August Itinarary - Wine Country travel ratings and reviews

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Napa Valley [all categories]

Napa Valley - Wineries to Visit

August Itinarary

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Author	Topic: August Itinarary
RichardSE Member	posted 07-30-2012 09:44 PM OMRebel, I, like RC456, use their tasting notes or order forms and write my comments on them. IP: 108.59.136.30
ssala Member	posted 07-18-2012 09:25 AM D.-We had a carmenere last year where the green bell pepper was so prevalent that I kept gaping at the glass, trying to assure my senses that this was indeed a wine. Definitely not my favorite... IP: 75.70.79.148
yesilovewine Member	posted 07-18-2012 05:58 AM Sorry, D', my error. Its wineloverspage.com under the wine tasting toolbox tab IP: 71.65.254.43
damombo Member	posted 07-17-2012 01:31 PM You are so right - we were offered a tasting of an Andretti wine last April when we were visiting Napa. The hotel offers tastings from a different winery daily, it seems. Anyway, several of us tasted it and we were all saying "what is that? Something familiar, but what?" and once we read the tasting notes, the light bulb went off - green bell pepper! Not particularly pleasing to my particular palate - but it was interesting to be able to recognize that flavor note. IP: 98.198.192.251
ssala Member	posted 07-17-2012 01:06 PM Love that, too. Probably not in Napa, however. I don't have exceptional tasting or olfactory capabilities, but I do find I can identify more tastes and aromas when I have some vocabulary to refer to. Scott IP: 75.70.79.148
damombo Member	posted 07-17-2012 10:55 AM Thanks Scott - I do love the wine aroma wheel! Can't wait to find some of that "tar, plastic, kerosene, diesel" wine IP: 98.198.192.251
ssala Member	posted 07-17-2012 08:06 AM This is the one I use- http://www.wine-tastings-guide.com/support-files/wine-tasting-notes-template-2.pdf These might be helpful (and geeky) as well Wine Aroma Wheel- http://www.vinesofmendoza.com/blog/2011/03/29/smelly-smells/wine-aroma-wheel/ You can find other examples by doing a Google Image Search. Cheers, Scott IP: 75.70.79.148
damombo Member	posted 07-17-2012 07:35 AM I tried that website, Yes, but I couldn't find any. Help? IP: 98.198.192.251
yesilovewine Member	posted 07-15-2012 01:40 PM You might like to look at www.winepage.com under the toolbox tab and check out the tasting sheets they suggest. IP: 71.65.254.43
ssala Member	posted 07-13-2012 06:12 AM As to notes, I have done a Google search with the terms "wine tasting template" and printed off a number of copies. This helped to structure my thinking about the wine and moved me beyond the "like/don't like" summary.It also promoted lively discussions within our tasting party. As to coolers, last time through we purchased a cooler/shipping container (at Baldacci, as a matter of fact). We don't have a large disposable income, but like to return with a case (or a little more usually). Have a rockin' time! Scott IP: 75.70.79.148
RC456 Member	posted 07-12-2012 07:59 PM Reb, Damombo is all over the first 2 questions....yes, tell them you are sharing and yes, store in cooler. Use a decent size styro cooler, get the ice from the hotel using the little plastic "cleaner" bag hanging in the closet, tie it up & lay in the cooler bottom. Take one of the hotel towels, lay over the ice bag, then start putting the bottles in for the day as we go. Most wineries will have tasting notes preprinted that I collect of the ones that either I am interested in or someone that I know may be interested in. When that is not available, I use a note taker app w/ iPad. Nothing structured, just put my thoughts down. Don't worry about the questions.....truth is, I like seeing activity on here and don't mind chiming in when I think I have something worthy of sharing. The only thing that wine lovers like almost as much as tasting/drinking wine is talking about it to someone else! Thx RC IP: 99.18.69.239
OMRebel Junior Member	posted 07-12-2012 07:10 PM I have another question for the group. What do use to take your wine tasting notes on? I am sorry to keep bugging you but you guys are my go to A-Team. Please feel free to ignore me if I am asking too many questions. Thanks, Reb IP: 12.34.246.74
OMRebel Junior Member	posted 07-12-2012 07:42 AM Thanks for pointing out my error on Spottswoode. I will get that corrected. Good catch there Hawkeye. You folks are simply the best. IP: 198.254.16.200
damombo Member	posted 07-11-2012 08:04 PM Hi OM, I'm not Hawkeye or RC456, but I can answer as to what we do. Yes, when I make an appointment, if I'm planning to share a tasting, I will mention that. And yes, if it's going to be hot, I will stow my purchases in a cooler for the day of traveling about tasting. Oh fun - a champagne breakfast! [This message has been edited by damombo (edited 07-11-2012).] IP: 98.198.192.251
OMRebel Junior Member	posted 07-11-2012 08:03 PM Hi Damombo. Since we are doing the hot air balloon ride it ends with a sparkling wine breakfast at Domain Chandon's Etoile. I hope that will make my wonderful wife happy. Happy wife=happy life. [This message has been edited by OMRebel (edited 07-11-2012).] IP: 198.254.16.200
OMRebel Junior Member	posted 07-11-2012 07:54 PM Thanks Hawkeye, RC456 and Damombo. Another question for you. When you book your appointments do you ask for one reservation and let them know you plan on splitting the tasting? Oops, a second question. If you buy wines from the winery and take them with you do you put them in a cooler? Don't want them to get too hot while we are doing our other tastings. Thanks so much. [This message has been edited by OMRebel (edited 07-11-2012).] [This message has been edited by OMRebel (edited 07-11-2012).] IP: 198.254.16.200
damombo Member	posted 07-11-2012 07:51 PM OOOOHhhh a new (to me) restaurant! The Goose & Gander looks intriguing Itinerary looks wonderful - Do you have any time to consider Domaine Chandon? It's right across the highway from Yountville and since your wife is a champagne fan, then maybe y'all would enjoy a visit. They have a restaurant - Etoile - so perhaps that would be a suggestion for your undecided night. Have a wonderful trip! Cheers! IP: 98.198.192.251
RC456 Member	posted 07-11-2012 07:08 PM Reb, Looks like a very good plan! I know that you will enjoy. I would be interested to hear back from you about the Hot Air Balloon venture. We have talked about doing this on several trips....just haven't pulled the trigger. We did the Round Pond olive tour in May....we really enjoyed it. The 'after the tasting' part when you get to enjoy the fresh veggies, cheese, & oils was the best part for me! Day 3 dinner......maybe Bistro Jeanty? Or, venture just outside of Yountville going north and try Mustards Grill. In all of our visits, May was the first time that we didn't go to Mustards for either a lunch or dinner. Again, great plan & hope you have a wonderful time. RC IP: 64.134.177.30
Hawkeye Member	posted 07-11-2012 06:58 PM Hi Rebel, Just saw your amazing itinerary. On Day 1, you have two of my favorites, Baldacci and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. Day 2, you have two mor of my favorites, Hall Rutherford and Kelham. Please try and taste the 01 Cabernet, it is amazing. Day 3, you may have already caught this, but Spottswoode is available only on Tuesday and Friday at 10:00 AM. I would plan on 2 hours depending on how many are in the group. Chase and Redmon are also special to me. Unless you just want to take the tram ride, Sterling wines are not worth taking the trip for. If you have been on one tram ride, you have been on all. And Day 4, What more could you want? Black Sears and Outpost are Thomas Rivers Brown made wines and are awesome. O'Shaughnessy has some awesome Cabs, but they may be sold out . . . I would check before trying to find them. Ladera and Burgess also have some outstanding wines. Very good itinerary, please write and tell us how you like them all. -Hawkeye IP: 173.247.28.96
OMRebel Junior Member	posted 07-11-2012 05:13 PM Day 1 Robert Mondavi Cakebread Goosecross Baldacci Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Dinner at Bottega Day 2 Caymus Round Pond (olive tour) Hall Rutherford Kelham Dinner at Goose and Gander Day 3 Chase Spottswoode Redmon Sterling Schramsberg Dinner undecided Day 4 Black Sears Outpost O' Shaugnessy Ladera Burgess Dinner at Redd I have changed this several times already and I am sure more changes are coming. We will do a hot air balloon ride(on my bucket list) the 2nd morning. We will be in San Francisco August 21-25 and head to Napa Valley on the 25th. We will be staying in Yountville for 4 nights You folks are the greatest. I received my Preiser Key and it has been a huge help. Thanks again for all your kindness, encouragement and recommendations. Mucho, mucho gracias. IP: 198.254.16.200

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