4 weeks in Napa

[L_Wang]

Viader is at a location with best view from the Howell mountain, could be worth a try. Shafer and montelena were fun visits as well.

[Karen_Troisi]

Our new tasting room is in downtown Napa - if you would like to stop by please let us know.

[John_Oglesby]

@David J

Besides stony hill and fishers mountain estate Chardonnay, any places that make non-buttery Chardonnays that anyone would recommend?

Etude is no ML and neutral oak fermented. Their Heirloom Chard has a kiss of new oak (20%ish) and completely native yeast ferment.

[C_Bowman]

@dougwilder

Keever, Morlet, Bure, Blackbird, Luscher-Ballard, Vine Hill Ranch and Detert would be well worth looking at as well.

Those are all great recommendations.

[Nolan_E]

@David J

Besides stony hill and fishers mountain estate Chardonnay, any places that make non-buttery Chardonnays that anyone would recommend?

Montelena, Freemark Abbey Keyes Vineyard, Trefethen, Antica, Matthiasson, Young Inglewood, Ram’s Gate, Tulocay, Massican, Keenan…definitely still missing several great ones.

[Jon_Lawrence]

I think O’Shaughnessy (Howell Mtn) is making some very solid chards. Great minerality and acidity, stone fruit flavors with deft use of wood.

[Jeff_martin]

@David J

Headed to Napa for 4 weeks in June and I’m looking for recommendations. We’ll be staying between St. Helena and Calistoga.

I’ve got friends coming in for part of 2 of the weeks and my wife and I will have 2 weeks to ourselves.

We intend to hit peacock, casa piena, DR stephens and will also try to get a summit tasting at Pride sometime in there.

When our friends are there, we were thinking of doing 2 days of tasting with 3 wineries per day (we’ll have a limo bus).

When it’s just the wife and I, our thought is if we went to a tasting it would be like 1 a day unless we drove over to Sonoma.

Certainly open to suggestions on places to hit. We generally like cab, rhones, cab franc, zins, SB and WB styled whites. I HATE buttery chardonnay.

We buy DR Stephens, Ridge, Carlisle, Bedrock. In the past we’ve also enjoyed Xtant, Pride, La Jota, Scarecrow, etc.

I just got back from Napa, I have a great driver who was easy to work with, knew his wines, knows the history, has a lot of connections to help get you into places. If you want his contact info let me know.

Places we went I would recommend all.
sinegal estate
Checkerboard
Fairchild
Brand
Gandona
futo
Tusk

[David_J]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Lots of planning to do!

[Steve_Nordhoff]

@David J

Besides stony hill and fishers mountain estate Chardonnay, any places that make non-buttery Chardonnays that anyone would recommend?

Definitely School House

[T_Schaffler]

@mmoyer

I would target areas vs wineries. Howell Mtn. You can choose to visit Foley, Outpost, Cimarossa, O’Shaughnessy, Neal, Outpost and many other fine ones. Over on Spring Mtn. consider in addition to Pride… Sherwin, B&H and Relic (although B&H now has a tasting room in St. Helena…visit is fun), Barnett, Fantesca, Newton, Cain, Togni just to name a few.

Agree 100% on targeting areas versus specific wineries in a day. If you do the later, you end up driving too much. We usually pick one, maybe two special interest wineries in an area to make appointments and then hit the open to the public ones of our choosing. Makes for a fun, day. Remember to bring some water and bread, etc. for when between places. Also makes for a quick picnic.

Other Areas: Carneros, Calistoga, Stags Leap, Rutherford, Mt. Veeder, Diamond Mountain. Can also do the same in Sonoma.

[Mike_V_e_r_h_i_l_l_e]

If you are looking for the full beauty and experience of Napa I would suggest both Pride and Shafer. Great wines, fun tasting, and a beautiful setting.

[vincentz]

Abreu (email Brad Grimes) for a truly amazing cellar tour.
Fairchild is picturesque and the wines are stunning.
Bevan for outstanding/fun loving time with Russell and Victoria and Sharon with great wine too.