and then have lunch.
Wine tasting on an empty stomach is not a good thing.
There is nothing wrong with just driving straight through Napa and stopping at whatever wineries suit your fancy. If you want to get more organized, I suggest that you pick up one of the winery/tourist newspapers as you enter the valley. The paper will provide a winery map along with business hours and other important facts for each winery. Some wineries give tours and tastings by appointment only, and this will be mentioned in the paper. Armed with this information, you can plan your day to make sure you visit all the wineries you are interested in. Note: The main road through the valley gets very busy and it can be difficult to reverse direction on this road. I strongly suggest that you travel the length of the valley, stopping on the right side only, then turn around and do the other side.
A few wineries require you to take their guided tour before tasting. This is to educate the public and also to cut down on the number of people who are there solely for free alcohol. I recommend doing this once during the day. The tours are extremely interesting, but they also can take a lot of time and you want to visit a few wineries.
Most wineries offer free tasting and some charge a small fee.
Most tasting rooms that charge a fee used to let you keep your glass (usually nicely stenciled with the winery logo) as a souvenir.
I don't mind this as I now have a nice collection of stenciled wine glasses.
Most of the wineries are no longer doing this and instead will deduct the tasting fee from your bill if you purchase wine there.
The charge is most likely to offset their expenses and once again to cut down on the freeloaders.
I don't object to this, but it is fairly easy to spend the day in Napa and only pay once or twice.
When approaching the tasting room bar, you will be presented with a wine glass and a menu of the wines that are available for tasting that day. (If you have a particular favorite from the winery that is not listed, you can often request it) The wines should be tasted in the order listed, although you may skip over any that you have no interest in. The order ensures that you taste the more delicate wines first and the most robust ones last. If you were to taste a rich Cabernet Sauvignon and then a delicate Chardonnay, your palate would be in no condition to appreciate it.
While tasting the wine, ask if you could have some wine labels. Most wineries have unused labels on hand to distribute as souvenirs.
The winery will have a shop where you can buy their wine and other winery souvenirs. Many wineries have special vintages that are only available at the winery. A few wineries only sell their wine right there at the winery.
There are many fine restaurants in and around Napa, but you came here to visit wineries.
In the interest of time I suggest an efficient lunch.
Save the fancy meal for dinner.
I have 2 personal recommendations on lunch. Eat at either V. Sattui Winery or "The Spot". They are across the street from each other on highway 29.
The Spot is a 50's style burger and pizza joint. The walls are covered with movie star pictures and posters. Seating is in booths or on tall stools. The food is very good and reasonably fast.
If the weather is nice then you MUST eat on the lawn at V. Sattui. The winery features a full deli. You can buy everything you need for a fabulous picnic lunch and then find a table or patch of grass on their grounds. This is absolutely the way to go.
From their web site: "Surrounding the stone winery building is a 2 acre tree-shaded picnic grove. V. Sattui also boasts a large gourmet cheese shop and deli featuring nearly 200 imported and domestic cheeses, meats, homemade salads and desserts."
Below are a few of what I consider mandatory stops.
All of these wineries produce good to excellent wine.
Equally important, each provides a unique and enjoyable experience.
Some wineries tend to have a very serious atmosphere.
This may appeal to the very serious connoisseur, but I am after a good time as well as good wine.
Winery information, including locations and hours, is listed at the end of the article.
Hakusan is located just south of Napa, which makes it an ideal first or last stop. Before entering the tasting room please take the self guided tour of the production facilities and the wonderful Japanese Gardens. The long building on your left is where the sake is made. Large windows down the length of the building allow you to view the entire process. Return to the visitors center through the gardens, making sure to walk slowly and take it all in.
Once in the tasting room, you will be seated at a table. You may taste 4 sakes for a $1.00 charge. The staff will be happy to explain the different sakes and why each should be served at the correct temperature.
Located just south of St. Helena along Highway 29, V. Sattui is one of the most fun locations in Napa. In addition to tours and tasting they have a gourmet deli and 2 acre picnic grove. This is an excellent place to stop for lunch or a snack.
V. Sattui wines are sold exclusively at the winery, direct to customers and via mail order. If you like dessert wines, be sure to sample the Muscat and Mediera.
St. Supéry Vineyards and Winery
St. Supéry Vineyards and Winery is located at 8440 St. Helena Highway (Hwy. 29), Rutherford. I highly recommend taking the tour here, it is the best I have seen.
The tour starts in a 100-year old Victorian house, where the history of the vineyard and the valley is told. You then get to visit a planting area where you can view and taste several varieties of grapes as they grow on the vine. The next stop is the main building where the winemaking process is explained and several of their wines may be sampled.
Sutter Home is located at 277 St. Helena Hwy (Hwy. 29) in St. Helena
Sutter Home is a very enjoyable stop. Their wines are very good and the tasting room is very relaxed and friendly. The last time I was there, they were serving glasses of sangria they had made with one of their wines. It was delicious and you got to keep the glass with the recipe stenciled on it.
Sutter Home also sells a full line of pasta and dipping sauces. Around the perimeter of the tasting room you will find sampling bowls of their sauces with pretzels or bread to dip. Mmmm!
If you like dessert wines, be sure to try Sutter Home's Triple Cream, which is available only at the winery.
Next to the winery is a wonderful restored Victorian home surrounded by beautiful flower gardens. There is also a bed-and-breakfast inn.
