Getting the most from wine country
By Paul Franson
Bayinsider Contributor
Sure, Napa Valley is about wine. But wine country is more than that. It’s about having a good time. It's about taking an interesting tour and meeting friendly folks. And it's about relaxing for some good food in a peaceful picnic setting.
Some of the biggest name wineries don’t offer the best tasting experiences, and some of the places with the most famous wines aren’t even accessible to the public unless you are in the industry or are a known serious customer.
There are almost 300 wineries in Napa Valley, and the majority are open to the public in some sense, so it’s not easy to choose the best or know which ones are accessible. So it's best to call ahead.
Some wineries, such as Joseph Phelps and Schramsberg, are so deservedly popular that there’s often no room unless you call well ahead. Burgess Cellars makes great wine and has incredible views; it requires appointments. And Robert Mondavi’s tours are so popular (for good reason) that you need an appointment on weekends and sometimes during the week.
Timing is everything
Some wineries require appointments because they're so small or their wine is in such demand that they don’t need to encourage visitors. Others specify appointments because Napa County requires all new wineries to offer tasting by appointment only. The wineries may try to get around that requirement by having you fill out an "appointment" card, but it’s best to call in advance to be on the safe side.
Even if you don’t have to make an appointment, you’ll almost always get better treatment if you call in advance. And not surprisingly, it’s far better to visit during the week than on weekends if you’re serious about the wines.
It’s said that there are two seasons in Napa Valley, Tourist Season and Rainy Season, and you’ll get the best reception of all if you visit during a big rainstorm when things are very quiet.
You’ll find that some fairly well-known wineries don’t offer any tastings or facilities at all. Some, in fact, are "virtual wineries," buying grapes, crushing and processing at local custom crushers like Napa Wine Company or Rombauer Cellars. That doesn’t mean the firms don’t make excellent wines, however, and many are available by the glass at local restaurants and by the bottle in Valley wine stores.
BYOB: Buy your own bottle
Tasting fees weren’t considered in this selection. Many of these wineries charge a nominal amount, though some skip it if you take their tours. Almost all give you a souvenir glass or refund the fee if you buy a bottle of wine. If they don’t charge, you should expect to buy a bottle now and then anyway.
Certainly, if you use a winery’s picnic grounds, you should buy a bottle from them. Most will throw in plastic cups and have chilled whites and rosés available. The ultimate is V. Sattui Winery, which has an excellent deli and cheese shop, and in spite of all the other tourists on weekends, is well worth a visit.
Some wineries, such as Joseph Phelps and Schramsberg, are so deservedly popular that there’s often no room unless you call well ahead. Burgess Cellars makes great wine and has incredible views; it requires appointments. And Robert Mondavi’s tours are so popular (for good reason) that you need an appointment on weekends and sometimes during the week.
BYOB: Buy your own bottle