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?
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.
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.
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!).