Tasting Date

Oh, how these recent days have taken their toll on me. I hate to complain, but it’s 8 pm and I just finally sat down. My brain is a bit fried, but after a good meal and a few glasses of my favorite Argentine Torrontes, I am beginning to feel a bit better. I think I need a vacation, in fact, my wife and I are really thinking about trying to head down to Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara to do a bit of tasting. That got me thinking about tasting, in fact, I think about tasting quite a bit. I really do enjoy heading up to wine country, it’s an escape, a trip to beautiful scenery, great finds, and crowds. I have learned to escape the crowds, to pick and choose where to go, and to avoid the tourist traps and find the good juice poured by people who are happy to have you there.

I guess first and foremost, I prefer to stay out of Napa. I really only get to go tasting on weekends, and highway 29 (St. Helena Hwy) is such a mess, even though Taylor’s Refreshers does serve some of the tastiest burgers around. I have gone to BV and think it’s a great place to take out-of-towners, but for me, really exploring and searching is what makes me happy. Instead of up and down 29, cross over to the Silverado Trail. The wineries here are beautiful, and a bit out of the way, so although they can get crowded, I don’t get the turnstile feeling when I head here. I have a few recommendations about tasting, as well as a few of my favorite locations.

First, go with as few people as possible. Small wineries hate limos, and even more than limos, they hate bachelor/ette parties with limos. You will get minimum attention, and the tasting room worker who drew the shortest straw. Second, this isn’t college, you don’t have to drink as much as possible in as short of a time as possible. If you don’t like it, spit and pour, if you are planning to go a few wineries, take your time. Don’t plan on more than four wineries, if you are driving a bit, plan on three. Third, call ahead or check the website of your planned wineries, check to see if you need to call ahead. Four, hydrate, it might be hot, you will be drinking, try to drink water at every winery, they should have it readily available. Last, try to stay the night in the area, if you can, or if you know someone, try to crash somewhere, the last thing you need is a DUI, plus the area has some amazing restaurants and staying for dinner can be magical.

If I do go to Napa I will always stop at Taylor’s right away for lunch, get a good burger and build a nice foundation in my stomach. I will try to go to a place a bit further north and normally try to pick and choose. There as so many spots to choose from, pick a new one, maybe one you’ve never heard of, and hope it’s good. Then I will jump over to the Silverado trail, it’s normally late afternoon and I will go to Miner Vineyards. I love the wine here, the tasting room is intimate, most people are there for good wine, and the staff treats me right. I really enjoy their wine and even when I showed up with a small group (yah, I know, see rule 1), they were happy to accommodate. They make quality wine, beautiful Cabs and blends, The Oracle is a truly beautiful wine, in fact I think I have four bottles on my shelf as we speak. After a quick check of the sun, I will decide my next spot. The plan is to settle into a table a Mumm, just up the road, for sunset. The patio area is stunning, and the sun sets over the valley and behind the mountains, the bubbly and the view really make you pause and realize house lucky you are to live in the Bay Area.

If Napa just won’t do, I will head to Sonoma. My favorite stop is just outside of the town limits, a bit out of the way, and is easy to pronounce. That stop is Gundlach Bundschu. They have a wonderful selection of light reds, beautiful Rose, and delicate whites that battle well with the intense heat that always seems to greet me when we go here. There is a nice picnic area and a beautiful view. From here you can head back to Sonoma or do what I would do, drive down to 12 and stop at Acacia (CALL AHEAD). Acacia has wonderful Pinots and their Chardonnay is some of my favorite. It is well hidden, just turn at Domaine Carneros and make a left about 2 miles down. My last stop would be at Domaine Carneros, another bubbly stop, hopefully during sunset, and even though Kenny G doesn’t work there anymore, they still serve some great sparkling wine and the Chateau is beautiful.

Whatever you do, try to go taste, it really is a perfect way to pass a weekend day.