{"id":115,"date":"2018-07-18T00:42:14","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T04:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rdilauro.com\/CarpeVino\/?p=115"},"modified":"2018-12-11T10:33:33","modified_gmt":"2018-12-11T15:33:33","slug":"california-wine-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rdilauro.com\/CarpeVino\/2018\/07\/18\/california-wine-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Napa\/Sonoma"},"content":{"rendered":"

The California Wine Trip was in 2005.\u00a0 My wife and I along with two close friends flew out to San Francisco.\u00a0 We rented a car and then proceeded to tour the wine areas of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino.<\/p>\n

We stayed for 10 days and visited 40 different vineyards.\u00a0 \u00a0I had plotted out each vineyard that we were going to visit, made arrangements if tickets were necessary.\u00a0 \u00a0 Of course along the way , there were many other vineyards that we had to stop out.<\/p>\n

Overall, I felt that Napa Valley was more rigid in terms of tastings and they were more formal .\u00a0 Some had teak top tasting tables and pourers that were wearing suits.\u00a0 \u00a0While in Sonoma, we felt like we were in Tuscany, Italy.\u00a0 \u00a0The people were very relaxed, some dressed in jeans and if you wanted to pay for the tasting you could or not<\/p>\n

NAPA VALLEY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Domain Chandon\u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/em>Good information on the true French champagne method<\/p>\n

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Domain Chandon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\n<\/em><\/strong>Del Dotto<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>Cave tour , first time doing barrel tasting – best wine\u00a0 The\u00a0 David<\/p>\n

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Dell Dotto Caves and Barells<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n


\nSilverado<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Outstanding views, full rich Cabernets<\/em><\/p>\n

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Silverado Vineyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Mondavi\u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Nice grounds, but overall the wines were disappointing to us<\/em><\/p>\n

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Mondavi Entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Francis Coppola<\/strong>\u00a0 Before he moved to Sonoma, it is a Museum fun place to visit<\/p>\n

Cakebread\u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0 Not much to see here, Chardonnay was nice<\/p>\n

Beauliev Vineyards<\/strong>\u00a0 No vineyard, just a tasting room of nice value wines<\/p>\n

Sawyer<\/strong>\u00a0 The secret\u00a0<\/strong>Great Meritage and Cabernet, owner had us taste Savignon Blanc right out of his fermenting barrel<\/p>\n

Frank Family\u00a0<\/strong> Owner greats with a sparkling wine, best Red Zinfandel I have had<\/p>\n

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Frank Family Zinfandel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Berringer\u00a0<\/strong>Very commercial, nice tour, beautiful house, tasting wines average<\/p>\n

Grigsch<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0My wife was able to stomp on some grapes.\u00a0 Nice whites<\/p>\n

Franciscan\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Very formal wine tasting room, a bit too stuffy<\/p>\n

Raymond\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Very nice Cabernet , plus I was able to grab a handful of Cabernet grapes.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Ron Taking GrapesHeitz<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Cant say more about their Cabernet Sauvgion<\/p>\n

Merryvale\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>Amazing tasting room, large wine barell for wedding parties of 16<\/em><\/p>\n

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SONOMA<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Murphy Goode\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong> First stop in Sonoma, Sauvgion Blanc was nice<\/em><\/p>\n

Golden Eye\u00a0 <\/strong>Have to see this place, beautiful and the best Pinot Noir I have had in a very long time.<\/p>\n

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Golden Eye Vineyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n


\nSeghsio\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>All of their Italian style wines were BONE dry, I mean BONE dry<\/em><\/p>\n

Chateau St Jean\u00a0 <\/strong>Beautiful grounds, looks like a French Chateau.\u00a0 The Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was worth the extra money<\/p>\n

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Chateau St Jean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n


\nQuivira Vineyards\u00a0<\/strong> Wines not to talk about, but 100% organic and\u00a0\u00a0Sustainable
\n<\/b>
\nArmida\u00a0<\/strong>Forget the wine, just enjoyed the views<\/em><\/p>\n

Belvedere\u00a0<\/strong> Nice grounds average wines<\/p>\n

HopKlin\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Strange, very inexpensive wines, but all very tasty<\/p>\n

Davis Brynum\u00a0<\/strong> Couldnt taste much, it was Pinot Noir crushing day!<\/p>\n

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Crushing Pinot Noir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\nPorter Creek\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>All they had to offer was Pinot Noir – average<\/em><\/p>\n

Valley of the Moon\u00a0<\/strong> Outstanding whites, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc<\/p>\n

Benzinger\u00a0<\/strong> Best tour in California, tractor pull cart all over – super reds<\/p>\n

Kundee\u00a0<\/strong> Not much to say here<\/p>\n

Kenwood\u00a0<\/strong>The Jack London Area – wines just average<\/p>\n

Blackstone\u00a0<\/strong>Inexpensive but very nice Merlot and Zinfandel<\/p>\n

St Francis\u00a0<\/strong>One of the best Cabernet Sauvignons on our trip<\/p>\n

Gloria Ferrier<\/strong> Full glass tasting only, not really a tasting environment<\/p>\n

Cline\u00a0<\/strong> All of their Zinfandel\u00a0were so good, Red Truck blend a hit<\/p>\n

Viansa\u00a0<\/strong>Like visiting Tuscany, Italy, shops, food and lots of wine<\/p>\n

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Vinasa Vineyard Sonoma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Roche<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Last stop in Sonoma, it looked like a Western Dude Ranch<\/em>
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Mendicino<\/strong><\/p>\n

Handley<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Forgot we were even there!
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\n<\/em>Roederer<\/em> Estate<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Beautiful grounds, closest sparking wine to a true French Champange.
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\nHusch\u00a0<\/strong> Not much to say<\/em><\/p>\n

Navarro<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0A very nice Pinot Noir<\/em>
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The California Wine Trip was in 2005.\u00a0 My wife and I along with two close friends flew out to San Francisco.\u00a0 We rented a car and then proceeded to tour the wine areas of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino. We stayed for 10 days and visited 40 different vineyards.\u00a0 \u00a0I had plotted out each vineyard that … <\/p>\n

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