Napa Valley offers more than 400 wineries to choose from for the millions of people who visit every year. With so many choices, Napa Wine Tours has created a list of 10 must see wineries on Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail. Chimney Rock Winery is set against a hillside covered with vineyards. This premier fine wine producer offers a daily tasting and a food and wine pairing. Pine Ridge Vineyards’ tasting room was recently named by The San Francisco Chronicle as one of the “Best of the Best Tasting Rooms in Napa.” Pine Ridge offers a selection of tastings, some include gourmet meats and cheeses, and others include specially prepared foods by Pine Ridge’s Chef. A tour of the estate begins in the vineyards, continues through the production facilities, and ends with a seated wine and cheese pairing in the wine caves. Robert Sinskey Vineyards’ tasting room was named Sunset magazine’s tasting room of the year. It was also featured by the Wine Spectator as a must visit winery in Napa Valley. Robert Sinskey offers daily tastings, a cave tour, and a Farm to Table Experience. The Farm to Table Experience takes guests into the vineyard garden, cellar, and caves before ending with a delicious wine and food pairing. PlumpJack Winery has earned the reputation for creating full-bodied wines that enchant the senses. Although most well-known for impeccable Cabernet Sauvignon, PlumpJack also produces other varietals including Chardonnay, Merlot, and Syrah. PlumpJack offers daily tastings. Clos Pegase, located near Calistoga, offers an unforgettable experience combining masterful wines, art, and architecture. Choose from a variety of public and private tastings and tours. Casa Nuestra Winery & Vineyards is a small, historic, family-owned winery producing award-winning, internationally acclaimed wines. Visits are scheduled by appointment only. Duckhorn Vineyards
Napa Valley offers more than 400 wineries to choose from for the millions of people who visit every year. With so many choices, Napa Wine Tours has created a list of 10 must see wineries on Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail. Chimney Rock Winery is set against a hillside covered with vineyards. This premier fine…
Someone, somewhere, a long time ago, thought of a delicious idea - the pairing of wine and cheese. For thousands of years this pairing has been satisfying the taste buds and filling the appetites of humankind. There are plenty of suggestions for pairing wine and cheese. Some suggest pairing the wine and cheese from the same region with each other such as Chianti paired with parmesian. Other suggestions include pairing tannic wines with harder cheeses, pairing creamy cheeses with more acidic wines, and salty cheeses with a sweet wine. After much delicious research, Napa Wine Tours created this simple guide for our readers featuring some of our favorite wines from Napa Valley. Napa Valley Red Wine and Cheese Pairings Napa Valley Cabernet Franc A Napa Valley Cabernet Franc will pair wonderfully with Blue cheese, Brie, and Cheddar cheese. We suggest trying a distinctive Cabernet Franc from Inglenook, or one of Jarvis Winery’s most highly demanded wines 2005 Jarvis Cabernet Franc, or the limited release 2007 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Franc. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon This varietal also pairs nicely with blue and cheddar cheeses, and with parmesian. Try any elegant Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, exceptional Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, or award-winning Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley Syrah Cheddar, parmesian, and gouda - either one of these will pair with Syrah. If you’re not already familiar with Keever Vineyards, a family-owned and operated winery, make sure to make an appointment to taste their perfectly balanced Syrah (and more!) and take a tour of their winery and wine caves. Napa Valley Malbec Up to this point, we’ve tried to suggest cheeses easily found. However, when it comes to this next cheese, it’s important to make sure to purchase an artisanal, high quality cheese. Manchego is the cheese to pair with your impeccable,
Someone, somewhere, a long time ago, thought of a delicious idea – the pairing of wine and cheese. For thousands of years this pairing has been satisfying the taste buds and filling the appetites of humankind. There are plenty of suggestions for pairing wine and cheese. Some suggest pairing the wine and cheese from the…
Interested in trying the world-renowned wines of Napa Valley but aren't able to travel to Napa? Napa Wine Tours is happy to assist with tips for hosting your own Napa Valley wine tasting party. Bring together some of your favorite people, and discover wines you haven’t tried before. Supplies You’ll need: - Napa Valley wine - one glass per guest - a pitcher of water to rinse glasses between tastings - a “dump bucket” - pen and paper for each guest to take notes - bread or crackers and water to cleanse the palate between tastings - a CD with background music You won’t need: - to decorate with scented candles or flowers Tasting Options It’s your party, try anything you want to. - Will you provide the wine or ask your guests to bring a bottle? - If your guests will bring a bottle, consider asking them to bring a certain type of wine (sparkling, white, red, port) - Maybe your wine tasting party will focus on the same type of wine produced by different wineries (for example, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon) - Consider a “blind” tasting where no one is allowed to see the type of wine and the Napa Valley winery that created it until after each wine has been tasted - Will you prepare a bite (appetizer, cheese, or chocolate) to pair with each wine or ask your guests to provide the perfect bite to pair with the wine they bring? Tips - Ask your guests to refrain from wearing cologne or perfume - Each tasting pour should be 2 ounces (1/4 cup) - Offer a maximum of 4 to 6 wines - If you have a variety of wines, start with sparkling, whites, reds, then dessert wines and ports - Start with your driest to
Interested in trying the world-renowned wines of Napa Valley but aren’t able to travel to Napa? Napa Wine Tours is happy to assist with tips for hosting your own Napa Valley wine tasting party. Bring together some of your favorite people, and discover wines you haven’t tried before. Supplies You’ll need: – Napa Valley wine…
Within the Napa Valley appellation, there are 16 sub-appellations - legally defined and protected geographical locations where grapes are grown and crafted into amazing Napa Valley wines. Some sub-appellations are more well-known than others but all are dedicated to creating wines that truly represent the distinct area of Napa Valley where they come from. In this first part of a three part series, Napa Wine Tours introduces you to the first group of Napa Valley sub-appellations. Calistoga District Famous for relaxing hot springs, massages, and mud baths, the Calistoga sub-appellation located on the northern tip of Napa Valley is home to well-known wineries such as Chateau Montelena Winery, Clos Pegase Winery, Frank Family Vineyards, and Schramsberg Vineyards. Oakville District The wineries in the Oakville sub-appellation are known for their critically acclaimed, award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy a tour of the wine cave and of the winery at Miner Family Vineyards, book a private appointment at Gamble Family Vineyards, or stop by Plumpjack Winery for a walk-in tasting. Rutherford District This sub-appellation is approximately 6 square miles and at its widest point, 2 miles wide. The vineyards receive more sun than some of the other sub-appellations and are refreshed by cool evenings. Although Rutherford produces award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, winemakers and growers also produce almost 20 other varietals including Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Merlot. Visit the historic Beaulieu Vineyard, taste estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc at St. Supery Vineyards & Winery, or choose from a variety of private experiences at Peju Province Winery. Spring Mountain District The excellence to be found in the Spring Mountain sub-appellation comes from a collective of family-owned and operated wineries mostly creating Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Visitors to Pride Mountain Vineyards will find, along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Viognier, and Chardonnay. At Robert
Within the Napa Valley appellation, there are 16 sub-appellations – legally defined and protected geographical locations where grapes are grown and crafted into amazing Napa Valley wines. Some sub-appellations are more well-known than others but all are dedicated to creating wines that truly represent the distinct area of Napa Valley where they come from. In…
It’s that time of year again. The time when eggs are hard-boiled, dipped in dye, and stored until they’re ready to be hidden for an Easter Egg Hunt. Plastic, colored, eggs are filled with sweet surprises and images of bunnies and chicks in bright pastel colors dominate storefronts. For those interested in celebrating Easter Sunday with Napa Valley food and wine, Napa Wine Tours has a few ideas for you. Napa Valley Wineries Open Easter Sunday With over 400 wineries in Napa Valley, Napa Wine Tours has discovered a list of approximately 50 wineries that will be open on Easter Sunday. Castello di Amorosa This landmark, Napa Valley winery will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for tours and tastings. Call ahead to make your reservation to enjoy a one-of-a-kind adventure in the castle while tasting their Italian-style wines. Chimney Rock Winery Outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon wines await at Chimney Rock’s beautiful estate. Other wines to sample include Cabernet Franc, Fume Blanc, Rose of Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Gris. The talents of Winemaker and General Manager Elizabeth Vianna and her team results in wines that truly reflect the Stags Leap District where Chimney Rock’s grapes are grown. Visit from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Del Dotto Vineyards Both of Del Dotto’s locations in St. Helena and Napa will be open on Easter Sunday also from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reserve your spots for an adventure that includes tasting Del Dotto wines straight from the barrel and enjoying sips paired with charcuterie and chocolate. Domaine Carneros Open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Easter Sunday, Domaine Carneros offers public and private tours and tastings. Enjoy table service and choose bites to pair with Domaine Carneros sparkling wines and Pinot Noir from their extensive menu. William Hill Estate Winery This
It’s that time of year again. The time when eggs are hard-boiled, dipped in dye, and stored until they’re ready to be hidden for an Easter Egg Hunt. Plastic, colored, eggs are filled with sweet surprises and images of bunnies and chicks in bright pastel colors dominate storefronts. For those interested in celebrating Easter Sunday…
