Napa wineries to visit for "non-geek" wine travelers?

WINE TALK
41

I’m a Napa/Sonoma tour guide and specialize in smaller, more intimate and fun wineries for newbies. It would be easier for me to make recommendations if I knew your friends wine and other interests.

There is no denying Schramsberg for sparkling and a great tour. Lava Vine in Calistoga can be fun, newer winery with established winemaker (Zacherle), awesome Murray River salt dk chocolate and olive oil, too. Ladera up on Howell Mountain can be fun. Failla (Aaron Jordon’s winery) does their tasting in a very quaint lil cabin. If they’re golfers, Sam Peters (golf pro) will do a private tasting at the golf club, Jocelyn Lonen wines, and they can hit some balls while they’re there. Frank Family, as previously mentioned, is usually a hit. Chase Family Vineyards (Hayne vineyards) is very rustic but fun to sit out amidst the old vines and taste with Jeff. Arger Martucci in St. Helena is always great. They can sit poolside while tasting. Chappellet, up Sage Canyon Rd., is gorgeous. Pride mountain and exploring the old winery ruins is interesting. Keever can be intimate (expensive wines, tho). Robert Biale (Zins, Syrahs and PSs) is a wonderful experience, especially sitting out on the patio. Elkhorn Peak, in Carneros…Ken (proprietor and grower) does an amazing job at wine 101, and has good PN.

I might recommend that they do a “join in” wine tour where they’ll meet other people and likely have a blast.

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

42

Etude has a tasting room now. No longer by appointment only (save for private tastings).

Tasting room experiences I’ve liked in the valley and could recommend to people…

Sequoia Grove
Provenance
Cliff Lede

It’s actually becoming harder to think of tasting rooms in the valley that have a warm / welcoming atmosphere.

The only tour I would ever pay for is Amarosa. Most are the same, and not very informative, and quite boring… except for Amarosa, because it’s a freakin Castle.

43

What about Hendry? The experience for a newbie would be fun. They treat you great, the tour and tasting can take hours, it’s educational and the partners are the tour guides. Plus it’s a short couple miles out of Napa proper.
Oh, and it’s free.

44

What about Clos Du Val?

45

Bill as far as the Petite Sirah is concerned I have to say I agree with you…

Thank you all for these kind words, we try our best and once again all of you please let me know when you want to come and taste…you will always be welcome

46

Another thread reminded me:

Round Pond is a really nice tasting experience… beautiful setting, nice wines paired with small bites. Appointments are required.

47

I agree with Hendry also. If they want a casual tasting and see how wine is made and grown it is a very nice tour. You taste a lot of different wines at the end of the tour around a table set up with different glasses for each taste and the prices are reasonable for a nice wines. Good place to ask him questions and learn about wine.

48

The Schramsberg’s cave tour is a great tour for geeks and non-geeks if they enjoy bubbles or care to learn how they are made. The other bubble spots like Chandon, Mumm, and Caneros can also be relaxed and enjoyable for a glass or 3.

Of the drop-in places, i’ve enjoyed Montelena and Miner. The wines aren’t my favorite, but Duckhorn offers a private tasting that also includes an informative winery tour.

49

Wouldn’t they love a combination Shooting Exhibition, Cage Match Fight, Round of Golf, Endangered Species Grill Buffet and Wine Tasting with The Todd?

50

At least you spelled it right! [wow.gif] [snort.gif]

51

The label on the wine is Petite Syrah…I have a picture. Don’t know if it was a slip up or not, but it is spelled that way on the bottle.

52

Can only second (or third or fourth some positive reqs):

Etude - yes, the tasting room is now open! (FD - one of my wife’s wines)
St. Supery - do they still have the “smellavision” thing? If so, a fun way to learn.
Beringer - sorry that one poster had a bad experience, but there is such a wide array of wines to taste, and they usually do a very good job with tasting (one of my wife’s wines).
St. Clement - just up the road from Beringer, it flies under the radar, and has some very nice wines (another of my wife’s).
Cliff Lede - probably still have some S. Anderson sparkling, plus their other wines are quite nice.
Cakebread - haven’t been in quite awhile, but it was a great place for newbies.
Chandon (and I like this much better than Mumm) - nice sparklers to try and nice small plates that can be bought on the weekends (anybody know about weekends?).

53

Oh my.