posted 02-12-2012 11:26 AM            

Let me make a suggestion for just this one trip. Start your day at 10:00 AM with an appointment at a winery. The second and maybe 3rd stops in the morning can be freelance. Then have lunch. Then begin the afternoon, at some appointed hour, with an appointment. Then the remainder of the day can be freelance.

By doing this, you can get a taste of both the smaller wineries and the other Joes.

One such winery that I can think of is Midsummer Cellars off the Silverado Trail. It is owned by Rollie Heitz who does all the hosting himself. I believe he is a brother to the Heitz winery on Hwy 29, but the wines are not even comparable. HOWEVER, he makes 3 cabernets that will blow your mind for a price point of $40.00, $40.00 and $25.00. Compare them to wines at twice their price point. I don't believe Rollie even charges a tasting fee. On top of that, he is a super nice guy.

posted 02-09-2012 07:28 AM            

You really put the brakes on my suggestions when you won't make reservations and this may increase your distance from Calistoga to some of the wineries. Do you know where you are staying in Calistoga?

Here goes . . .
Just north of Calistoga is Bennett Lane. Outstanding Cabs if you have at least a couple years to lay them down. Their NV and Reserve Cabs are spectacular. Plus, they have the best (my opinion) Cab blend in the Valley called "Maximus" and at $35.00 per bottle, it is a BEST buy.

In Calistoga is the Wine Barn. They advertise no bottle over $25.00. Have never been there, but have purchased wine directly from them.

I have tasted at most of the non appointment wineries around Calistoga and really have not cared for many of them. There are some tasting rooms in Calistoga, but I have not been to any of them.

If you would want to make one appointment, I would suggest the SALON St. Helena www.salonsthelena.com The taste both Jones and Harris wines. Both have Thomas Rivers Brown as their winemaker.

Now things get tough! I would head south on Hwy 29 and my first stop would be at one of the older wineries in the valley, Freemark Abbey. Try their Cab comparison tasting . . . just really good.

A little further south, Hall would be my nest stop. Some excellent cabs, but a little on the high end.

Next would be Provenance. Some really good Cabs. Sometimes you can catch a really good (1/2 price) sale.

You could really spend a whole day in Yountville just walking between winery tasting rooms. You will find Girard, Jessup, Hill Family, Chiarello, Hope & Grace, Cornerstone, and several others. Lots of good restaurants for lunch and dinner.

For your time constraints, those would be my favorites of the non appointment wineries.