9:00AM Oxbow Market in Napa
Head to Sonoma side and work way up to Healdsburg
10:30AM Bedrock
12PM Lunch
1PM Merry Edwards
3:00PM Williams Selyem
4:30PM Spoonbar
6:30PM Dry Creek Kitchen for Dinner
Sunday, February 8
10:00 AM ???
11:30 VHR
2PM ???
3:30PM ???
6PM dinner
I put down where we are going the day before on the Sonoma side so you get an idea of what we are doing. There is 6 of us total. We will be on Napa side the following day. I am not changing anything that I have written in the time slots, just need help with the question mark times. I have VHR planned with Bruce and Heather but need some more ideas of places to visit around that area. 2 maybe 3 places depends on timing of everything else of course and I don’t want to cram a bunch of tastings… I am not a big fan of paying $50-100 to taste at a winery times 6 people. I know that limits it a bit? I have some thoughts and maybe some others on here can help. Here are a few ideas I have been pondering which I have researched off this forum…Roy Piper (member), Hourglass, Joseph Swan, Ovid, what do you think would fit nicely in to the schedule? Any other places I just have to visit?? Remember 6 of us and we are all in 30’s so we like to have a fun time and not a stuffy time. Not a bunch of idiots just fun people
Remember 6 of us and we are all in 30’s so we like to have a fun time and not a stuffy time. Not a bunch of idiots just fun people >
Not sure what that means Joe. “Fun” means different things to different people. I’m happy to hear all the technical things and see the vineyards, etc. That’s fun. Or do you mean you just want to taste a bunch of wine but it really doesn’t matter what you try? If that’s the case, pretty much anywhere you can get into is sufficient.
Is it the groups first time to napa? If so, it may sound odd, but I’d start the day at Robert Mondavi. You really can’t talk napa without Bob. If you don’t start there I always like to start or finish the day (when in a group) with bubbles. Mumm and Chandon would be the most accessible and most budget friendly, but the tour at Schramsburg and their working cave is more “fun.” I also like Hall with a group as a “nicer” but still very group friendly experience. If your group just wants to get drunk, del dotto is know as the place. If your vision of fun is a classic rock singing or rapping pourer, try peju. Might ask the group their wine preferences. I mean I wouldn’t go to Caymus or Silver Oak for the wine necessarily, but if either is the favorite of someone in the group, you should go. They are both a fun tour. Kinda depends where you are finishing up the day with dinner as to how to fit these all into the schedule.
By fun I was referring to more of tours through vineyards or caves etc. Not the Silver Oak or Caymus types for sure. Been to Alpha Omega and it was an awesome experience. I think they would really enjoy the barrel tasting room…have to debate the cost associated with that one. Although Jean is the man for making wine and a great tasting experience… This is not my wife and I’s first time but the first time for the other 4 people in the group. Trying to keep it in places somewhat close together somewhat…if possible. I want to blow the socks off of them for neat places…like it did for me the first time I went to these places
Try Mumm’s. They have a great reserve tasting. I have a good friend there Eric Colallela who runs the oak reserved tasting room. Great chance to try some older vintages of DVX
Only way to do Joseph Swan is to try squeezing it in between Mary Edwards and W&S or after W&S. A great stop and highly reccomended but not in Napa where you have openings.
I was just in Napa last week and here is what I did.
Burgess - Great view, but small barrel room and basic tasting waived with purchase($10). My group bought a 1990 and 1994 Cabernet from them to drink that night. Awesome to be able to buy properly stored Napa cab going back to 1979. The guy pouring had some great stories, really liked the visit.
Elizabeth Spencer - I liked it and joined their club, so $40 each tasting was waived. I really like the cabs, but not a place for 6 in my opinion unless someone buys or joins.
Heitz - This was AWESOME for me. Free tasting and open to public. No one was there. They poured all the usual’s plus…1998 Martha’s Vineyard, 2002 Trailside, and 2006 Trailside Cabs. In and out quickly. Bought a 2002 Trailside for the limo. Lovely young woman pouring for us.
Spring Mountain Winery - Friend is a member. Not worth it unless you pay for the the cave tasting which is 2 hours I think. Very good wine, but expensive.
When your at Selyem go next door to Arista. If the weather is nice you can sit outside at Picnic tables and have a snack. I would do Corison on the Napa side.
Next door to VHR is Blankiet. Great wine, Cab & Merlot. Kapcsandy is very expensive so you may not be interested but, from people who have visited, it was well worth it. Hall has two locations, one in St. Helena and one on the other side of the valley where they taste the high end wines in an amazing cave with the tree root chandelier. So many choices and so little time.
After Merry Edwards, Iron Horse is just a few miles away. Nice sparklers with a lovely view. Would be a fun stop with a group, as much for the scenery as the wine.
Joe- does your group plan on purchasing or just tasting. If purchasing what would the cost range be ? Lots of great experiences that don’t cost anything but generally if folks open a bunch of wine for a group the goal is to pick up some new customers. Sunday may make it a bit tough though Feb is slow so folks may be open for private tastings.
