Napa/Sonoma "Must Do’s"
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Anonymous
| Headed to California in late September and will spend 2-3 days in wine country. Are there any wineries that are head and shoulders above others? I’m not really concerned with a big name, I’m looking for an experience. Red wine specialty is a plus. I have made 1 reservation for a tasting so far (Kosta Browne) but I’m looking to draw on the experiences of others who may know much more than I do. TIA. |
Anonymous
| Schramsberg is fun. |
Anonymous
| Occidental. The Kistlers are geniuses. Get to Mondavi (big Corp wine) BUT try To Kalon I Block. One of the best whites in the world. And Kosta Browne isn’t what it was since the sale. |
Anonymous
| Go to stags leap and pound. |
Anonymous
| Ravenswood in Sonoma will let you taste from the barrels stored in a cave. Fun! Raymond in Napa is also great. One of their sons married a Berringer daughter and their red wine is pretty great. Very earthy. Andretti in Napa has a really cool Spanish like atmosphere and V'Sattui in Napa has food onsite and you can have a picnic on the grounds. |
Anonymous
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Ferrari Carano is beautiful and great wine.
I would suggest going to the places where you know you like the wine. Lots of “experiences” at the winery but you will get home with bottles you don’t like. Think your favorite wines first and foremost. |
Anonymous
| Mumm does sparkling wine so they're different. I've found the wineries all run together after a while, to be honest, so make sure to do some that are a bit different. |
Anonymous
| I love Gundlach Bundschu in Sonoma but I don't have any special wine expertise. On our last trip there we just had a really great time-- good wine, fun people. We are still members 5 years later. |
Anonymous
| Some have art galleries or installations on the grounds, or there’s a castle or two if you poke around. |
Anonymous
Forgot about Mumm....yes, and great scenery! |
Anonymous
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We were mostly in Sonoma but have great memories of Jacuzzi Vineyards.
https://www.jacuzziwines.com/ We also liked the castle for the novelty factor. https://castellodiamorosa.com/ |
Anonymous
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I'm from Sonoma County, and my family still lives there. I have family and friends who work in the wine industry.
Avoid some of the big commercial brands you see above. You're going to wine country. Try wines you can't easily get here. I recommend a seated patio tasting at Twomey's Russian River tasting room. They're known for their Sauvignon Blanc, but their Pinot Noir is solid. The tasting room light and airy and has beautiful views. https://twomey.com/visit/healdsburg-russian-river-valley/. Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg offers many different options for experiences. Enjoy their food while you're there, https://www.jordanwinery.com. If you like reds, by all means go to Silver Oak. They're Twomey's big sister and renowned for their Cabs. They have wineries in both Napa and Alexander Valleys, https://silveroak.com. Iron Horse in Sebastopol has beautiful sparkling wines and lovely grounds, https://www.ironhorsevineyards.com/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=winecountry.com&utm_campaign=content. If you want to enjoy a spa visit, Osmosis in Freestone is a standout and not typical. In addition to services, they'll serve you a healthy lunch, and you can spend time in the zen garden and tea room. https://www.osmosis.com/spa-menu/ The town of Occidental has a bohemian atmosphere and is worth visiting. The Union Hotel has existed since the 1800s and the Italian restaurant there is a fun place to eat and/or have a drink. https://unionhoteloccidental.com If you tire of the wineries, horseback riding at the Chanslor Ranch in Bodega Bay is a wonderful way enjoy the stunning ocean views. https://chanslorstables.com/service/guided-trail-rides/ Keep in mind that by late September, many of the grapes will have already been harvested and it may not be as green as you would hope. |
Anonymous
I thought the castle burned down? |
Anonymous
| Korbel Champagne Cellars, near Guerneville. Great tour, nice place to picnic. |
Anonymous
| Also at Korbel - Korbel Brandy! |