October/November Trip - Wine Country travel ratings and reviews

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Napa Valley - Wineries to Visit

October/November Trip

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Author	Topic: October/November Trip
Hawkeye Member	posted 09-29-2011 03:31 PM Damombo, Carjeff, Richard, et al, Why don't we plan on dates for next October/November to meet and taste? At this point, I am available any dates. -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
carjeff Member	posted 09-29-2011 01:43 PM Hawkeye, We have only tasted at 2 on your list: Kelham - We weren't impressed. Both the mother and son were there but gave us almost no attention. The mother was busy doing another tasting, and the son was busy with a few of his female friends. He just poured our wines, said nothing, and went back to his friends. I don't even remember anything about the wines. White Rock - I agree with damombo that this is a great stop. We really enjoyed Henri and his wines. Several on your list we are planning to visit in Nov. I'm especially curious to hear how Terraces is. I'll also second damombo about extending your trip and spending time with us! IP: 155.178.4.10
Hawkeye Member	posted 09-29-2011 12:48 PM Damombo, I am trying to figure out how to pay for the few days that we will be there without adding more! -Hawkeye [This message has been edited by Hawkeye (edited 09-29-2011).] IP: 68.169.184.155
damombo Member	posted 09-29-2011 12:38 PM Just looked at both websites, and I think that it was Stags Leap Wine Cellars that we went to. Looks like it's time to go back again! Like I said, it was one of the first years we had visited - so our price point was substantially lower and our palates weren't nearly so fabulously educated You know, y'all are leaving on the 2nd and we arrive on the 13th - why don't you just delay your departure for a couple of weeks and hang out with us for a few days? IP: 76.31.52.34
Hawkeye Member	posted 09-29-2011 12:10 PM Hi Damombo, Can you tell there is not much going on here this afternoon? Stags Leap or Stags Leap Wine Cellars? There is a big difference and we are going to the latter. We were at a wine dinner here last year and one of the wines they served was SLWC cab that was outstanding. We met the rep there who set up a free tasting for us otherwise it is a little high on the totem pole for us . . . I believe $40 per tasting. We may have tasted at Pine Ridge many years ago, not sure. It was in the right place at the right time. No appointment needed so if we make it ok, if we don't, ok. Silver Oak - I have heard the same thing from others on the Sonoma side. I just have a feeling that the Napa side may be better. Again, no appointment needed so if we decide to miss it, ok. Thanks for your input. -Hawkeye [This message has been edited by Hawkeye (edited 09-29-2011).] IP: 68.169.184.155
damombo Member	posted 09-29-2011 11:59 AM Alright - you asked for it! Actually, we've visited Pine Ridge on two occasions and both times were underwhelmed. It was early in the day, so I can't blame fatigue - they just weren't to our taste. Silver Oak in Napa we've not been to, but the Silver Oak in Geyserville was a big bust - the tasting room vibe was beyond snooty and the servers were so bored and couldn't be bothered to smile. I believe we split a tasting at Stags Leap a few years ago, but it was later in the day and earlier in our visit history, so I don't really have an impression. White Rock was a terrific visit - Henri was a wonderful host and we enjoyed his wines. Still have some at the lake in the wine room. IP: 76.31.52.34
Hawkeye Member	posted 09-29-2011 11:24 AM Hi all, Let's begin with Richard. I am looking forward to your trip report because I think you were tasting as some that I will be tasting for the first time. Damombo . . . A Texan should be able to shoot some holes. Except for the Stags Leap Wine Cellars on Sunday, this may be my weakest day. At least it is the one I am least comfortable with. Bigsemi . . . good to hear from you again. Reverie is the 5th winery, not the sixth. We are tasters, not drinkers so I think we will be okay when we get there. I understand that it is a great experience. I just went back and looked at my schedule. It is surprising that after all the years we have been traveling to Nap Valley, there were that many wineries that are new to us, and I will bet that there are many, many more. IP: 68.169.184.155
bigsemi Member	posted 09-28-2011 07:51 PM It is a shame you are going to REVERIE VINEYARDS last on that Friday after 5 other wineries. I hope you are spitting at each, otherwise you'll be fried by then and they have some very nice stuff. IP: 70.242.114.70
damombo Member	posted 09-28-2011 06:45 PM Hawkeye, I see no place to shoot holes... looks fabulous, can't wait for you to go and then report back Richard - looking forward to your trip report - both the wine and the food reports! IP: 76.31.52.34
RichardSE Member	posted 09-28-2011 03:38 PM I just got back from Napa Valley on Monday and will be posting soon about our terrific visit after I get caught up a little. Tasted about 80 wines and had some incredible meals. IP: 108.59.136.30
Hawkeye Member	posted 09-28-2011 12:19 PM Hi Yesilovewine, Sure has been slow on these Boards the last week or so. Maybe everyone is out in the Valley. I just read on the other side your post on Wilson. I have always enjoyed the Wilson Zins and consider them to be some of the finest on Dry Creek Road. We have 8 bottles of their Zin in our cooler right now, not one from the Sawyer Vineyard. I was going to ask if it was any relation to the Sawyer Winery in NV whose Merlot is one of the very best, but then I looked on the website and found the Vineyard was named for their son. Good to have you back. -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
yesilovewine Member	posted 09-28-2011 11:11 AM Hey Hawkeye. Hoped you were on somewhere so I could relay that the Wilson's Sawyer Vineyard Zin took the sweepstakes award at Harvest Fair over the weekend. I recall that you enjoyed it last spring. Regarding your itinerary- the only one I have experience with is Silver Oak...we visited them after meeting the East Coast representative several years back. At the time we were there, they were still in recovery mode from the terrible fire that destroyed the original winery facility, and were about half finished with the re-build. We tasted in mobile units on site and had a wonderful time. A total contrast to the experience we had in Geyserville where we have vowed never to re-visit. By the way, did you find out about the Sonoma Valley Reserve event for next spring?? IP: 71.65.198.80
Hawkeye Member	posted 09-28-2011 08:10 AM Our October/November trip is a little less than a month away. I have been tweaking, then re-tweaking for 3 months now and think I have come up with my ideal itinerary. On October 28 and 29 we will be joined by eight of our daylily friends from Kentucky and California for two days of tasting and daylily camaraderie. We do this every year on a weekend in October. I believe I am correct in saying that except for the daylily weekend where I have tasted at all of the wineries prior to making the itinerary, the remaining wineries will all be new to us. So, here is our schedule: Tuesday, October 25 Arrival SALON ST. HELENA - By appointment - dual tasting - Thomas Rivers Brown, winemaker at both wineries. Harris Estate Vineyard Jones Family Vineyards Wednesday, October 26 - Except for the Daylily weekend, the remainder of the days have a maximum of 4 appointments and we can fill in with walk ins if desired. PARADIGM WINERY - By appointment - new to us KEEVER VINEYARDS - By appointment - New to us BREMER FAMILY WINERY - By appointment - New to us "B" CELLARS - By Appointment - New to us Thursday, October 27 THE TERRACES WINERY - By appointment - New to us KELHAM VINEYARDS - By appointment - New to us JOSEPH PHELPS - By appointment - We are club members but have not visited the winery. ANOMALY VINEYARD - By appointment - New to us. Friday, October 28 - Beginning of group tour CUVAISON VINEYARDS - By appointment - Silverado Trail ZAHTILA VINEYARDS - By appointment - We will picnic overlooking the vineyard - Silverado Trail BARLOW VINEYARD - By appointment - Vineyards are on the Silverado Trail but wine is made and tasting will be at von Strasser Vineyars on Diamond Mountain. VON STRASSER VINEYARDS - By appointment - Diamond Mountain REVERIE VINEYARDS - By appointment - Diamond Mountain Saturday, October 29 REDMON WINES - By Appointment - St. Helena CHASE FAMILY CELLARS - By appointment - Will have lunch overlooking the vineyards. St. Helena BALDACCI VINEYARD - By Appointment - Silverado Trail STELTZNER VINEYARDS - By appointment - Wine Cave tasting - Silverado Trail J. GREGORY CELLARS - By appointment - A premier tasting of J. Gregory Cellars wines from Mark and Kandice Jessup. Sunday, October 30 GOOSECROSS CELLARS - No appointment needed - New to us CLIF LEDE - No appointment needed - Have visited previously ROBERT SINSKEY - No appointment needed - Have visited previously. WHITE ROCK VINEYARDS - By appointment - New to us. MIDSUMMER CELLARS - By Appointment - Have visited previously. Monday, October 31 - My most anticipated day up on Howell Mountain BLACK SEARS WINERY - By appointment - Thomas Rivers Brown, Winemaker - New to us OUTPOST WINERY - By appointment - Thomas Rivers Brown, Winemaker - New to us O'Shaughnessy Estate Winery - By appointment - New to us ARKENSTONE VINEYARDS - By appointment - New to us Tuesday, November 1 - Last stop on our way out of town DIAMOND TERRACE WINERY - By appointment - Thomas Rivers Brown, Winemaker - New to us As you can see, we are trying as many Thomas Rivers Brown wines as we were able to do in the time allocated. TRB is the winemaker at about one dozen Napa Valley wineries. I believe it was 2010 that he was winemaker of the year. This is it, now shoot holes in it. -Hawkeye [This message has been edited by Hawkeye (edited 10-11-2011).] IP: 68.169.184.155

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