Napa/Sonoma Travel Guide: DRINK

I do not really know where to begin here, so I may as well start from the beginning. After a whirlwind few weeks of travel, I made my way home from Vegas in mid-May. My husband had been home for the week, and decided to welcome me back in a big way! I opened the front seat of our car to a smiling hubby, armed with chocolate and a card. On the ride down A1A, he proceeded to tell me we were headed to Napa for July 4^th weekend. He booked everything! Wine tours, a driver, lunches, dinners, and he even had a few bottles of red waiting on us at home, because obviously, we needed to test the merch before we got to learn more about where the grapes are stomped, and the juice is aged to perfection! I was ecstatic and so thankful to have a trip to look forward to. We live such busy lives, and not everyday is a walk in the park, but I am so grateful for our life together, and the opportunity to travel and explore the world, one city at a time. [ OK…ok…Enough with the mushy stuff, we are tots hashtag BLESSED. ]

Cory is a travel-points junkie, and strategic vacation planning has become a really big hobby of his! Which, I must add, is awesome for me because sometimes I feel my wifely responsibilities can be overwhelming! So I think a thank you is in order for the big guy, and we have him to thank for guidance. For this trip I had to go clothes shopping (wahoo), contact the hotel for a few activities and show up! Sometimes it is really nice to just not have to think. So first things first, get yourself both an airline and hotel credit card; pay off balances in full, and enjoy the free flight and hotel! It may take some time, and strategy, but it is well worth it. We have been able to take the past two European vacations free of charge. If you would like CC suggestions leave your e-mail in the comments section below or feel free to e-mail me directly.

Cory and I have been part of a few wine clubs and have been known to split our fare share of bottles while out to dinner. Many of those bottles happen to be California reds. So needless to say, Napa/Sonoma has been on our list for a while. We love taking trips across the pond, to drink Italian or French wine, but the 7-8 hour time difference makes that really difficult to do over a long weekend. We had five days total, two to travel and three to play. Next time we go, and there will be a next time, we plan on tacking on a day or two in San Francisco and the Redwood Forest! That, we will get to in a later post.

Step One: Book Your Hotel

We used our Marriott points when we stumbled across The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa. The @RenSonoma is a quaint hotel, even though it is part of a large chain. It has a boutique vibe, while still being extremely welcoming and family friendly. The Lodge is a rustically chic resort that offers something for everyone: free wine tastings in the afternoon, Yoga and Hikes in the morning, a game lawn and so much more! For us, our lodging is probably the most important part of our trip. We absolutely loved strolling the property, taking a break in their small on-site vineyard and dining at The Carneros Bistro. More on the Bistro in my EAT post, but dining there was the perfect way to end our trip. We split our final bottle of Red, Cherry Tart by Cherry Pie, Pinot Noir, which we shared on our second wedding anniversary in Vegas. Afterwards, we fell asleep in front of our in-room fireplace full, buzzed and sublimely happy! We really liked staying in Sonoma. It has more of a relaxed, farm-town feel we were looking for. Since Napa is so popular, it can be a bit congested, and I promise, The Lodge is anything but. We were more than satisfied with our stay, and plan on going back next year.

There are tons of lustful resorts in the valley, but much to our surprise, many were priced extremely high this time of year. Both AirBnB and HomeAway have some beautiful properties that may give you a more ‘home-like’ feel. If you are looking for a secluded luxury feel, you can definitely find that at the Renaissance, but also look into these gorgeous properties as well:

High End:

 The Carneros Inn- We ate here and it was stunning!

Auberge du Soliel

Calistoga Ranch

The Westin Versa Napa

The Meritage Resort and Spa

Mid Range: 

Ivy Napa Hotel

Hilton Garden Inn Napa

Vino Bello Resort

Springhill Suites Napa

Step Two: Travel Safely

Every couple is different! We decided to be driven, drive and walk off our calories throughout the day! We flew into San Francisco (SFO Airport) and were at The Lodge in approx. one-hour door to door. We got in late and left early, so we didn’t battle any traffic.

The next morning, after a light breakfast [make sure you eat. Most wineries do not serve food], we had a car pick us up at 8:15 ready to get our drink on! It was 11:15 east coast time. So that made it totally acceptable! Well sort of, our first stop was Chateau Montelena , and they open at 9:30 for tastings. Having the driver allowed us the freedom to taste wine to our hearts content, and really enjoy every last drop of the vino.  At night, we were able to explore at our leisure by utilizing our rental car. On our last day we only had two winery appointments and a lunch scheduled. On our longer days with our driver, It was nice to sit back, relax, nap and chit-chat with each other while enjoying the wind blowing through the open windows. We were just able to enjoy the 360 views of beautiful scenery without a care in the world.

Transportation Services Sonoma: 

http://www.sonomacounty.com/transportation

Napa Tours:

 http://www.napashuttlelimousine.com

http://www.nvtt.net

http://www.pureluxury.com

 Wineries:

 Napa Valley Wine Tasting & Tour

The wineries are listed in the order we went to them! We did stay away from larger more commercial wineries like Mondavi and Beringer, but we hear they are both stunning!

Day 1

Chateau Montelena Winery 

1429 Tubbs Lane

Calistoga, CA 94515

(707) 942-5105

Tastings at Chateau Montelena start at 9:30. The scenery looks like medieval Europe and Asia had a baby. If you get the chance, watch the movie ‘Bottle Schock’ before going out to wine country. The movie stars Chris Pine, and tells the story of the early days of California wine, and the now infamous Parisian blind taste test of 1976, otherwise known as “The Judgement of Paris’. Chateau Montelena won for their 1973 Chardonnay, and put Cali wine on the map. America thanks you Chateau Montelena! This was the perfect way to start our trip.

Schramsberg Vineyards 

1400 Schramsberg Road

Calistoga, CA 94515

(707) 942-4558

Did you know that American’s can only manufacture sparkling wine? Its true! Only champagne can come from the Champagne region of France. The sparkling wine from Schramsberg has been served to many dignitaries, and at many state dinners alike. At Schramsberg we toured the cool caves, and ended at an underground tasting, complete with candelabras and five different goblets of wine. Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate without an air or arrogance. It was on this tour that we realized that winemaking is as much of an art form, as it is a labor of love! Happily buzzed and in need of sustenance we ventured to Auberge du Soliel. A can’t miss view with food to die for. I will offer more details in my EAT post, coming up soon.

PlumpJack Winery –Walk In

620 Oakville Cross Road

Napa, CA 94558

707-945-1220

At Plumpjack we simply did a walk-in, and enjoyed a quick 30 minute flight of Cabernet, Chardonnay , Merlot and Syrah. The cute shop and adorable terrace kept grabbing my attention, but this still had the quaint, welcoming, family-style appeal that I grew to love. Very similar to Red Car and Mengagé à Trois.

Caymus Vineyards –Reserved Tasting

8700 Conn Creek Road

Rutherford, CA 94573

707-967-3010

Caymus Special Selection 2012 Cabernet is on the top of Cory’s favorite wine of all-time! The Wagner family specialized in luxurious, rich, yet velvety Cabernets. You can schedule a tasting appointment or simply walk-in. We had scheduled an appointment, but sat at a community table, and had a great chat with two other couples. We swapped stories, and enjoyed an hour on their shaded patio before our next excursion.

Nickel & Nickel –Tour

8164 Saint Helena Highway

Oakville, CA 94558

(707) 967-9600

This pristine and historic winery was a can’t miss on our list! If you book a tour and tasting, which I suggest doing, book with Walt! His energy and passion for Nickel & Nickel wine was palpable. We became Nickel & Nickel wine club members about two years ago. Their quirky labels piqued our interest, and their cabernet pleasently surprised me. I am a known pinot noir fanatic and Cory is the cab lover of the family. These wines will satisfy any red wine lover, to the core. The grounds and cellars were pristime, literally not a spec of dirt was out of place. I could have spent much more time walking around, but it was about a 45 minute ride back to the hotel. So drunk and sublimely happy we rode with the windows down, buzzed, no borderline drunk, back to The Lodge where we got ready for dinner.

Day 2

Red Car

8400 Graton Road

Sebastopol, CA 95472

707-829-8500

Tasting room open from 10-5 P.M.

Our reservation at Red Car began at 11 PM and was the perfect way to start our day! If you have a tasting here, ask for Rick to be your guide. Rick was the perfect host, who made us feel welcome, and at-home the second we sat down at our table. We tasted a Rosé, Two Chardonnays, Two Pinot Noirs and a Syrah, most of which Cory and I had differentiating opinions on (all great btw). Cory simply prefers a more acidic Chard to my buttery palate etc. All were heavenly, but our top choice was the Heaven & Earth Pinot Noir, a mainstay that is often sold out. It was the most perfect, luscious, medium bodied Pinot I had ever tasted.

Ricks background in the culinary industry taught us more about food-pairings and notes than we learned anywhere else! Red Car wines are also produced both organically and bio-dynamically, which sets them apart from many wineries in the Valley. The shop has some great trinkets and amazing jewelry created and showcased by winemaker Kemp’s wife PADÉ VAVRA . Honestly, I lusted everything in her collection and cannot wait to acquire more of her pieces!  Red Car is a rustically modern tasting space that is a CANT MISS. We just want to thank Rick for the perfect morning, and wonderful education on your stunning wine. It was because of you, we are now wine club members! Read more about Red Car’s philosophy here: http://redcarwine.com/#our-vineyards.

Emeritis:

Emeritis is your one-stop-shop for bold Pinot Noir. We know Emeritus Pinot well, and drink them often, but little did we know that we actually had a connection to the winery owners. When we sat down at our tasting table, temporarily named ‘Cory and Co’, we fell in love with the view and the ambiance. Emeritis has vines growing as far as the eye can see. After a few moments at the table, we were greeted by a young woman named Mari who shared a generous pour of Ruby Ruby. A Rosé with crisp complexity. We immediately knew, we had to have a bottle to drink by our pool in Miami. After some time with Mari, it came out that Cory was a West Point graduate, and she responded with the fact that her brother was a fourth generation graduate, and baseball player who graduated in 2006. The same year as my older brother, and a year after Cory! They knew each other well at the academy, and he had heard that he was out west making kick-ass hard cider, but we had no idea that his family owned such beautiful wineries. We had a wonderful afternoon and immediately joined their wine club. Once again marveling at what a small world it really is. Their ‘Limited Releases’ sell out fast, so if you want one for your next bbq or pool party, I suggest ordering yours today!

 

Hook and Ladder: Walk In

2134 Olivet Road
Santa Rosa, CA, 95401
707.526.2255

The backstory on the Sinning Hook & Ladder connection goes a little something like this…on Friday nights two creatures of habit go to Houston’s for dinner. There is usually a long wait, so the bartender says ‘ hi guys, bottle of Hook & Ladder tonight?’ We say yes, have a glass while we wait, and then we each order a filet with a loaded baked potato, and finish off the bottle with our meal. This little dance has gone on for two years, until we went to Houstons in the beginning of May, and the bartender put his head down as he saw us. He said: I have some news. We are no longer carrying Hook & Ladder. To say we were dissappointed is an understatement. We often say that the Houstons filet with a baked potato would be our last supper, and that included our two glasses of Hook & Ladder.

So the next day Cory ordered a case and had numerous conversations with Candice from H & L, who explained the crazy awesome, refrigerated truck, delivery process. At the time we placed our order, she was also dealing with over 1500 other deliveries, but when we walked in, and she said her name was Candice, the hubby responded with a boisterous ‘I am Cory’ , and thus the meeting and the 45-minute giggle fest began.

Candice is the wine club director, and her partner in pouring that day was Devin, the tasting room manager. His knowledge and sense of humor were not lost on us! By this point in the day, on winery number three, we were downright goofy, and Devin joined right in the fun. Anyone who can help me give Cory a run for his money is my kind of human! So thank you Candice and David for a perfect afternoon. We enjoyed every sip! We fell in love with wines of the Russian River Valley when we lived in Oregon for a year. Often times when we go out to dinner we look for a bottle from the RRV to help us make our decision easy. Hook & Ladder has a great price point and pairs well with almost any type of cuisine. If you want to order a bottle before, shop their wide selection here.

Their grounds are also the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon! This was one of the few wineries that you can walk through the vines, enjoy games or simply sit and enjoy the view.

Day 3-We Drove Our Rental Car

 Ménage à Trois 

Napa Cellars

7481 St. Helena Highway S. Napa

CA, 94558

I started picking up bottles of Menage a Trois after I moved to Oregon, and my co-coach Erin always had it! It is a smooth red blend that is sold commercially almost anywhere. We spent about an hour killing time before heading to Opus. I needed a hair of the dog anyway, and Menagé felt a bit like coming home. Their grounds were beautiful and quaint. We played some cornhole and sat in adirondak chairs before taking on Opus and a lunch at Mustard’s. This winery isn’t a cant miss, but it was an enjoyable, relaxed and intimate setting, and a place where Cory and I shared Menagé memories of our time spent in Oregon. When we were just getting started in our life together. We were engaged, and I was so unsure of my professional future that I cried almost every day. It is funny how life works. There is also such an emotional connection you can make with wine and food. So, do some research, find your ‘Menagé story’, and make sure to go and spend some time remeniscing about how far you have come.

Opus One Winery

7900 St. Helena Highway

Oakville, CA 94562

707-944-9442

We originally had Opus One on our list, but had to take it off due to time restraints. We added it back into the rotation on our third day when we realized our hot air balloon ride would be over by 9:30 AM. I am so thankful we did! When we pulled up to Opus One it literally took my breath away. The architect wanted the winery to look like a wine barrel in the middle with two arms outreached to welcome you inside. To me, it looked like something straight out of Game of Thrones, a castle fit for Calisi. Opus one was cofounded by Robert Mondavi , a man who led the California wine renaissance for six decades and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who came from one of the great European wine families. There is an overwhelming air of sophistication, and with that comes a high price point. Cory took home three bottles which we have decided will only be consumed on his MBA graduation, after the birth of our first child and our 10-year wedding anniversary. Yes! Opus is that special. I am so glad we ended our time here. The experience was all encompassing.

Our first day we visited five wineries, which was worth it, but also extremely ambitious! I would suggest 3-4 daily. Take your time and enjoy everything that Napa/Sonoma has to offer. There are so many beautiful wineries in Napa/Sonoma, and I cannot wait to visit more on our trip in 2017  lol. The next two guides will be all about eating and playing your way through Napa and Sonoma. I hope this winery guide helps you plan your next trip to out west. I would love to hear about some of your favorite spots!  Feel free to leave details in the comment section below.