Napa Valley Day Trips Spring/Summer 2011

8/7/2019 Napa Valley Day Trips Spring/Summer 2011

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Spring/Summer 2011

ELEVENWINE TASTING

TRIPS

from Calistoga to Coombsville

11FIFTYSEVENTASTING ROOM REVIEWS57

DAY TRIPS

Preferred Napa Valley

A publication of


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CALISTOGA 6HOWELL MOUNTAIN 15ST. HELENA 22OAKVILLE 30RUTHERFORD 34STAGS LEAP/YOUNTVILLE 40

OAK KNOLL 46MT. VEEDER 52NAPA 56COOMBSVILLE 62LOS CARNEROS 67

Andersons Conn Valley 16Andretti Winery 51Arger-Martucci Vineyards 28B Cellars 8Baldacci Family Vineyards 44Ballentine Vineyards 25

Beringer Vineyards 27Black Stallion Winery 49Bravante Vineyards 19Burgess Cellars 31Castello Di Amorosa 13Chappellet Winery 36

Charles Krug Winery 24

Conn Creek Winery 39

Cuvaison Estate Wines, Calistoga 7

Cuvaison Estate Wines, Carneros 71

Domaine Carneros 72

Envy Wines 10Etude 69

Farella Vineyard 63

Fontanella Family Winery 55

Hagafen Cellars 50

Hess Collection 53Jarvis Estate Winery 57Judds Hill Winery 47Kuleto Estate 35Madrigal Vineyards 14McKenzie-Mueller 70

Napa Valley Wine Train 60Nicholson Ranch 13Page Wine Cellars 45Pia Napa Valley 31Pope Valley Winery 17Porter Family Vineyards 65Reynolds Family Winery 48Rutherford Hill Winery 37Rutherford Ranch Winery 38Saddleback Cellars 32St. Clement 26Saintsbury 68Silverado Vineyards 42Sodaro Estate Winery 64Stags Leap Winery 43Steltzner Vineyards 41Stonehedge 59Summit Lake Winery 18 Tulocay Winery Turnbull Wine Cellars 33V. Sattui Winery 23Valley Gate Vineyards 61Viader Vineyards 20

Vinoce/Twenty Rows 58W.H. Smith 11Whitehall Lane Winery 29Wine Garage 12Yates Family Vineyard 54Zahtila Vineyards 9

DAY TRIPSPreferred Napa Valley 57 Preferred Napa ValleyTasting Room Reviews

11 Wine Tasting Trips

669 Broadway, Suite B Sonoma, CA 95476

P.O. Box 92 El Verano, CA 95433

707-938-3494 Fax707-938-3674

PUBLISHER Mike GiangrecoDirect (707) [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR Chandra GrantPhone 707-938-1783 Fax [email protected]

ADVERTISING RoseAnn TrzesniewskiREPRESENTATIVE Phone 707-334-1930 Fax 707-938-3674

[email protected]

OFFICE MANAGER CathyGorePhone 707-938-3494 Fax 707-938-3674Email [email protected]

EDITORIAL Introductions by Abigail ZimmermanCONTRIBUTORS Brendan Conroy, Ronda Giangreco,Charles Neave, Nan Reiley,Josh Stein and Sue Straight

LOOK FOR US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

www.WineCountryThisWeek.com

ON THE COVER: Cuvaisons Carneros Tasting Room

Robert Holmes Photography

A Publication of


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An acre of vineyards land can give the grower:Five tons of grapes (though it is also less, dependingon a variety of farming and winemaking practices,and on the varietal and the vineyards location) whichwill give you 797 gallons of juice (or thirteen-and-a-

half barrels) which is pretty close to four thousandbottles of wine.

One standard oak barrel of wine holds:

295 bottles of wine (or 59 gallons) made from 740 pounds of grapeswhich works out to almost but not precisely - 30 cases of wine.

One of the most asked questions asked when it comes to wine is how much of this does it take to make that, and so on. Wewont pretend that is simple, but here are some industry statistics that will give a pretty good answer to that query. As withanything agricultural, of course, they are all based on countless variables when it comes to acre yields, but this is a goodstarting point. The rest of the information varies little if at all.

WWW.LEGENDARYNAPAVALLEY.COM

Do theMath

What does all that information on a wine label mean?The U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms regulates wine

labels and requires that information be given in a straightforward

way. Basically, you will want to look for the types of grapes grown,

where the grapes are grown and when the grapes were picked.

Brand name Designation for a special wine

Vineyard or appellation known for its grapes might be designated

Location where the grapes used were grown

Grape Variety used

Vintage year in which the grapes were picked

Location where the wine was made and/or bottled(Not to be confused with the area the grapes are grown.)

Alcohol content may be stated or the the label may simply say"Table Wine

XYZ Winery

RESERVE

Carneros

Napa Valley

PINOT NOIR

2002

Produced and Bottled byXYZ winery, Napa, California

ALCOHOL 13.6% BY VOLUME

=

A case of wine includes:A dozen 750 ml bottles(or 24 half bottles)or 307.2 ounces total,which comes from30 pounds of grapes.

A single bottle contains:750 ml of wine which is 25.6 ounces made fromabout 2.4 pounds of grapes (39 oz.) and is enoughfor four or maybe five glasses.


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6 Calistoga www.WineCountryThisWeek.com

CalistogaCalistoga sits in the top end of Napa Valley like a cork in a wine bottle.

This lively, well-preserved historic small-town and surrounding region

simply delights everyone. Delicious restaurants, glorious mountains,

diverse art galleries, world-famous hot springs, eclectic bookstores and

roadside stands, boutique shopping and happy locals combine to make

Calistoga a favorite of Napa Valley locals and visitors.

FOOD

Cafe Sarafornia

1413 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, (707) 942-0555, www.cafesarafornia.com

The best breakfast in town! Owners Madeline & Drake are the vivacious stewardsof this famed, historic diner. For more than 100 years, Cafe Sarafina has beenserving up delicious fare and good people. Don't miss the huevos rancheros!Brannan's

1374 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, (707) 942-2233, www.brannansgrill.com

Go for the winning wine list (with rare Napa and Sonoma cult labels)and stayfor the fine foods and great atmosphere. Brannan proudlysponsors local, artisanal producers andtheir dishes are the better for it.This summer, dine alfresco on the patio!

JoLe

1457 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, (707) 942-5938, www.jolerestaurant.com

FromFarm to Table. JoLe is OpenTable.com's "Diner's Choice Winner" for 2010 a wonderful compliment to owners and husband-and-wife team Matt and

Sonjita Spector. Enjoy the delicious menuand mouth-wateringpastries!

Flat Iron Grill

1440 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, (707) 942-1220, www.flatirongrill.com

Flat Iron Grill revels in its recentlyrestored historic space! There is nothing dustyabout this intimate, yet friendlyrestaurant. Open for dinner daily, don't miss

the hickory smokedbaby back ribs.

LODGING

Brannan Cottage Inn

109 Wappo Avenue, Calistoga, (707) 942-4200, www.brannancottageinn.com

One of the original 25 Hot Springs Resort cottages from 1860.Close walkingproximity to famedCalistoga Hot Springs (across the street!) andonly two blocks to downtown Calistoga, makes this charming inn a repeat hit.

Six rooms are available year round.Pink Mansion

1415 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, (707) 942-0558, www.pinkmansion.com

Escape, indulge & dream! Built in 1870 by Napa's original stage line owner,the Pink Mansionis a lovely, private andrestful destination that retains theelegance of itshistoric past. Rates include gourmet breakfast for two andafternoonwineandappetizers.Solage

755 Silverado Trail, Calistoga, 1-866-942-7442, www.solagecalistoga.com

Where cosmopolitan luxuries take on an enlightened, comfortable attitude!Offering a healthy, greenenvironment, 89 eco-friendlystudios and Michelin starratedSolbar restaurant, Solage is a stylish and naturally brilliant hotel!Calistoga Ranch

580 Lommel Road, Calistoga, 1-800-942-4220, www.calistogaranch.com

Tucked into a private canyon in the Upper NapaValley on a 157-acre site, the

luxuryresort captures the rich culture of food, wine and nature.

THINGS TO DO

Castello di Amorosa

4045 N. St. Helena Highway, (707) 967-6272, www.castellodiamorosa.com

A tour of the incredible 13th century, 107 room, Tuscan style castle and winery complete with chapel and torture chamber is highly recommended!Sharpsteen Museum

1311 Washington Street, Calistoga

(707) 942-5911, www.sharpsteen-museum.org

This museum is a wonderful spot to learn about upper Napa Valleyhistory andold Calistoga. Exhibit subjects include SamBrannan, Wappo Native Americans,one-time-local Robert Louis Stevensonand artifacts from the survivors of the

Donner Party.Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park

3369 Saint Helena Hwy North, St. Helena, (707) 942-4575

Once the center of social activity for NapaValleysettlers, this 1846 Grist Millground corn and wheat into meal or flour. This park also boasts scenic hiking

trails, the site of the first Napa ValleyChurch and Pioneer Cemetary.Old Faithful Geyser

1299 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga, (707) 942-6463

One of the three "Old Faithful" geysers in the world, Old Faithful ofCalifornia is a delightful attraction. Bursting regularly and throwingthousands of gallons of water high into the air, Old Faithful is a glorioussight. Other attractions include the petting zoo and picnic grounds.Open daily, 9am-6pm in the summer. Admission fees vary from $3-$10.

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BrannansPink Mansion

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Flat Iron Grill

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CALISTOGA

ZAHTILA

B CELLARS

CUVAISON

ESTATE

WINES

Driving Time:16 minutesFrom Cuvaison EstateWines

to B Cellars 1+ mileto ZahtilaVineyards > 1 mileto EnvyWines 2.5 milestoW.H. Smith 2+ milestoWine Garage > 1 mileto Castello di Amorosa > 3 milesto MadrigalVineyards 1 mile

Total 10.5 miles

Not to Scale


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VARIETALS

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel,Cabernet Sauvignon and a unique port-style dessert winecalled Espiritu.

FUN FACT

Reserve your gourmet picnic lunch 24 hours in advanceon Cuvaisons website and all you have to do is show upand enjoy.Visit www.cuvaison.com for details and toreserve your picnic today!

CLUB BENEFITS

Access to limited releases, savings on wine andtasting room merchandise and invitations tomember-only parties.

GREEN INITIATIVES

Sustainable vineyard practices, cork recycling,

1,428 solar panels, eco-friendly packaging and muchmore ... its all part of a commitment to reducing theircarbon footprint.

Cuvaison Estate WinesOpen daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4550 Silverado TrailNorth, Calistoga(707)942-2468 www.cuvaison.com

Follow Cuvaison on Facebook andTwitter!

Two complimentary tastings with wine purchase.

Cuvaisons original tasting room and historic winery

in Calistoga, is on the east side of the Silverado Trail

nestled at the base of the Vaca Mountain Range. The

tasting room has a contemporary take on the classic tast-

ing environment, offering an intimate experience where

guests can gather at the bar or enjoy a seated tasting.

Tree shaded picnic grounds are a popular attraction

to visitors. Leave the fuss and muss behind by making a

reservation for a gourmet picnic lunch online! Learn

about the Picnic Here program under Fun Facts.

Cuvaison is most prominently known for their estate

grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They also produce

other varietals as well including Zinfandel, Sauvignon

Blanc, Syrah and their port style dessert wine. And dontforget about their rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon

wines; particularly the award-winning Brandlin from

Cuvaisons fabled Mount Veeder estate vineyard located

1200' above the valley floor.

If Calistoga is your destination, dont miss visiting

Cuvaison Estate Wines tasting room.


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EXCEPTIONAL WINES TO ENJOYThe Blend 23 is a mixture of Chardonnay,Viognier, andSauvignon Blanc.The tropical fruit notes on the noseintroduce the taster to aspects of pineapple and lemonin the primary portion of the wine. It suddenly transformsin the middle palate into creamy, buttered popcorn andchanges once again into the finish with a heavenly burstof crisp acidity.

Blend 25 is a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon andSyrah. With notes of blackberry, plum and sweet tobacco,this is a luscious, round, flavorful wine. It reminds us ofdried cherries and an exotic spice box!

FAMILY HISTORYKirk Venge is the winemaker for B Cellars and carries on aline of family tradition in creating extraordinary wine inNapa Valley. His father, Nils, is a legend in Napa wine so-cial circles as being the first grower based in California toreceive a perfect 100 point score from Robert Parker.Living up to this, in 2005 KirkVenge was voted one of theTopTwentyYoungWinemakers in the Worldby Foodand Wine Magazine.

B CELLARSOpen daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

400 SilveradoTrail, Calistoga(707)709-8787 www.bcellars.com

Look for B Cellarson Facebook andTwitter.

Visit thewebsite for informationabout Private Tastings andFood&WinePairings,www.bcellars.com.

Walking into the tasting room of B Cellars located on theSilverado Trail is like walking into a party full of close friends.The tasting room itself is adorned with high quality wood on thebar accompanied by tables and contemporary rocking chairsfrom which one is able to enjoy the wine tasting experience.

Specializing predominantly in unique blends, B Cellarsactively breaks standard practices when compared to otherNapa Valley wineries. Due to this fact, the wine itself embodies

the physical qualities of each individual vineyard from which itis sourced. This in turn creates a cornucopia of complexity andnuance within the wine needing to be explored.

B Cellars opened its doors in October of 2010 and veryquickly has developed a local following. In a mere six months,its wine club has reached more than 100 members. The pri-mary reasons for the expedited expansion of the wine club aredue to the fact that the staff is extremely friendly, the facilityitself is a breath-taking venue, and the wines are nothing shortof outstanding. In addition, B Cellars further captivates its wineclub members with a multitude of parties and tasting events.For example, in April the winery is offering a bottling eventexclusively for the entertainment and edification of wine clubmembers. Participants will become acquainted with the meticu-lous world of crafting top quality wines beginning with theharvesting of grapes, moving into bottling practices, and con-cluding with a tasting of the wines with a new foundappreciation for all the effort that goes into the creation of suchunbridled decadence. by Brendan Conroy


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WHAT TO TASTENaturally enough, Laura says she loves all of her wines, butif pressed, she recommends the Oakville Bentley and theRutherfordGeorges IIICabernet Sauvignons to see whatgreat Napa Valley Cabs are all about.

PLAN AHEADThe hillside tasting room also has a picnic area with

southern views of the Valley from the foot of Oat Hill.Call ahead to reserve.

LITTLE KNOWN FACTZahtila Vineyards just released their first ever dry rosof Zinfandel the 2010 Michaels Muse.

VARIETALSChardonnay; multiple vineyard-designate CabernetSauvignons, including the flagshipBentley,named inmemory of Lauras grandparents;LaurasThemeport-stylewine;Michaels Musedry Ros of Zinfandel; multiple

vineyard-designate Zinfandels

Zahtila VineyardsOpen daily 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2250 LakeCounty Highway, Calistoga

(707)942-9251 zahtilavineyards.com

Look for Zahtila at facebook.com/zahtilavineyards,Twitter:@zahtilavineyards andYelp!

MentionDayTripsandreceiveacomplimentarytastingfortwo.

Some people say the days of individual winemaking vision aregone from the Napa Valley. Laura Zahtila Swanton and her husbandMichael Swanton, owners and operators of Zahtila Vineyards inCalistoga, say otherwise. Based on the amazing hand-crafted, small-lotCabernets and Zinfandels theyve produced, theyre right. Most of thetasting and vineyard tours, conducted by appointment only, are owner-led. One might think that running a 2,000-case winery would beenough for most people, but Laura believes the people who make thewines are the best ones to represent the time and effort that have gone

into them: Fortunately, because we are as small as we are, I can beactively involved in all aspects of this business.

That philosophy of involvement extends from the wines of thetasting room to the growers with whom Laura has works. While thetasting room is surrounded by two acres of thirty-one-year-old Zinfan-del vines that produce the Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel bottling, vineyardsfor the Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Port-style and Zinfandelreleases are found by Laura herself. As she notes, Because we are sosmall, we have the freedom to be highly selective in fruit sourcing.We work together to create wines that reveal great vineyard characterand flavor. In addition to the estate fruit, she has worked with grow-

ers in Dry Creek Valley, Oakville and Rutherford, selecting vineyardswith a proven track record for great fruit.The results are that Zahtila wines have received plenty of praise

and high scores, but they are best appreciated with the maker herself,in the intimate tasting salon, surrounded by rose gardens and viewsthat span the southern reaches of the mid-valley. As Laura says, thegoal is to provide owner-led tastings in a friendly, rustic atmosphere No pretension allowed! Come up to Zahtila Vineyards in Calistogaand see for yourself that the spirit of individual vision hasnt left Napaafter all and Laura Zahtila Swanton will proudly show you around!

By Josh Stein


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WHAT TO TASTE

PLAN AHEADOutside of the tasting room is a wrap-around covered patiowith several picnic tables to enjoy food, wine and scenery.The winery is also extremely dog friendly!

LITTLE KNOWN FACTEnvy Wines offers a very member friendly Wine Club. EnvyWines Club members are actually allowed to customize their

wine shipments! Imagine receiving only the wine you wantfrom your favorite wine club!

Envy WinesOpen Sunday-Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

1170Tubbs Lane, Calistoga(707)942-4670 www.envywines.com

EnvyWines is on Facebook,Twitter,Foursquare, yelp! and tripadviser.com

Mention this story to receive a Two-for-One tasting of all current releases!

Imagine an afternoon on a sundrenched patio, laughingwith friends and tasting great Napa Valley wines. From theoutside, you may think youre sitting on a Tuscan terrace. AtEnvy wines you are encouraged to sit and savor a bottle oftheir wine with your own picnic lunch on the patio. Betteryet, slip inside the cool tasting room and let the sultry musicenlighten your senses while the wines inspire your palate.Come on over, were waiting for you!

Veteran Napa winemaker, Nils Venge, teames up withvintner Mark Carter, to bring you a little slice of wine coun-try heaven, Napa Valleys Envy Estate Winery.

Nils, owner and operator of Saddleback Cellars, is a leg-end in Napa Valley with forty-plus years of winemakingexperience. He was the first American winemaker to receivea 100-point rating from Robert Parker! Nils continues to re-ceive great scores from Robert Parker as well as other criticswith the Envy Wines line up.

Marks passion for fine wine began when he started buy-

ing wines for his famous wine list at Restaurant 301. Youcan often find him at his hotel and restaurant Carter HouseInns and Restaurant 301, respectively, located in Eureka,California. His private label, Carter Cellars, has receivedmany favorable ratings ranging from the mid to highnineties.

Envys friendly staff is far from pretentious and loves tochat about wine-related topics with anyone who comesthrough the door. Come by the tasting room any day of theweek and let them share with you what its like to be Envied!

2007 BeeBeesBlend 93 Points Robert Parker

2007PetiteSirahEstate 92 Points StephenTanzer 91 Points Robert Parker

2007PetiteSirahNordVineyard 92 PointsWine Enthusiast

91 Points Robert Parker2007Cabernet Sauvignon 90+ Points StephenTanzer

2007PetiteSirahVacaMountain 92 PointsWine Enthusiast 91 Points StephenTanzer 90+ Points Robert Parker

2009SauvignonBlanc 91 PointsWine Enthusiast 90 PointsWine and Spirits

2007LateHarvest 94 PointsWine Enthusiast


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WINE STANDOUTS

The 2009 Little Billy Pinot Noir Rose is a delightful treat.Hints of strawberry dance around the palate with just aslight afterthought of ripe cherry on the finish. Being solight and fruity, this wine can be paired with anythingfrom salmon to grilled chicken.

TheNaked Pinotwas created so that people could buy

an affordable, yet complex Pinot Noir. At $24 a bottle in avalley that would normally charge $40 and up, the thriftyconsumer certainly gets more than his moneys worthwith this wine. Only 25 cases were made and are onlyavailable at the tasting room, so pick up a bottle quicklybefore it runs out.

SOMETHING SWEET

In addition to the exceptionalWine Sensory Experienceprogram, W. H. Smith also offers a chocolate tasting. Cus-tomers are given a total of six different types of chocolate

and are educated in the different qualities that makethem distinct. Patrons will feel as if they are a food-and-wine professional after the vast amount of knowledgethat they have acquired from these two classes.

W.H. SmithSunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Friday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ClosedWednesday

1307 Lincoln Avenue, Suite B, Calistoga(707)942-0930 www.whsmithwines.com

Complimentary Tasting or $10 off Wine Sensory Experience with this article.

For all the Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir aficionadosresiding in the Napa Valley, there is a winery that stands abovethe rest. W. H. Smith, located in Calistoga, derived from veryhumble beginnings. Bill Smith purchased vineyards in the es-teemed Howell Mountain appellation in 1974 and devoted hislife to pursuing his passion for wine. He and his family origi-nally created wine in trash cans and now are producing

anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 cases annually. W. H. Smith hasmade leaps and bounds since the begnning, yet the quality ofthe wine has remained outstanding.

The most remarkable aspect of visiting W.H. Smith is thefact that the tasting room offers a chance to truly appreciatewine under the tutelage of the family who created it. TheWine Sensory Experience is set up as seven different blindtasting sections. The class is held daily from 10 a.m. to noonand costs $35, by reservation only. It lasts roughly two hours,but patrons will never see the time go by as they learn how to

analyze wine at an expert level. The glasses are completelyblack so that patrons are unable to see inside, and are filledwith various wine descriptors. They range from attributes com-monly used as blackberry, to ones that are unique and difficultto place, such as cardamom. By the end of the seminar, youwill be able to describe not only the different qualities of Amer-ican and French oak, but also the degree to which they weretoasted. The subtle nuances that were once over looked in thewine soon become clear as day. By Josh Stein


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WHAT TO TASTETodd Miller recommends his 2006Wine Garage HillsideCabernet because the fruit was such a joy to work with.Tasting room manager Anne Houghton suggests the 2007Wine GarageNapa ValleyCabernet because of its ripenessand drinkability. Co-owner Joy Mesick is a fan of the 2009Joy Ride: Its refreshing, lively and named after me!

PLAN AHEADAnother unique feature is Wine Garages ability to offerfutures pricing for cases of their wines. Ask whats currentlyon offer to get some of the best wine deals in the Valley!

LITTLE KNOWN FACTWine Garage also makes two proprietary red blends, oneBordeaux style, one Rhne style, which it bottles in jugs(equal to two-and-a-half bottles) for less than $30.

VARIETALSCabernet Sauvignon, Joy Ride white blend, Pinot Noir,Sauvignon Blanc wines under $25 from wine countrys

unknown masters.

Wine GarageOpen Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

1020 FoothillBlvd. (Hwy. 29), Calistoga(707)942-5332 www.winegarage.net

Look for Wine Garage onFacebook,Twitter, 4Square andYelp!

Mention Day Tripsand receive a free tasting; receive 20%offa case ofwine, 25%offa case ofWineGaragewines.

Looking to sample some of wine countrys hidden gemsthat wont break the bank? Hoping to try to some small-lot re-leases youd never find anywhere else, but dont want anyattitude as accompaniment? Then Wine Garage, with itsmotto, Cork dorks need not apply its just wine, people! isthe place for you. This wine shop has wines available fromaround the wine country all for less than $25 as well as its

own Wine Garage wines sourced from some of the North Baysmost distinctive vineyards.Housed in a former gas station just south of Lincoln Av-

enue, Calistogas main street, Wine Garage was started by ToddMiller and Joy Mesick to give the wine industry people, whocouldnt afford the wines they were producing, a way to enjoygreat wines and good times at affordable prices. To that end,they work with local winemakers and wineries to producegreat wines without the usual pricetags, as well as going toother wine regions to negotiate directly with vintners, bringing

their wines to market at a fraction of the usual cost.Most of the wines Wine Garage sells (and produces) are,

therefore, never available anywhere else, which is quite a rarityin the retail wine business. Wines produced by Wine Garageare also available through three different wine clubs, with dif-ferent bottle combinations: All red, a combination of red andwhite or one which delivers nothing but Intense Reds.

Stop in and see what Napa natives wont tell you about because they want to keep it for themselves! By Josh Stein


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TOUR OPTIONS

PREMIUMTOUR AND TASTING Guided tour through theCastle and Winery followed by a tasting of five wines in one ofthe Castles private tasting bars $32/$16 wine club members -(includes entrance fee)

RESERVETOUR ANDTASTING Guided tour followed by aprivate tasting of six of wines, including ReserveWines$42/$21 wine club members - (includes entrance fee)

WINETASTINGPAIREDWITH CHOCOLATE Let the hand-made Belgian chocolates enhance yourWineTastingExperience $4 additional per person

HORSE-DRAWNVINEYARDTOUR Available by reservationonly, Saturdays, $68 per person/$54.40 wine club members

WINE AWARDS

Bien Nacido Chardonnay 92 points fromWine Spectator La Castellana 92 points from Robert Parker Il Barone 94 points from Robert Parker

Gallantry is alive and well in the Napa Valley. Owner Dario

Sattui is a lifelong student of medieval architecture and after

thirty years of research and dreaming about Castello di

Amorosa and fifteen years of construction, he created an unfor-

gettable, splendid castle that honors his Italian heritage and

showcases his exceptional wines like no other place could.

The Castle, comes complete with authentic features includ-

ing a chapel, drawbridge, moat, courtyard, watch tower,torture chamber, loggia, deep-well, secret passage ways and an

outdoor oven. The guided tour wends its way through four

levels including a visit to the wine storage caves, courtyard, ar-

mory and the Great Hall with hand-painted frescoes and

500-year-old fireplace. Every Sunday morning, the chapel

holds mass at 8:30 delivered entirely in Latin.

Castello di Amorosa wines are only available at the tasting

room or on the website. The wines reflect the same attention to

detail from vineyard to bottle. The Castle portfolio includes awide range of old-world Italian-style wines. As you visit youll

learn about the many varietals they source, and about highly

rated wines like the Bien Nacido Chardonnay, La Castellana and

Il Barone. All part of a unique, rarified and memorable Wine

Country experience.

This remarkable place is truly a must-see and the wines are

memorable, stylistically crafted to complement food.

Castello di AmorosaOpen daily 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

4045 North St.Helena Hwy., Calistoga(707)967-6272

www.castellodiamorosa.com

Follow Castellodi Amorosaon Facebook andTwitter.

IL Barone


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VARIETALSAll Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah, Merlot, CabernetSauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc.

TOURSAt Madrigal Vineyards you can tour the new winery fora first-hand look at small-lot wine production.

GOOD TO KNOWThe reasonable tasting fee will be covered by a purchase.They are complimentary for Wine Club members.

FUN FACTSonnet #63, one of many wines they craft, is like thelyrical poem that lends it itsname, and is a tribute tothat passion. It showcases the eloquence of Napa Valleysmost exceptional fruit in a classic blend of Cabernet Franc,Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In fact each oftheir wines has individual, personal significance.

PLAN AHEADCheck the Madrigal Vineyards website for upcomingspecial events at the winery.

Madrigal VineyardsOpen daily10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment

3718 North St.Helena Highway, Calistoga(707)942-8619 www.madrigalvineyards.com

Two-for-One Tasting and 10% of any purchases with the Day Trips.

As they say, Madrigal Vineyards is about fine wines since1995, vineyard traditions since 1937, which is when this agri-cultural saga began. Today, they enjoy being a small producerof all estate wines. They get to know the people who drinktheir wines and are proud to show off their brand new winery,set in the heart of vineyards that make the valley such a cov-eted piece of winemaking land.

Three generations of the Madrigal family have farmed vine-yards in the Napa Valley. Their family history is a constantsource of inspiration and something they say guides them intheir winemaking practices and philosophy. It is evident thatthey value the long relationship theyve had with the land andpeople, and they pay homage to that heritage. That deep ap-preciation of these vineyards can be tasted in their wine.

Sip, savor and explore in the heart of Napa Valleys vine-yards! Surrounded by the stunning beauty of mountains andvineyards, youll discover the personal side of winemaking. We

invite you to join us for an intriguing peek into the world of ar-tisan wines at our new family winery.

When you visit this charming family owned and operatedwinery in the northern part of the Napa Valley youll have theopportunity to explore Madrigal wines in their intimate tastingroom. You are absolutely free to picnic on the winery grounds,and happy dogs on leashes are always welcome. So strollthrough the vineyards, savor the wines and enjoy a memorable,relaxing visit. By Charles Neave


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15On& AroundHowellMountainwww.WineCountryThisWeek.com

Howell Mountain

Beginning on the Silverado Trail, this trip includes Conn

Valley, Howell Mountain and Pope Valley with striking

views from high elevations to rolling hills on the valley

floor. You can see what Napa County was like in the early

pioneer days. Be sure to plan a full day for this one

its a beautiful drive and youll want to take in the sites.

Most of these wineries require prior appointment and

watch for the addresses or you might miss them.

FOOD

College Market

15 Angwin Plaza, Angwin, (707) 965-6321

Here you will find plenty of options for picnicking.Other than salami (meat-free products only), this storehas any other grocery items you may need.Pope Valley Market

5850 PopeValley Road, Pope Valley, (707) 965-9922

This small market with some snack lunch items andlocal organic herbs. It's a great place to stop and grab anice cream treat during your drive on a hot summer day.LODGING

Camping Bothe-Napa State ParkHwy 29 & Larkmead Road between St. Helena/Calistoga

1-800-444-PARK

Vacation RentalsLook online for vacation rentals on Howell Mountain.There are some very nice private homes available .THINGS TO DO

Las Posadas State Forest5850 PopeValley Road, Pope Valley, (707) 965-9922

Hiking trails include a 4.4 mile, full loop trail thatpasses a pioneer cemetary dating back to the 1800sHowell Mountain ChallengeSunday, August 8

(707) 965-6346, web2.puc.edu/Pioneers/HMC

If mountain biking is your speed, this is a 10 mile cir-cuit thats hilly on smooth to medium-rough trails withlots of trees a fun course!

PacicUnion

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BRAVANTE

On &Around

Driving Time:50 minutesFrom Andersons ConnValleyto PopeValleyWinery 13 milesto Summit LakeWinery 6 milesto BravanteVineyards 4 milestoViaderVineyards 2 milesto Burgess Cellars > 1 mile

Total 26 miles

Not to Scale


16/80

16 On& AroundHowellMountain www.WineCountryThisWeek.com

GOOD TO KNOW Anderson ConnValley will customize your wine experi-ence to suit your tastes.You can arrange for barreltastings in their cave and food pairings.Todd will evensupply you with a premium cigar to enjoy with yourglass of Cabernet!

If youre here during the week, youll get to witness

the winemaking process firsthand. This is a workingwinery. You might even be asked to help!

There is a story behind each of their wines and itis an entertainment event in itself to hear them.You wont be bored by the usual winery babble atAndersons Conn Valley.

Be sure and give an ear-scratch to one of the multiplewinery dogs. If Kira, Todds Vizsla, isnt out huntingpheasants or quail, shell escort you into the tastingroom herself. In her absence, Scout, the lovable

Ridgeback is happy to play the host.

Andersons Conn Valley VineyardsOpen by appointment,

Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

680RossiRoad,St.Helena(707) 963-8600 www.connvalleyvineyards.com

Look for them on Facebook and become a fan.

Twoforoneoftheircustomizedbarreltastingexperience(a$25value).

In 1984, Todd Anderson began staking out his vineyard'strellis system with his father, Gus Anderson. In fact, he per-sonally cleared every inch of the former hay field that wouldbecome his world famous vineyard. Many boast of buildingtheir own winery, but few can state that they actuallypounded each post. Todds devotion to doing things himselfdidnt end with construction, though. His mastery of wine-making has earned him top accolades from some of the most

discriminating wine experts in the world. His Ghost Horsewines have never been beaten in competition against some ofthe most pricy and revered wines produced. Never.

What is truly amazing is that when you visit AndersonConn Valley, you get to spend time with Mr. Anderson him-self. Very rarely is such a prominent and knowledgeablewinemaker so accessible to the public. Todd will take youinto his barrel room and give you a firsthand account of thepassion and precision behind his wines. His riveting tales be-hind the creation of each wine are a match to the artistry in

each glass poured.While the winery is known for ultra-premium wines that

command top prices, Anderson Conn Valley has a wonderfulselection of more affordable wines, as well. They have longbeen known for their 100% Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvi-gnon, but they are fast becoming known for their outstandingPinot Noir, too. Dont miss the Bordeaux-style blends whichinclude the loge and Right Bank, either. These complex andfull-bodied wines are stunning examples of the genre.

By Ronda Giangreco


17/80


GOOD TO KNOW

Pope Valley was originally called Locallomes after theIndians who first settled the valley. The name waschanged to Pope Valley after Julian Pope was given aland grant to the area by the Mexican government.After the governor signed it, Julian Pope paid twenty-five cents and Pope Valley became his!

The PopeValley Winery was originally the BurgundyWinery & Olive Factory and was managed by Ed Haus.

The cave, entirely hand-dug, took nine years to build!

Winemaker, David Eakles reports that his favorite wineis the PopeValley Reserve Cabernet. I love its complex-ity and the fruit-forward flavor.

Dont miss the incredible Zinfandel Port! This rich,luscious wine is a great finish to a meal and the perfectending for a day in the wine country.

PopeValley Winey offers aWonderful Cheese basketthat pairs beautifully with their wines.Take one with

you, along with a glass of Pope Valley wine and sit outunder the towering oaks that look out over miles ofvineyards.This is what wine tasting is all about!

Pope Valley WineryMonday - Wednesday by appointment (please call)

Thursday - Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

6613 PopeValley Road, PopeValleyTurnleftandgoback100years.

(707)965-1246 www.popevalleywinery.com

TwocomplimentaryPopeValleylogoglasseswhenyoumentionDayTrips

Along a winding country road, up an unpaved drive andpast Gus a big, friendly, chocolate lab youll find one ofthe most unpretentious, down-to-earth tasting rooms around.

The Pope Valley Winery offers a wine tasting experiencefar removed from the ostentatious fare to be found at someof the more well-known wine country destinations. Hereyou will be treated less like a visitor and more like a friend.

Winding through picturesque fields, undulating vine-

yards and oak-studded hills, one gets the feeling of beingtransported back in time. The Pope Valley Winery wasfounded in 1897 by Ed Haus. The original farmhouse stillgraces the property, as well as a blacksmiths workshopcomplete with the tools of the trade. The winery itself ishoused in an historic building that was designed, beforeelectricity was brought to the site, to utilize the slope of thehill to move the grapes through the process of becomingfine wine.

The Eakle family now runs the winery and produces5,000 cases of wine a year from estate-grown fruit, withsome from vines that are nearly seventy years old. PopeValley Winery is noted for its Cabernet Sauvignon EstateReserve.The 2007 vintage just received a double gold at thisyears San Francisco Chronicle competition. The Eakle RanchMerlot is a lush, fruitful wine that will complement nearlyany dish. They also produce Sangiovese, Sangiovese Ros,Zinfandel, Zinfandel Port as well as Old Vine and Late Har-vest Chenin Blanc. By Ronda Giangreco


18/80


GOOD TO KNOW

Summit LakeVineyards very first commercial releasewas their 78 Zinfandel, and it took the coveted DoubleGold at the California State Fair. It also sold out in justeight days!

Bob, back in his college days, once bought an old VWvan and drove it all across Europe while tasting wine

along the way. It eventually took him all the way toAfghanistan!

When Bob and Sue first purchased their twenty-eightacre vineyard, it was totally overgrown with Manzanita,poison oak and coyote weed. Several years later, theyeven found an old tractor that had been completelyhidden by bushes!

It took three long years and much hard work to hand-plant their thirteen acres of vineyards.Thankfully, theyhad many friends willing to help who were all rewardedwith fantastic wine.

This year is the fortieth anniversary. Summit Lake Vine-yards is still going strong and still one of the fewwineries that can boast of being completely familyowned and operated.

Summit Lake VineyardsOpen by appointment only

2000SummitLakeDrive,Angwin(707)965-2488www.summitlakevineyards.com

Two free tastings with this Day Trips guide.

If you find yourself on the back roads leading to SummitLake Winery, chances are you are thinking yourself seriouslylost. No need to worry. One of the most good- natured wine-makers youll ever meet is waiting for you. Hell also help youfind your way back down the hill.

Bob Brakesman of Summit Lake Vineyards personifies thepioneer spirit that led many to this area to try their hand atwinemaking. His only motivation was a love of wine, but hisknowledge didnt go much further than how to extract a corkfrom a bottle. However Bob and his late wife, Sue, had suchwarm personalities that it wasnt long before they were able tocajole their way into getting some of the most learned minds inthe business to provide both practical information and equip-ment to help them build their winery.

The land at Summit Lake didnt seem to hold very muchpromise. It was overgrown and rugged, but had been planteddecades ago with a small vineyard. While the couple was able

to coax the vines into producing a quality wine, the old plantsjust could not produce the quantity of fruit needed. With thehelp of friends, they planted more vines and began to buildtheir winery.

Today, Bob and his family produce several wonderful wines,each named after a grandchild. The Cabernet, Petite Sirah,Zinfandel Port and Ros are all estate grown. Their HowellMountain Zinfandel put them on the map and gave them therespect of winemakers throughout the valley. By Ronda Giangreco


19/80


VARIETALSSauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc andCabernet Sauvignon

BARRELSHumidity-constant caves are full of American, Frenchand Hungarian oak barrels.

TOPOGRAPHYAs removed as the winery is from the bustle ofthe Valley floor, it is still barely ten minutes from theintersection of Deer Park Road and the Silverado Trail.So there it sits, remote but easily accessible and theresult is a casual, unhurried, relaxed and informativetasting environment.

HARVESTINGAt harvest they hand pick into small, five pound trays tokeep the integrity of each individual berry prior to crush;and they harvest in small lots, only as the unique sectionsof their vineyards ripen one-by-one.

SPECIALAsk about the much-coveted Simpatico blended from thefinest barrel-selected wine from each vintage, andTrio, aMerlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

Bravante VineyardsOpen Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

by appointment

300 StoneRidge Road, Angwin(707)965-2552 www.bravantevineyard.com

Buy two cases of red wine and get one case of Sauvignon Blanc for free!

At the end of a drive that sweeps through vineyards sits

Howell Mountains Bravante Vineyards, home to premium,

estate-grown wines. Here, the commitment is always, and

unwaveringly, to quality. That goal drives everything we do in

the vineyard and in the cellar, said founder and proprietor

George Bravante, a respected grower of citrus, stone fruit and

table grapes in the Central Valley. Were focused on crafting

consistently delicious and well-made wines from our historicappellation.

From the beginning, our philosophy has been grounded in

one word: commitment. Commitment to creating world-class

wine and commitment to the winemaking styles that best

express the varietals. And that quality starts in the vineyard.

The education and enjoyment begins in the compact but

comfortable tasting room, just off the winemaking facility, with

gleaming silver tanks and a modern crusher-destemmer. Doors

open on each end. Outside are entrances to the naturally tem-perature and humidity controlled caves, an integral part of

their barrel aging program.

You begin your tour and tasting with a refreshing glass of

Sauvignon Blanc. Along the way youll hear anecdotes and

history inside the caves and outdoors, where the views are

spectacular. It is education at its most sublime an hour of

learning, but mostly its about the enjoyment of both wine and

place. By Charles Neave


20/80


GOOD TO KNOW All the rocks used in the building of the tasting room,offices, planters and walls were collected from the landssurrounding the vineyards. Especially selected are theones covered with moss and those with unique shapesthat represent the natural beauty of the mountainsterrain in the architectural elements of each structure.

There are eight different types of lavender growingon the estate. Not only are they gorgeous floweringplants, but they attract bees and contribute to thearomatic nature of Viader wines.

The third generation of winemakers is soon to arrivein the form of Deilas second grandchild in August!

Viader is 1200 feet above the Napa Valley floor on therocky slopes of Howell Mountain.The European designof the vineyards, with the vines oriented up and downthe steep hillsides, is a planting method that optimizessun exposure, vine density and erosion control.

Viader VineyardsPlease call ahead to make an appointment

1120DeerParkRoad,DeerPark

(707)963-3816ext.110www.viader.com

TwoforonetastingwiththisDayTripsguide(a$35value!).

The tasting room at Viader is housed in a stunning stonebuilding perched on a mountain rim. From the moment youstep in youll know you have arrived at a hidden gem few arefortunate enough to find.

The panoramic views that unfold before you are some ofthe most magnificent on earth. Then the wine arrives tocomplete the experience of grandeur. Viader is known forproducing high-quality, limited-production red wines.

Expertly prepared hors doeuvres, lunches and dinners byMariela Viader, a Thomas Keller trained chef, are also servedfor private events.

Viader is the creation of one very determined and talentedwoman. Delia Viader founded the winery in 1986. Her visionof planting a European style vineyard, with vines oriented upand down the steep hillside of Howell Mountain, requiresmeticulous hand farming. The result is wines that consistentlygarner rave reviews from discriminating wine lovers.

Her signature wine, Viader Proprietary Red Blend, features

Cabernet Sauvignon with a significant component of CabernetFranc. Viader V is an exclusive Petit Verdot blend. The estateViader Syrah is a clonal blend of Barossa and Hermitage clonesof Syrah. Starting in 2003, she began producing Dare by Vi-ader, a line that focuses on single varieties from selectvineyards in the Napa Valley blended with estate fruit, includ-ing a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon, a Cabernet Franc, aTempranillo and a Dry Ros.

A truly elegant winery and outstanding winesthe essenceof a Napa Valley experience. By Ronda Giangreco


21/80


GOOD TO KNOW

The original grapes were planted by Italian emigrantCarlo Rossini in 1891 on property originally homsteaded inthe 1870s.

Tom Burgessboughthis small mountain-sidewinery in 1972after falling in love with wine in the 1960s whiletouringEurope.

From an open-air, mountainside porch you can see all the wayfrom Saint Helena to Calistoga.

Their signature wine is the Cabernet Sauvignon, a big, boldwine that represents this varietal at its best.

Burgess Winery keeps a large selection of wines in theirlibrary, offering guests the opportunity to buy aged wines.The wines in their library program are stored in ideal condi-tions until release.If you see ourlibrary selectionsticker onthe wine,Mr. Burgess said,it means that it has either never

left our cellar or its only been shipped from us to the retailerat the time of its library release.

Steve Burgess, the winerys head of sales and marketing, wasactually born during the winery s first harvest!

Burgess CellarsCall for an appointment.

1108 Deer Park Road, St.Helena

1-800-752-9463 www.burgesscellars.com

MentionDayTripsfor10%offofapurchaseofsixbottlesand15%offofcasepurchases.

There is one very important element that truly definesBurgess Cellars: the unique site. As Steve Burgess says, Itis why our wines are different. It is why we are different.

Located high on Howell Mountain, and commanding abreathtaking view of the Napa Valley, Burgess can trace itsorigins to a winery that was established on the property inthe 1880s. That was long before cars or paved roads ex-

isted to link the property to civilization. The vineyardswere planted with the help of mules, dynamite and thehard work of people whose vision is reflected today in thefine wines of Burgess. Weve been sustainable since beforethe word was invented. With us it has always been a ne-cessity, relates Steve.

For those who wish to visit the historic wine countryof the Napa Valley, an afternoon at Burgess is essential.

The tasting room experience at Burgess is refreshinglyfree of pretentiousness. Located in their barrel room, the

tasting bar is often manned by one of the family members.Burgess wines are elegant and complex with purity and

balance, and include an array of Cabernet, Merlot andSyrah. They also make a few wines that are only obtainableat the winery. Their Grenache and Grenache Ros are truefinds that you wont get anywhere else. Their flagshipwine, Cabernet Sauvignon, thrives on the western slopesof Howell Mountain near the winery. By Ronda Giangreco


22/80

22 St. Helena www.WineCountryThisWeek.com

St. HelenaThe special little town of St. Helena is located seven short miles south of Calistoga on Foothill Blvd/CA Hwy 29. The playground of the tres chic and

tasteful, St. Helenas one Main Street is filled to the brim with gourmet bakeries, acclaimed restaurants, couture clothes, and lavish home decor and

kitchen shops.

FOOD

Anna's Cantina

1205 Main Street, St. Helena, (707) 963-4921

A great place to meet locals and indulge in some karoake!A must for Thursday night visitors and public-singing-fans. Anna's is a locals hangout that happily welcomesvisitors.Farmstead Restaurant


www.farmsteadnapa.com

Housed in a former nursery barn, Farmstead showcases the

seasonal, ingredient-driven American farmhouse cooking.Go Fish

641 Main Street, St. Helena

(707) 963-0700, www.gofishrestaurant.net

Go Fish has been written up consistently as one of the topfish restaurants in the nation. Make reservations for dinner!Gott's Roadside "Tray Gourmet"


(707) 963-3486, www.gottsroadside.com

"Mighty Fine Eats!" indeed. Keeping alive the traditions ofhandmade American food. Artisanal ingredients in tradi-

tional recipes combine for a refreshing take on old roadsidefavorites. Don't miss the burgers and fries!Guigni Deli


An absolute must! Guigni Deli is known for their"Guigni Juice" it makes every sandwich incredible.Model Bakery


(707) 963-8192, www.themodelbakery.com

Start your day with fresh coffee and hand-made pastry.Tra Vigne

1050 Charter Oak Street, St. Helena

(707) 963-444, www.travignerestaurant.comItalian inspired cuisine, remarkable 200 count wine listV. Sattui Winery

Corner of Hwy. 29 & White Lane, St. Helena

(707) 963-7774, www.vsattui.com

Perfect spot for a wine country picnic with cheeses, meats,salads and panini as well as BBQ fare and pizzas on week-ends during spring, summer and fall.

LODGING

Inn at Southbridge


1-800-520-6800, www.innatsouthbridge.com

Ideally located in the center of St. Helena.

ST.HELENA

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Culinary Institute

of America (CIA)

Model Bakery

Guigni Deli

Tra Vigne

Inn at Southbridge

Go Fish

Crane Park

ARGER-MARTUCCI

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29

CHARLESKRUG

BALLENTINEVINEYARDS

Driving Time:14 minutesFrom Ballentine

to St. Clement > 1 mileto Beringer 1 mileto Long Meadow Ranch > 1 miletoV. SattuiWinery > 1 mileto Arger-Martucci .5 miletoWhitehall Lane 1 mile

Total4 miles

Meadowood900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena1-800-458-8080, www.meadowood.comLuxury country resort unfolds across 250lush acres with tennis courts, croquet lawns,9-hole golf course and spa.Vineyard Country Inn


www.vineyardcountryinn.com

A three diamond, AAA approved lodge offer-ing 21 suites with fireplaces and grandbedrooms. Using lovely old world brick, theVineyard Inn courtyards, pool, and loungeareas provide a great place to 'unwind' afterthat 'stressful' day of wine tasting!

THINGS TO DO

Weekends at the Culinary Instituteof America (CIA)2555 Main Street, St. Helena1-888-995-1699www.ciaachef.edu/enthusiasts

Select a cooking or wine class at theworld-famous CIA.

Watch bocce ball Games

most nights at Crane ParkCrane & Grayson Avenues, St. Helena

Local bocce teams compete on summer nights.Bring that bottle of wine, a picnic blanketand watch the games.

Not to Scale


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23St. Helenawww.WineCountryThisWeek.com

VARIETALSMerlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Syrah,Chardonnay, White Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Madeira,SparklingWines and more.

HUNGRY?Enjoy food and wine pairings and pick up a snack,a picnic, something to nibble on or something sweet

(try chocolate and Zinfandel on the lawn), all from thedeli where youll find more than 200 cheeses and anassortment of food items and gifts.

PLAN FOR ITThe winery has a barbecue on warm weather weekends.

SPECIAL EVENTSIf youre planning a wedding or dinner, everything youneed for a special event is within those stone walls.

SPECIAL OFFERS

Consider membership to the Cellar Club, which allowsyear-round access to taste a portfolio of their best winesand invitations to special events.

V. Sattui WineryOpen daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(6 p.m. in summer)

1111 WhiteLane, St.Helena(707)963-7774 www.vsattui.com

FollowV. SattuiWinery on Facebook andTwitter.

ComplimentaryClassicTastingbefore11amor2for1PremiumTastingafter11am.

Vittorio Sattui was an Italian immigrant who founded awinery in San Francisco in 1885, and is the great-grandfatherof Dario Sattui, who opened his own winery in St. Helena in1975. Its like a slice of Italy, with a busy piazza of stone walls,courtyards, archways, a tower, cellars, fountain and expansivepicnic grounds. Of course, a selection of award-winning winesis always available. As in Italy, there are lively conversations,

lots of laughter and families celebrating.It all begins when you enter the Marketplace and makeyour way to the tasting area and a variety of tasting options. Ifyou like white wines, V. Sattui makes up to four different anddistinct Chardonnays. They are also one of the biggest produc-ers of Riesling in both dry and off-dry styles. With thePremium Tasting youll try a flight of six single-vineyard andlimited-release wines.

Theres a whole list of rich Cabernets from which to choose,and long before anyone ever made White Zinfandel, V. Sattui

produced a ros from Gamay grapes. Every year its the singlemost popular wine, which probably has something to do withits food and picnic friendly personality.

All Sattui wines are available exclusively at the winery oronline, making a visit to the tasting room just a little morespecial. Gold is the metal of choice for Sattui wines: in 2010,more than100 gold medals decorated the necks of Sattui bot-tles. They have also been repeatedly honored with the title ofWinery of the Year at the California State Fair.


24/80


VARIETALSSauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot,Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel Port.

FUN FACTThe Flagship Cabernet has been produced at the winerysince 1944.

PLAN AHEAD

One of the most popular events in the Napa Valley is theannual Tastings on the Lawn.This year its September 10th.

HISTORYThe historic Redwood Cellar, built in 1872, is across from thepicnic area. Behind the cellar lies the Carriage House builtfor Krugs wife to house her horses, and the sprawling GreatLawn.The original cider press is on display and the propertyis bisected by train tracks that recall an era when NapaValleyfruit was shipped east to home winemakers during Prohibi-tion.

GREEN

The Peter Mondavi Family uses sustainable farming methodsin the vineyards.

Charles Krug WineryOpen daily 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2800 Main Street (Route 29), St. Helena1-800-237-0033 www.charleskrug.com

Follow them on Facebook andTwitter.

JointhePeterMondaviFamilyforthe150thAnniversaryCelebrationatthe60thAnnualTastingsontheLawnonSeptember10,2011.Callorvisitonlinetopurchasetickets.

Here is the history, which is as important to the lush NapaValley as the volcanic mountain in St. Helena and the palisadesnorth of Calistoga: In the year 1861, Charles Krug establishedthe first winery in the Napa Valley, so this year marks the win-erys 150th anniversary. In 1862 he opened the doors to thefirst tasting room in the Golden State. The Peter Mondavi Fam-ily purchased the winery in 1943 and have preserved itstraditions and historic buildings for four generations whilealso introducing state-of-the-art winemaking techniques andtechnology.

The Family Reserve label is the hallmark of wines producedwith grapes harvested from specific vineyard blocks in the win-erys prime vineyards. The reserve Generations is a tribute to thegenerations of winemaking by the Peter Mondavi Family; Vin-tage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon is their Flagship Cabernet.With grapes from 850 acres of estate land, they make some ofNapa Valleys most popular wines. Their Limited Releaseselections are produced in small lots from 100 to 500 cases andharvested from the finest clonal selections of Cabernet Sauvi-

gnon and blending varieties. Theyre available only through thetasting room and online at charleskrug.com.The tasting bars inside the friendly, casual tasting room are

made from the same redwood that the Peter Mondavi Familyused to make redwood tanks for fermentation in the RedwoodCellar after their purchase of the property. One of those enor-mous tanks, and the original glass transfer tubes, remains in thenewly restored barrel room. In many ways that sums up theCharles Krug experience: history, family and well-crafted wines.


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VARIETALSMerlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel, OldVine Chenin Blanc, a rare Malvasia Bianca, CabernetSauvignon and Cabernet Franc

FOOD PAIRINGTry their rich Zinfandel Port with dark chocolate aftera meal, or just as a special treat any time of day.

PRODUCTION about 10,000 cases a year.

GEOGRAPHYThe hills that create the NapaValley and help shapethe wines made here with their altitude also impactclimate and soil.To the east is the Vaca Range on theother side of the Valley; to the west, across Route 29from the winery, are the Mayacamas.

GREEN FACTThe winery is now 100-percent solar powered, just one oftheir green efforts.

Ballentine VineyardsOpen daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only.

2820 St. HelenaHighway North, St.Helena

(707)963-7919www.ballentinevineyards.com

CheckthewebsiteforWineClubMemberoffersanddiscountsonlocallodging.

The tasting room may be new but there is a lot of historybehind this winery situated north of St. Helena. John Ballen-tine emigrated in 1910 from County Tyrone, Ireland to SanFrancisco. His family estate was called Deer Park and it be-came a major influence in his life. His son Van grew up in theNapa Valley helping to plant vineyards, prune vines and makewine.

The history of this winery involves other families and any

number of hardworking characters, many of them members ofthe Pocai family from Italy. Over time their winemaking, theirfamilies and their fortunes intertwined. Even the devastatingSan Francisco Earthquake of 1906 played a part. Luck wasalso a major player, especially when it came to the acquisitionof some of the best vineyard land in the entire Napa Valley.Luck can never be an underestimated component when itcomes to successful winemaking, something that continues tothis day.

When you enter the tasting room at this working winery,you find a long, stylish room with pale green walls, anL-shaped bar and lots of stone and wood. Windows on thenorth side look out on vineyards, the floor is slate, the lightingmodern, and you are likely to find yourself talking to theowners and their enthusiastic staff.

The wines offered for tasting include wonderful examplesof what the Napa Valley is famous for, and youll find your ownfavorites as you taste your way through Ballentines list.

By Charles Neave


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ONLY AT THE WINERY!St. Clement produces 13 wines, but only five of them arein distribution. The remaining eight are secret little gemsthat you can only find in the tasting room.

DONT MISS:Oroppas Cabernet Sauvignon, a unique wine of Cabernetwith a splash of Merlot, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc,is a Bordeaux blend from four distinct Napa mountain

vineyards. Produced since 1991, Oroppas never ratesbelow 90 points, including the current 2007 Oroppas,and its a steal at $55 per bottle!

VARIETALSCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc,Chardonnay

A BIT OF RECENT HISTORYIn 1976, local doctor William Casey purchased the historicproperty and launched the St. Clements wine label. Thecross of St. Clementswas a tribute to Caseys ancestorswho helped to found the state of Maryland.

St. Clement VineyardOpen daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tours are offered:Sunday through Friday 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.

Saturdays 10:30 a.m. by appointment only

2867 St. HelenaHighway North, St. Helena1-866-877-5939 www.stclement.com

Mention Day Trips and receive a Two-for-One Tasting! *Termsandconditionsapplyseewineryfordetails.

Words hardly do justice to St. Clement Vineyards and Tast-ing Room. Set high above the Napa Valley floor in an 1870sVictorian house, St. Clement is at once regal and inviting.

St. Clement Vineyards was a private residence until 30years ago when it became a winery dedicated to producingworld-class wines.

The home itself was built in 1878 and is a remarkable pieceof California Victorian architecture. Think period-appropriate

paint, decor and details like carved arrows in the eaves to wardoff evil spirits!

Today, the St. Clement Tasting Room respects the history ofthe building and welcomes guests to taste a $20 flight of fiveSt. Clement wines (whites and red). You may also select theSingle Vineyard Tasting for $25. This exclusive tasting takesplace on the Winery Terrace and includes your choice of fourof the limited-production, single-vineyard wines appoint-ment recommended.

St. Clement Vineyards nurtures long-term relationshipswith some of the best grape growers in Napa Valley. Instead ofowning its own acreage, St. Clement produces wine with thebest quality grapes sourced from diverse AVAs such as HowellMountain, Mount Vedeer, Rutherford and Spring Mountain.

More than 33 different soil series and 100 different soilvariations are represented in St. Clement wines. WinemakerDanielle Cyrot is able to take these exceptional grapes andproduce St. Clement wines with extraordinary depth andcomplexity. By Abigail Zimmerman


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FUN FACT:Beringer Vineyards has Victorian era roots and is the old-est continuously operating winery in all of Napa Valley! In2001, the entire winery site was designated as a HistoricDistrict on the National Register of Historic Places.

VARIETALS:Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc,White Zinfandel as well asCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir

WHAT TO TASTE:The 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a spe-cialty release wine crafted from a blend of seven premierNapa Valley vineyards. A blend of mountain and valleyfloor fruit, this Cabernet retails for $115. It also scored 95points in Robert Parkers Wine Advocate in December2010.

CALLING ALL FOODIES!Find recipes to perfectly pair with Beringer wines on thewinerys website. This month? Dungeness crab cakes

with cucumber and cilantro slaw paired with the PrivateReserve Chardonnay

Beringer VineyardsOpen daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

2000 Main Street , St. Helena1-866-708-9463 www.beringer.com

Follow BeringerVineyards on Facebook andlearnof newreleases andspecial events!

MentionDayTripsandreceiveaTwo-for-OneTasting! *Terms and conditions apply seewinery fordetails.

For more than 130 years, Beringer Vineyards has reflectedthe rewards of hard labor, agricultural pride and determinedviticultural stewardship.

German emigrant Jacob Beringer followed his brother Fred-erick to the New World in 1868 to begin a new life. Hearing ofCalifornias warm, sunny climate, the brothers headed west toNapa Valley. Vintage cellar worker, Jacob Beringer was thrilledto find Napas rocky, well-drained soils similar to those of his

native Rhine Valley.From the beginning, the Beringer brothers were vastly

ahead of the oenological times. Frederick and Jacob built agravity-flow winery and steam-powered grape crusher, thenenlisted the help of Chinese laborers to hand-dig tunnelswithin the hills of Napa Valley.

Today, these caves still perfectly cellar and age wine in a sta-ble 58-degree environment one crucial key to Beringerscontinued success in winemaking.

Beringer wines are world-famous for crafting classic wines

from Napas finest appellations and vineyards. Founder Jacobsforesight in recognizing the quality and potential of grapegrowing in the Napa Valley is part of the living heritage ofBeringer Vineyards. In its third century, Beringer is led byWinemaker Laurie Hook who produces wines that speak elo-quently of Beringers rich history and contemporary elegance.

Laurie speaks volumes when she says you cant make wineonly through science...trust your intuition as well. It is thisblend of art and science that elevates Beringer wines above therest. by Abigail P. Zimmerman


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VARIETALSIliad(white blend), Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon,Odyssey(Estate Reserve), Cabernet Franc, Petite Syrah,and Dulcinea (dessert wine).

FUN FACTAlthough he has been making wine for over 35 yearsand has crafted many award-winning wines, Dr. Argerhas never taken a formal winemaking class!

VINEYARDSAll red wines, with the exception of the Petite Syrah, areestate grown on their mountainside Odyssey Vineyards,which are located 1,400 feet above the NapaValley flooron Atlas Peak.

FAMILYThe next generation is also involved in the winery fulltime. Anthony Arger handles the outside sales and mar-keting duties, while Vince Martucci is the assistantwinemaker and oversees the tasting room.

SPECIAL OFFERSAsk about the Arger-MartucciWine Club its one of thebest deals in the Napa Valley!

Arger-Martucci VineyardsOpen daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Appointments are encouraged.

1455 Inglewood Avenue, St. Helena(707) 963-4334 www.arger-martucci.com

Present this page at the winery and receive a Two-for-One Tasting!

When Napa Valley is bustling and its time for a break, dropby Arger-Martucci Vineyards where you can enjoy award win-ning wines in a relaxing and unpretentious setting. Locatedjust south of St. Helena, the winery is quaint and picturesque.The tasting rooms poolside picnic area, complete with an out-door gazebo, boasts a beautiful view of the MayacamasMountains and offers guests the ideal atmosphere to taste ex-ceptional wines away from the crowds.

Arger-Martucci is a boutique, family-owned winery that is

more than a business venture between two owners. It is a loveand appreciation of making great wine that is shared by twofamilies one Greek, the other of Italian descent. OwnersKosta Arger and Rich Martucci first met and became closefriends through a Reno, NV wine tasting group in the 80s. Atthe time, Arger was establishing himself as an accomplishedcardiologist and skilled home winemaker, while Martucci wasworking to build the struggling bank he had acquired. Dr.Arger, who learned to make wine in the 70s from the leg-endary Joe Heitz of Heitz Cellars, had always dreamed ofstarting a Napa Valley winery. In 1998, both families were

looking for property in the Napa Valley and decided it was theperfect time to partner and start a winery.The Arger-Martucci partnership is ideal Rich manages the

financial aspects of the business, while Kosta handles the wine-making. Still a practicing cardiologist in Reno, Dr. Argerspends his weekends, holidays and the harvest in Napa Valley.

The winery is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and its es-tate reserve, Bordeaux-style blend, the Odyssey. They alsoproduce a handful of other delicious reds, along with an ele-gant white blend called the Iliad. Stop by and enjoy thiswonderful Napa Valley secret.


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VARIETALSChardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon,Merlot and Pinot Noir

SPECIAL OFFERSCheck the website for new offers.

CLUB ROOMA seated VIP tasting experience with light fare in the

Club Room overlooking the Estate Vineyard andBarrel Room. By appointment only.Seatings at 11am, 1pm and 2:30 pm daily.

EDUCATIONThe winery offers an enjoyable and informative interac-tive tour and tasting at 11 a.m. (11:30 a.m. on Saturdayand Sunday) in the winerys Reserve Room. Youll tourthis state-of-the-art facility and surrounding vineyardson the way to tasting their wines.

GREAT GIFT

One of the coolest gifts in Napa Valley is a compact tast-ing kit that includes six sample-sized bottles of theirwines in a sleek box with tasting notes on each wine.

Whitehall Lane WineryOpen daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

1563 St. Helena Highway South - St. Helena1-800-963-9454 - www.whitehalllane.com

Look for Whitehall LaneWineryon Facebook andTwitter.

MentionDay Trips and receive a Two-for-One Current Release Tasting Flight in the Main Tasting Room.

For years Whitehall Lane has been known for its widevariety of wines, incredible Cabernets and friendly staff.The Leonardini family owns and operates the winery and hascreated a portfolio of limited-production wines found only atthe winery.

To introduce visitors to Whitehall Lane and do somepainless wine education, they offer daily tastings covering suchtopics as the art and science of winemaking, the valley historyand just plain fun facts. They talk about varietals, sensoryevaluations of wine and pairing wine with food. During eachsession youll sample a variety of current-release wines suchas Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot andCabernet Sauvignon.

For the most discerning visitors they offer an exclusive winetasting experience in their Club Room, perched atop the win-erys newest addition. Youll enjoy a seated tasting of ReserveCabernet with a winery concierge in this beautiful setting witha sweeping view of vineyards from indoors and on the deck.A charcuterie platter is available to accompany your tasting.

An appointment is required. Allow an hour so you can relaxand fully enjoy the experience.Actually, there are all sorts of wine surprises in the Club

Room. You may get a preview of an unreleased wine, a verticalfrom the library, or a horizontal tasting of all the winerysCabernets. They now produce two single-vineyard CabernetSauvignons: the Leonardini Vineyard Cabernet from theSt. Helena appellation, and the Millennium MM Vineyardfrom Rutherford. But the fact is that no matter which of thetasting options you choose, you can be guaranteed an experi-ence youll long remember.


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OakvilleFOOD

Oakville Grocery

7856 Highway 29, Oakville, CA 94562

(707) 944-8802, www.oakvillegrocery.com

Built in 1881, this "little country store" has soldlocal, all-California sundries, deli delights, andconfections for more than 120 years... This is agreat place to find gifts!

Rutherford Grill

1180 Rutherford Road, Rutherford

(707) 963-1792, www.hillstone.com

Located at the crossroads of Hwy 29 and RutherfordRoad, the Rutherford Grill has been serving fabulous

food to locals and tourists of Napa Valley fordecades. Don't miss the fantastic selection of appe-

tizers and entrees!

THINGS TO DO

Robert Mondavi Summer Concert Series

Highway 29, Oakville, CA94562

1-888-766-6328, www.robertmondavi.com

Enjoy cool outdoor concerts at the Napa Valley

Opera House OR under the imposingMayacamas.

LODGING

Rancho Caymus Inn


1-800-845-1777, www.ranchocaymus.com

Rustic elegance at its most charming. Surroundedby the all-consuming fragrance andvisual splendorof NapaValley, the Rancho Caymus Inn is a tran-quil, petite 26-roomInn that is designed and

decorated to capture the simpler times of early Cali-fornia.

Auberge du Soleil

180 Rutherford Hill Road, Rutherford

(707) 963-1211, www.aubergedusoleil.com

The discreet entrance off the Silverado Trail isyour first clue of the refined, uber chic eleganceawaiting (guests only) at this exclusive creme-de-la-creme hotel in premier Napa Valley. En-

trance to Auberge is very restricted to guests only

though the discerning public is welcome to dine atthe Micheline star restaurant or sip that $130 perglass of vintage Champagne on the Terrace.

Oakville is part of beautifu l, rolling, unincorporated Napa County. Oakville began in the 1860s as a waterstop for the tourist steam trains owned by

the Napa Valley Train Company. Still known as a great tourist locale, Oakville is best known for its great little artisan grocer y store, post-office

and 24 surrounding world-famous wineries.

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Driving Time:23 minutesFrom Kuleto Estateto ChappelletWinery >2 milesto Pia NapaValley 6 milesto Saddleback Cellars >3 milestoTurnbull Wine Cellars 3 miles

Total 13 miles

Not to Scale


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GOOD TO KNOW

The old tractor that sits up by the winery is over 80

years old and was used by the Pia brothers father

when he was a young man to cultivate the fields of

the valley.

Join the Pia Red Tilde Club and when you come to taste

you can use there Bocce courts and even get instructionson how to play.

Larry Pia says his favorite wine is a toss-up

between the FirehouseVineyard Cabernet and the

BuckeyeVineyard Howell Mountain Cabernet.

Theyre both big, juicy Cabs!

The Pia Brothers are noted for their fantastic paella.

Visit their website for upcoming events to sample this

great dish with a fabulous Cabernet.

Pia Napa ValleyOpen daily, by appointment, 10 am to 4 pm

8060SilveradoTrail,RutherfordNorthofSkellengerLane

(707)738-9328www.pinanapavalley.com

Bring in this ad for two free tastings (a $20 value!)

The four sons of John Pia Jr. and Arline (Glos) Pia worktogether to continue a tradition of pride, passion and persist-ence that for decades has produced some of the finest wines inthe valley.

Pia Napa Valleys history of growing grapes and makingwine in the Napa Valley stretches back to1856 when theirancestor, Bluford Stice, led a wagon train into the valley fromMissouri. It was their great-great-grandfather, Bluford Stices son,

Lafayette, a farmer and winemaker, who was one of the firstleaders of the wine industry in Napa Valley at the turn of thetwentieth century, serving as the winemaker at InglenookWinery.

Their family has seen a lot of changes to the valley theyhold so dear, but in spite of temptations to the contrary, theyhave remained true to the vision of their predecessors toproduce great wine and only great wine.

From the moment you spy the old tractor parked near theentrance of Pia Napa Valley you realize that this is not a

Hollywood winery. This a real working winery, no fancyoffices, conference rooms or neckties will be seen.The tasting room is similarly unadorned. At Pia it is all

about the wine. While standing in a working barrel room, youmight be asked to step aside as workers hoist hoses and totecases. The Pia brothers have put nearly all of their effort,money and time into one thingthe wine. That fact will beapparent from your first taste of their magnificent Cabernets.They also produce a luscious Chardonnay that is a must-have.

By Ronda Giangreco


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32 Oakville www.WineCountryThisWeek.com

VARIETALS

Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc Viognier, Chardonnay, Ros,

Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon

HISTORY

I bought the property in 1976. I started the winery six

years later, though after the first crush I had to keep the

barrels at neighboring Silver Oak for a year (due to therestructuring and bonding of our building). Today the

winery produces around 6,500 cases annually, made from

a number of different varietals.

FUN FACT

Though it says on the wine glassGitt Along Little

Doggie,what they really want is for you to relax, linger

and allow your taste buds to indulge.

Saddleback CellarsOpen daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

by appointment

7802 Money Road, Oakville

(707)944-1305www.saddlebackcellars.com

Follow Saddleback Cellarson Facebook andTwitter.

Saddleback Cellars is an unpretentious, small winery

nestled in the heart of the Oakville District. Sitting on 17

acres (15 of which is planted in vines), Saddleback Cel-

lars is the passion of winemaker, Nils Venge who, with

three decades in the wine business, has been a major

presence in the Napa Valley. He was, in fact, the first

person to obtain a perfect 100 score from wine critic

Robert Parker Jr. for his Cabernet Sauvignon at neighbor-ing Groth Winery.

Saddleback is casual, fun and informal. The word

boutique is as close as this winery comes to taking on

aires. One has the distinct impression that here, it is said

with a smile and perhaps a quiet chuckle. You leave pre-

tension behind as soon as you make the turn onto

Money Rd. and if there is an over-riding philosophy here

it seems to be: Make terrific wine and have a great

time. The two are anything but mutually exclusive.The tastings can be, weather dictating, indoors around

an antique oval wine tank top or outdoors next to the

crush pad. There are picnic tables, vine-facing chairs and

market umbrellas with several wines to taste and enjoy.

Speakers hum with good ol country music to match the

western atmosphere. The floor outside the winery is

bark and earth. We are as close to the earth as we can

get, just as mother nature intended. By Charles Neave

Takeaphotooponthewinebarrelhorseorthetractorsthatareparkedontheproperty.


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WORLD CLASS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHYTurnbullWine Cellars quietly boasts one of the finestpermanent photography collections on the West Coast.Each exhibition features 60 to 90 privately owned,original works by master photographers includingAnsel Adams, EdwardWeston, Berenice Abbott,Edward Striechen andYousuf Karsh.Dont Miss: Modernism Photography after 1930

FUN FACTThe Turnbull name dates back to the early 1300s when aGame Keeper of Robert the Bruce saved the kings life byturning away a ferocious bull that had threatened to gorethe king. The grateful king knighted his subject Turnbulland awarded him a crest featuring a bulls head twistedback that has adorned the Turnbull wines since its found-ing in 1979.

SIGNATURE WINES2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $40Rated 92 points (Robert Parker)

2007 Black Label Cabernet, $100Rated 94 points (Robert Parker)

PLAN AHEADPrivate Food &Wine Education Class:$40 per person and well worth it!

Turnbull Wine CellarsOpen daily 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

8210 St. HelenaHwy, Oakville

1-800-887-6285 www.turnbullwines.com

Bring this entire page to the winery for a complimentary wine tasting, for up to four people.

Turnbull Wine Cellars is a fabulous winery just off Highway29 in Oakville, the famed Napa Valley AVA.

Known for full-bodied, well-structured wines, Turnbull alsoboasts a world-class photography collection.

When it comes to great wine, the secret is to start with thebest fruit. A key component of quality, Turnbull fruit capturesthe unique character of each of their four estate vineyards.The diversity of sourcing fruit from these four carefully farmed

ranches allows Winemaker Peter Heitz to create wines withdistinctive flavors that capture the personality of each site andgrowing season.

Experience Turnbulls world-class photography collectionwhile you enjoy Turnbull wines in the Reserve Tasting Roomand Art Gallery.

This cavernous room holds oak wine barrels floor tovaulted ceiling and the labels signature collection of privatelyowned fine art photography. For $20 per person, guestsvisiting the Reserve Room may personally choose four Reserve

wines from Turnbulls usually Cabernet single vineyard andselect releases. For a $10 tasting fee, guests may sampleTurnbull Wines in Turnbulls Tasting Room and Gift Shop.

The winery itself is special, too. Famous American architectand founder William Turnbull designed many other wineries inNapa during the 1970s. However, when he set out todesign this signature winery, his vision was to create a winerywhere the aesthetics implied that every drop of wine was pre-cious. Today, Turnbull Cellars continues to honor the originaldesign and intention of the property. By Abigail Zimmerman


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Rutherford

FOOD

Rutherford Grill


(707) 963-1792, www.hillstone.com

Located at the crossroads of Hwy 29 and RutherfordRoad, the Rutherford Grill has been serving fabulous

food to locals and tourists of Napa Valley for

decades. Don't miss the fantastic selection of appe-tizers and entrees!

LODGING

Rancho Caymus Inn


1-800-845-1777, www.ranchocaymus.com

Rustic elegance at its most charming. Surroundedby the all-consuming fragrance andvisual splendorof NapaValley, the Rancho Caymus Inn is a tran-quil, petite 26-roomInn that is designed and

decorated to capture the simpler times of early Cali-fornia.

Auberge du Soleil

180 Rutherford Hill Road, Rutherford

(707) 963-1211, www.aubergedusoleil.com

The discreet entrance off the Silverado Trail is yourfirst clue of the refined, uber chic elegance awaiting(guests only) at this exclusive creme-de-la-cremehotel inpremier NapaValley. Entrance to Auberge is

very restricted to guests only though the discerningpublic is welcome to dine at the Micheline star restau-rant or sip that $130 per glass of vintageChampagne on the Terrace.

FROM THE WRAPAROUND DECK AT AUBERGE DU SOLEIL BISTRO & BAR

This central, verdant quilt of Napa Valley boasts countless principal wineries that makes Napa so famous: Whitehall Lane, Grgich Hills, Mumm Napa,

Cakebread to name just a few. If you seek grandeur, striking beauty and wine country elegance, Rutherford is a great place to begin!

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Napa Valley Day Trips Spring/Summer 2011

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Transcript of Napa Valley Day Trips Spring/Summer 2011