Hi! I am going to Napa/Sonoma area and want to get suggestion for which winery I should visit when I am up there. I don't want to visit any "big name" wineries. Looking to increase my wine club & collections.
Yeah, I don't want to seem rude but this question has been asked and answered many, many times. If you want a more specific answer you'll need to ask a more specific question.
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Posts: 6580 | Location: Santa Clara Valley AVA | Registered: Jul 02, 2004
Agree on Larkmead. I have had good experiences at:
Pride Sherwin Behrens/Erna Schein Larkmead Frank Family Ch. Boswell Sinskey Signorello Conn Creek Alpha Omega Sequoia Grove Prager St. Clement Ma(i)sonry
Well, I am going to be staying at Westin Napa so I figure that is Downtown? I am going to be in town for 3 days so maybe one day I can head over to Sonoma? I never been to up at Napa for tasting but I would want to visit small production wineries only. Or ones that does by private tasting. Any help will be great.
Originally posted by C55la: Well, I am going to be staying at Westin Napa so I figure that is Downtown? I am going to be in town for 3 days so maybe one day I can head over to Sonoma? I never been to up at Napa for tasting but I would want to visit small production wineries only. Or ones that does by private tasting. Any help will be great.
Again, check out my and others' accounts of their Napa trips. There are several recent posts.
Originally posted by C55la: Well, I am going to be staying at Westin Napa so I figure that is Downtown? I am going to be in town for 3 days so maybe one day I can head over to Sonoma? I never been to up at Napa for tasting but I would want to visit small production wineries only. Or ones that does by private tasting. Any help will be great.
Westin is sort of Downtown, right up the street from Oxbow market. Which days are you going to be in town? Saturday/Sunday are more difficult booking small production winery appointments.
I would suggest doing 3 appointments per day, figuring 90 minutes to two hours for each. Give you enough time to grab lunch somewhere as well.
Spring Mountain AVA Pride Relic Barnett Sherwin School House
Powell Yang, Thank you for your suggestion. Well, I am coming on a Friday and my tasting will be on Sat, Sun, Mon. Maybe I'll try to call them up to see if I can set up something.
Originally posted by C55la: Well, I am going to be staying at Westin Napa so I figure that is Downtown? I am going to be in town for 3 days so maybe one day I can head over to Sonoma? I never been to up at Napa for tasting but I would want to visit small production wineries only. Or ones that does by private tasting. Any help will be great.
Westin is sort of Downtown, right up the street from Oxbow market. Which days are you going to be in town? Saturday/Sunday are more difficult booking small production winery appointments.
I would suggest doing 3 appointments per day, figuring 90 minutes to two hours for each. Give you enough time to grab lunch somewhere as well.
Spring Mountain AVA Pride Relic Barnett Sherwin School House
St. Helena Realm Lewelling
Howell Mountain Herb Lamb Viader Neal Outpost
I would leave 2 hours for Pride.
These are all great recs. I would also suggest Larkmead - you could do a Calistoga and the St. Helena wineries on the same day.
Originally posted by C55la: Powell Yang, Thank you for your suggestion. Well, I am coming on a Friday and my tasting will be on Sat, Sun, Mon. Maybe I'll try to call them up to see if I can set up something.
Call early, the ones that does open on weekends gets filled up fast.
All these suggestions are great. I really like Outpost though. Relatively easy to get an appointment, small production, high quality, good hospitality, really beautiful spot. Made by Thomas Rivers Brown, of whom much has been written. He makes all his wines at this location. Allow driving time though.
If you can catch Ric at the ranch, Karl Lawrence is a blast too.
Also must second the vote for Lewelling. Haven't been in a while and may be tough to get in lately, but if you can it's one of the best of what you seem to be looking for. Real easy to get to right out of SH.
Posts: 57 | Location: Huntington Beach, Ca, USA | Registered: Dec 20, 2002
