Can we take a few moments to discuss my spur of the moment, Monday afternoon, high speed trip to Napa?
Napa seems to be in a perpetual state of sunshine. It’s absolutely gorgeous. There are grapes everywhere. If not actually growing from the earth, then engraved into the side of a freeway overpass, or painted on…. um… every available space in Napa. Turns out they’re really into grapes.
Can I be honest? Napa was a little too uppity, snootypants for my taste. I know just enough about wine to make my way through a conversation about tannins and acid, grape varietals, oak aging and whatever other terms wine people drop…. but I don’t think good wine should be all about the secret, and unapproachable language of wine.
I discovered, in these few hours in Napa, that the beauty of wine is all in the land. See, it’s the land that creates the beautiful grapes. It’s the land that’s beautifully adored and so carefully tended. It’s the careful love of soil that creates such beauty up in wine country. The care is evident in the carefully places acres and rows of grapevines. It’s lovely to see the earth adored for what it can produce. I feel like the story should be about the people and the land… not about fruit forward mouth feels… or whatever.
Here’s the deal:
The looking. The strolling out in the sun. The lazy walks through the tall grass of the vineyards… that’s free.
The tastings and the wine… so very far from affordable. Do I sound like I’m looking for a free ride? It’s not that, it’s just that a $65 bottle of wine is outside, way outside, my wallet’s comfort zone. Fact.
I need your help. I need your wine country guidance. Where’s the wine with spunk? Where’s the wine with story? Where’s the wine that will make me want to give three cheers to Napa. Let’s go there this spring. Seriously, we’ll make it a party!
Melinda
Hop Kiln! J Vineyards! You must drive down West Side Road and see the wonder of the Russian River up close. There’s a fabulous old bridge from 1922. And with Hop Kiln’s Thousand Flowers white blend at $15/bottle, you can sip your way into sunshiney happiness. We started our two days in wine country in Napa, and by 10am we were beat down by the man. Took some crazy twisty road to Sonoma County, and we were much, much happier.
I also recommend the lovely place at Bogle, south of Sacramento. Talk about good wines, good people, and a lovely place!
Amy B.- Portland, OR
Hi Joy, I’m preaching to the choir a little here…but come to Oregon and taste the wine. Little attitude, lots of variety, good food to complement the wine. Sokol Blosser makes grapeseed oil (and offers tastings) out of the leftover seeds. It’s a double play between their wine and olive oil. If you don’t mind lots of canine love, you can stay with us. For real.
Aliza
Check out the olive oil/vinegar tastings at Round Pond! We went up with another couple a few months ago for the day. The woman who led us through it was so nice and down to earth. Your entry makes me think I should take a spur of the moment trip right now! Anyway, love your blog!
Karen
“Can I be honest? Napa was a little too uppity, snootypants for my taste”
I TOLD you that you should go to Sonoma Valley instead of Napa. But NOOOOO….. you still had to go. Honestly, Sonoma County (my home) is much more relaxed and not so uppity. I agree that Healdsburg is a wonderful little town that can rival St. Helena or Calistoga in it’s charm.
Maeve
Dry Creek Valley!
If you want a fun experience, and can end up affording a bottle at the end, I have to second the Korbel suggestion (take a walk through Armstrong Woods first near Guerneville). Also, the people at Pedroncelli are super friendly, and they are one of the oldest wine-making families in the area. Their Midnight Run Zinfandel is great and there isn’t a tasting fee. Dutcher Crossing has a beautiful tasting room and picnic area… they are a bit pricey and charge a $5 fee, but the wines are yummy and the tasting staff is jovial. It’s a nice place to end the day.
The trick is to befriend someone, anyone, in the business who has a business card that can be flashed… then tasting are free (and wines occasionally discounted). I could lend you my brother, if needed :)
Tina
Wow, seems like a fun trip!! I have gone wine tasting around here ( Santa Ynez, Solvang by Santa Barbara, CA) with my friends and had the best time ever. If you know anyone who works at a winery, they can actually get a discount with their business card when they go wine tasting, which I think is soo neat.
Anyways, If you like semi-sweet wines, try 2007 Moscato Allegro by Martin & Weyrich, its only 7% and it tastes soo yummy :)
I hope you have tons of fun =D
Jennifer
Do you need, or want, a personal assistant? I come with a very handy hubby and 2 kids…this quick trip sounds wonderful.
Mrs. L
My in-laws live in St. Helena so I do get up that way more than I used to. Yes, there are some expensive places in the wine country…and there are some places that are reasonable. Yes, there are snooty people in wine country…but I’ve found many more friendly people. On any given day a person you talk to at a winery can be a wonderful friend or a down right obnoxious moron (gee, think I’ve met a few :). But seriously, a lot of it is trial and error. I have a huge soft spot for Peju only because of an incredibly wonderful experience there. Wine country is full of many towns with different personalities, just like the wines. I’m still experimenting and finding places I like.
Sara
Unfortunately, I cannot drink wine…red wine headaches, but I love the food markets in Napa. The olive oil shops and other shops make the trip worth it for me. I have had some amazing food at the restaurants in Napa too. Everytime that I pour my garlic infused olive oil that I purchased in Napa, I have to ask myself, “Is this dish worth it? I can’t just go back to the store for this special stuff.”
Michael
I concur with poster Kimmy – Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is OUTSTANDING!!!
Erin
I prefer to do Napa on a bicycle. You really get to enjoy the scenery and sober up between wineries. JK…kinda. There are definitely deals to be found in Napa, just gotta do a little research. My top pick is Goosecross Cellars…Jose is the BEST! Very knowledgeable and fun. I also like Mumm, the tastings are not cheap but they have a free art gallery that is nice. I find it best to just stumble upon the small wineries, the staff is usually very nice and love to share their knowledge. I’ve had great impromptu tours and learned about the different stages of the wine making process as well as received tasting straight from the barrels of early stages. You can’t go wrong with a bike, some picnic food (or just stop at Oakville Market) and the beautiful Napa scenery!
unconfidentialcook
I know next to nothing about wine, and I’m dying to go to Napa, where I’ve never been. My husband, though, totally agrees with you…and nixes every move I make to drive north. I don’t suppose I’m going to make it.
pete bakes
i’m with julie – Frog’s Leap was the best experience we had out there. It’s a free tour (you have to make a reservation though) and you get to eat fresh fruit from their garden and wear giant floppy hats.
Farmer Gal
What a fun little getaway! I agree with taking a more unpretentious approach to wine. I love it, but I don’t love the snobbyness that can come along with it sometimes!
megan
Go to the Russian River Valley. They are much less snooty and a lot of the tasting is free! Napa just got to big and its scary just driving that road!!!