Napa Valley
Vermeil Tasting Room
MarySue Frediani
Vermeil Wines/OnThEdge Winery
1255 Lincoln Avenue
Calistoga, CA 94515
Tasting Room Hours:
Sunday through Thursday - 10am to 5:30-ish
Friday and Saturday - 10am to 8-ish
15000 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
800.330.4064 ex. 124
Open daily 10:00am to 5:00pm.
4089 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA 94558
Black Stallion Winery is open daily to the
public from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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In the Napa Valley, sparkling wine producers usually begin
harvesting around mid-to-late August
(they need to pick their grapes a little less ripe than the
rest of us). The table-wine harvest usually
begins around Labor Day with early-ripening varieties, such
as Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc
and continues through most of October, finishing with
Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
The harvest can be relatively early or late, depending upon
the weather. If you’re planning a visit,
I’d suggest you time it for mid-to-late September. That’s
often the peak and there’s sure to be something
going on regardless of the weather. If you do, it’s smart to
plan ahead because it’s also the peak time for
visitors and your preferred hotels and restaurants will book
up quickly. But, it’s worth it! You can see, smell
and taste things that don’t exist any other time of year.
If we've had a "normal" year, we begin to pick early-ripening
varieties like Sauvignon Blanc around Labor Day.
Warm years may mean an earlier harvest and cool years can
cause delays. Usually, by mid to late September
the harvest is in full swing and we often finish with
Cabernet Sauvignon sometime in October, again, depending
on the weather. In 2005 some local vineyards were harvested
as late as mid-November. The later the harvest, the
greater risk of rain damage, but as it happens, 2005 turned
out to be an exceptionally fine vintage!
Willie Birds
Top Wine Tasting Rooms in Los Olivos
It is 40 miles between San Francisco, CA and
Napa, CA
SW161 9:00-10:40
SW1505 5:40-7:10
Robert Mondavi Winery
Highway 29 - Oakville, CA
94562
Phone: 1-888-RMONDAVI (1-888-766-6328)
For advance tour reservations, please dial extension 82000. For same day tour
reservations, please dial extension 82001.
ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY - VISITING AND EVENTS
TOURS AND TASTINGS
INDIVIDUAL GUEST TOURS
Educating the American public about wine, food and the arts has always
been part of the philosophy behind Robert Mondavi Winery. The winery was one of
the first to present educational tours and programs, culinary events, concerts
and art exhibits and its visitor programs have become world-renowned.
The Robert Mondavi Winery is open to visitors daily from 10:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. , and closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Tours are scheduled at various times as indicated below and advanced
reservations are highly recommended. To make a reservation, please call Robert
Mondavi Winery at 1-888-RMONDAVI (888-766-6328) Extension 2000. (phone tree
selection #2) DAILY EDUCATIONAL TOURS AND TASTINGS
TO KALON TOUR AND TASTING Offered daily on the hour from 10:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. year round. Advanced reservations are accepted. This program is also
available in a small private group tour format. Approximately 75 minutes in
length.[Note: Due to the in-depth nature of this tour and tasting, young adults
of 13years of age or older are permitted on the noon tour only; children under
13 are not permitted.]
Robert Mondavi Winery’s renowned tour follows the path of the grapefrom
the vineyard through the cellar to the finished wine. You will see the inner
workings of our winery and learn about the vineyard, fermentation, barrel aging
and bottling. A seated educational tasting of wines from Robert Mondavi Winery
then brings the elements of winemaking together as you taste three of our top
wines.
$25 per person/ $10 per young adult (noon tour only).
Winery Contact: Website:
http://www.robertmondaviwinery.com
Phone: (707) 226-1395 Email: info@robertmondaviwinery.com
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Address: 7801 St. Helena Highway Oakville, CA 94558
Situated about 50 miles north of San Francisco in the heart of Napa
Valley, Robert Mondavi Winery is on the west side of Highway 29, just north of
Oakville.
We welcome visitors year round with the exception of Easter, Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Year's Day, when we are closed. The winery is open year-round
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Schedule and descriptions of our daily tours
Robert Mondavi Winery Highway 29 Oakville, CA 94562
Phone: 1-888-RMONDAVI (1-888-766-6328)
Driving Directions via San Francisco:
Via the Golden Gate Bridge (Driving time is approximately 1.5 hours)
Take Highway 101 North across the Golden Gate Bridge. Continue North on
Highway 101 through San Rafael. Take Highway 37 to Vallejo/Napa exit.
Continue East on Highway 37 to Vallejo until you reach Highway 29. Turn
left (North) onto Highway 29 (which is also Sonoma Avenue) toward Napa, Sonoma,
Calistoga.
After approximately 7 miles, Highway 29 becomes 3 lanes. Stay to the left
continuing on Highway 29 toward Sonoma/Calistoga. Stay on Highway 29 North
through Napa, Yountville and Oakville - approximately 20 miles. Robert Mondavi
Winery is on the left approximately 1 mile North of Oakville.
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Beringer Vineyards
http://www.beringer.com
(707) 963-7115
Winery Hours The winery is open daily – except Thanksgiving; Christmas and
New Year's Day.
Open May 30 - Oct. 23 Daily 10:00AM - 6:00PM Oct. 24 - May 29 Daily
10:00AM - 5:00PM
Beringer Vineyards is located at 2000 Main Street , St. Helena ,
California .
Historic District Tour Days/Times: 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily.
Approximately 75 minutes in length. Highlights: On this tour you'll explore
various historic parts of the property including the wine-aging tunnels,
gravity-flow winery, and Hudson House, finishing with a tasting of four wines
upstairs in the landmark Rhine House. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to
participate. Reservations: Reservations recommended. 14 person maximum. Price:
$20 per person Click here to request a reservation online or call 707-963-8989
ext. 2222.
The Vintage Legacy Tour Days/Times: 11:00 a.m. daily. Approximately 90
minutes in length. Highlights: Experience the Beringer Brothers' vision from
vineyard to bottle. Guests will begin the tour in Beringer's St. Helena Home
Vineyard, which was part of the original estate in 1875, and proceed to the Old
Stone Winery for a barrel tasting of a pre-release wine in the caves, followed
by a tasting of three current-release wines. Guests must be at least 21 years of
age to participate. Reservations: Reservations recommended. There is a 10 person
maximum for this tour. Tour offered weather permitting. Price: $35 per person.
Click here to request a reservation online or call 707-963-8989 ext. 2222.
Taste of Beringer Tour Days/Times: Noon , 1:00 p.m. , 3:00 p.m. , 3:45
p.m. daily. Approximately one hour in length. Highlights: This is part historic
tour, part wine education. Not only will you visit our original winery and aging
tunnels, but you'll also get a chance to explore our demonstration vineyard. At
the end of the tour you will taste three wines in the historic Rhine House as we
teach you about the Napa Valley and how to taste wine like a professional.
Guests must be at least 21 years of age to participate. Reservations: Advance
reservations not available. Price: $15 per person.
Via the Golden Gate Bridge / Highway 101 Travel North on 101 to Novato.
Take Hwy. 37 exit to Hwy. 121 to Napa/Sonoma. Continue on Hwy. 121 to Hwy. 29.
Turn left onto Hwy. 29 and follow signs north to St. Helena. Beringer is located
1/8 of a mile north of St. Helena on the left-hand side of Hwy. 29/128.
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Nationally-Aired In Wine Country Announces Golden Grape
Awards Winners
In Wine Country, produced by KNTV/NBC11 in San Jose, today announces the
winners in the third annual Golden Grape Awards, a viewer survey to reveal the
best in wine country. The Golden Grape Awards show kicked off In Wine Country’s
seventh season and the show’s distribution to all NBC stations nationwide. For
more information visit the newly redesigned In Wine Country Web site.
Best Winery to Visit – Passalacqua Winery
Best Wine Country Adventure - O.A.R.S. Wine on the River Series
Best Wine Country Spa – The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Best Wine Country Resort – The Carneros Inn
Best Wine Country Bargain Bites - Boon Fly Café at The Carneros Inn
Best Wine Country Restaurant Splurge – The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards
Best Wine Country Bed and Breakfast – Honor Mansion
Best Wine Country Gardens - Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery
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Ferrari-Carano Tour Reservations -
Best Wine Country Gardens
http://www.ferrari-carano.com/
Reserve your spot for Ferrari-Carano's winery tour, hosted by our
friendly and knowledgeable staff, and you will stroll through our
renowned gardens, see our vineyards up close, perhaps catch one of
our winemaking team or cellar crew hard at work on the crush pad or
in the winery's cellars or tank rooms, view Don and Rhonda Carano's
personal wine cellar, and visit our Enoteca Lounge and Villa Fiore
tasting rooms. You will hear about Ferrari-Carano’s history -- how
Don and Rhonda first came to Sonoma County on a wine buying trip and
just fell in love with the area. After the tour, you are invited to
taste Ferrari-Carano wines at the Villa Fiore tasting bar or in the
Enoteca Lounge.
Winery tours are by appointment only, Monday through Saturday, 10
a.m., based on availability. To schedule your tour, please email
tourinformation@ferrari-carano.com or call our Hospitality
Department at (707) 433-6700 or (800) 831-0381.
Villa Fiore Wine Shop
Open daily from 10am to 5pm, the Villa Fiore Wine Shop offers a
diverse selection of unusual tableware, linens, wine accessories,
logo clothing and unique wine country gift items – and of course,
Ferrari-Carano wines! Visitors may taste four wines for $5, which is
refunded on a wine purchase of $25 or more.
Enoteca Reserve Tasting Bar
Taste Ferrari-Carano's Limited Release and Reserve Wines!
The recently opened “Enoteca” Reserve Tasting Bar is the perfect
place to relax and enjoy Ferrari-Carano's limited release and
reserve wines in a beautiful setting. “Enoteca,” which means “wine
library” in Italian, is located in the underground cellar of Villa
Fiore, Ferrari-Carano’s Visitor Center, located in picturesque Dry
Creek Valley.
Visitors may taste Ferrari-Carano’s new, vineyard select, Russian
River Valley Chardonnays, such as the Fiorella Chardonnay, Tre Terre
Chardonnay, Emelia's Cuvee, Dominique, and Mill Station; Ferrari-Carano's
new brand, PreVail, featuring two mountain vineyard Cabernet
Sauvignon-based wines, Back Forty and West Face; red wines such as
the limited production Zinfandel, Sangiovese and Trésor, Ferrari-Carano’s
Bordeaux-style blend; and two dessert wines, the Eldorado Gold, late
harvest, and the Eldorado Noir, made from black Muscat grapes.
Visitors may taste four wines for $15, which is refunded on a
wine purchase of $80 or more.
The beautiful setting was designed by Rhonda Carano, owner of
Ferrari-Carano, along with her husband, Don Carano. It features a
37-foot barrel-shaped tasting bar with a black granite top, a
dramatic, glass enclosed wine bottle cellar running the length of
the bar, Italian tile floor in an elaborate herringbone pattern,
Venetian plaster walls and ceilings, alabaster pendants, unique
custom iron and crystal chandeliers, and tasting tables with chairs
for guest to relax and indulge in Ferrari-Carano’s delicious wines.
The Enoteca is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and no
reservations are required to taste in the Enoteca. |
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Best Winery to Visit
http://passalacquawinery.com/tastingwines.html
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Point Reyes Lighthouse
Point Reyes: A Treacherous Obstacle to Mariners Point Reyes is
the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and the second foggiest place on the
North American continent. Weeks of fog, especially during the summer months,
frequently reduce visibility to hundreds of feet. The Point Reyes Headlands,
which jut 10 miles out to sea, pose a threat to each ship entering or leaving
San Francisco Bay. The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse warned mariners of danger
for more than a hundred years.
The Point Reyes Lighthouse, built in 1870, was retired from
service in 1975 when the U.S. Coast Guard installed an automated light. They
then transferred ownership of the lighthouse to the National Park Service, which
has taken on the job of preserving this fine specimen of our heritage.
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