Visiting Napa...For The Wine Snob

Haven’t been in over three years and I have done all the big traps as well as some of the more out of the way places. With who knows how many new places that have popped up, what are the not to miss wineries for a wine geek/snob that might be a bit on the juvenile side and has a problem with authority?

TIA

Perhaps this might help find some of the out of the way corners:

Nice.

Stop by for a glass when you’re here, we will take care of you & your juvenile side [gheyfight.gif]

Okay on the serious side…

Visit the mountains…schedule a visit up on Howell Mtn - either Outpost or Lamborn or the Dunns.

Visit Spring Mtn…Sherwin Family, Pride, Smith Madrone (for terrific wines and wacky people)…

Visit Steve and Carole at Lagier Meredith for terrific Syrah’s up on Mt Veeder.

Also, see if you can visit with Juan Mercado at Realm Cellars…maybe for lunch or dinner with lots of wine. Juan is fun to party with.

Make an appt at Schramsberg for sparkling and visit the wine castle in Calistoga…

any way you go, if you want to avoid the masses, then you have to make appts. Give yourself 30 minutes travel time between appts to make sure you get there…and try not to schedule more than 3 visits per day.

i am making a Smith-Madrone visit very soon!

Set up a a visit/cave tasting with Todd Anderson. I’m being serious, you wouldn’t regret it.

I can’t speak to a lot of that but you will definitely enjoy the Lagier Meredith folks.

TRB @ Outpost (I think we talked about this at some point)

Lewelling fo sho.

I would second Realm and if you can get Mike Hirby to taste you at Sherwin, be sure to ask him about the Relic wines – tasty.

If you’re interested, let me know when you’re coming. I can’t always get up to meet folks at Butterdragon, but when I can, I love pouring a glass or 10 of Cab.

Bill – If you meet up w/ Randy, I’d love to tag along.

Thanks for the info. I already talked with Chris Maybach and will work something out up at Outpost with the gang.

Randy and Segui, I am shooting right now for October 18th through the 22nd and will be staying in Napa proper.



Call B&H and you can set up a tasting of Relic with Mike. Really good stuff.

I’ll be up there October 4-10 working for Mike if you’re plans change and you go earlier that month.

Brian, we’ll see…but probably will be committed to the dates in hand as they are the only ones that work for Kristi and my schedule right now. But, you never know as it is still a few months away.

I am in Sacramento next week and may be done early one day and was thinking of driving over to wine country to do a visit. ACV was on the list to try to set something up. Was looking at Shafer, but I doubt I could get there before 2 PM.

Bill - When you are up on Howell Mountain, see if you can’t get a time at Ladera - really good wines, great folks and a beautiful winery.

I would also third Smith Madrone - ask them if you can use the “picnic grounds” (basically one old lawn table last time I was there, but a great valley view!).

Two Words: Ghost Horse!

I will prob be back in Sacramento by then. The lady and I would be willing to make a trip out for dinner/offline.

Cool. We should have access to at least a couple of places with a grill and I am guessing I can score some decent beef within an hour or so drive.

I also may be living in Sacramento in October. If so…it’s on.