Apologize in advance if this has been discussed, went back several pages and didn't see anything but....
what is your absolute favorite winery to visit in Napa or Sonoma - and why?

Napa:
Karl Lawrence. Because I can taste through dozens of barrels, have amazing conversations with great people, and drink fantastic wines and samples.

Sonoma:
Kost Browne. Same reason as above.

Lewelling. When you've been, you'll understand.
Runners up: School House, Trespass.

Napa- a long list

Sonoma- Martinelli for their wide variety of top notch wines- the Chardonnays, Syrahs, Pinot Noirs, and Zinfandels are amongst the very finest this country produces.

In my somewhat limited experience...

Napa- Larkmead- Ilove the wines and atmosphere- very laid back.

Sonoma- I'd probably go with Martinelli as well

Napa - Miner Family. I enjoy just about every varietal they make and even though it can be crowded at times, they still take the time to make sure you're enjoying yourself and they still pour good sized tastes.

Napa: Artesa - architecture, art, views, and the pinot.

Sonoma: Stryker - beautiful building and setting. Outstanding wines.

Napa-Darioush/Pride/Phelps Great wine, great people.

Sonoma- Martinelli. Kittens in the tasting room. What could be better than wine and kittens?

With decidedly less experience than some of the others, I'd say:

Nickel & Nickel: For the monomanical obsessiveness.
Spottswoode: For the family atmosphere.
Shafer: For the wine!!

Neil

Board -O ...I agree about the quality of Martinelli's wines, but I have been there twice and each time was offered only a very limited selection to taste. Has your experience been different there?

But I digress.. My favorite Napa experience was at Shafer; Sonoma at A. Rafanelli.

Napa - it is a toss up between Chateau Montelena and Blackbird

Sonoma - Hanzell

Oregon - Domaine Drouhin

Washington - Quilceda Creek

Napa - Karl Lawrence, Neal, Dominus, Shafer

Why? Consistency, good in difficult vintages and great in great vintages

So many to choose from in Napa. For me its do I turn right or left?

Three wineries I will visit every trip I make to Napa.

Etude: I can not think of another winery that does both Cabernet and Pinot as well.

School House: Nothing like tasting outstanding Pinot on Spring Mountain of all places in the Kitchen of really wonderfull down to earth people. Feels like you are visiting family you have not seen in years.

Trespass: Don is a great guy that is generous to a fault with barrel samples. More like meeting a buddy for a drink than vising a tasting room. Meet him at the vineyard on you way up Spring Mountain or in the Venge Caves on your way up Howell Mountain.

KL
Neal
Pride

Napa - Caldwell. John is a great guy and the wines are terrific.

Sonoma - Believe it or not, the visits at Hop Kiln have been the most enjoyable. The wine has sometimes been just ok, but the staff has always been memorable.

Oregon - J.K. Carriere. Probably shouldn't let that out of the bag, but...

I'll second or third Trespass and Pride for different reasons. Don for his down-to-earth, friendly nature and Pride for the wonderful view. Equally important, both labels represent above average QPRs, IMO.

Napa- Barnett on spring mountain and Vincent Arroyo
Sonoma- Merry Edwards, Gary Farrell, and Arista

Napa - Shafer, Pride, and Joseph Phelps
Sonoma - Joseph Swan and Merry Edwards

Trespass- caves and vineyard are a great tasting and the people and wine are very good.


Trespass: Don is a great guy that is generous to a fault with barrel samples. More like meeting a buddy for a drink than vising a tasting room. Meet him at the vineyard on you way up Spring Mountain or in the Venge Caves on your way up Howell Mountain.[/QUOTE]

i probably pimp them too much already, but, i really do think that my favorite now is Babcock, and has been for a while... the last few vintages, i just havent had a bad wine from them, even the Cabernet and Cab Blends (which ive notoriously slammed from Central Coast wineries, but chalk it up to better sources and improved farming in the Santa Ynez Valley and ridiculous pricing from Napa & Sonoma)... everything i think is priced fairly for the quality, and i love visiting the tasting room off hwy 246.

We had a Babcock wine dinner here somewhere around a year and a half ago. All the wines were well-made and, though in their infancy, showed great prmise.

Lewelling. Wights are great people making great wine.

2nd: David Arthur, Seven Stones for the views. Plus Roy Piper at Seven Stones took us for a drive to find Screaming Eagle, Bacchus vineyard, etc...don't try it at home kids cause it resulted in flat tires haha...

Napa: Though I have not been in a very long time, the Diamond Creek release party is absolutely wonderful. I also enjoy Outpost when TRB is around (so you can barrel taste Maybach, Schrader, etc...). The view is amazing.

Sonoma: Medlock Ames. They have a zeal about what they do and their dinners in the vineyard are not to be missed. Also good is Peter Michael. While it is a little white shoe, it is a wonderful tour and tasting.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong BBP:
Lewelling. When you've been, you'll understand.
Runners up: School House, Trespass.

Ditto. There is no finer gentleman than Dave Wight.