Sonoma Valley Wine Trek

A nice alternative to Napa Valley is nearby Sonoma Valley. Not as congested as Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley can offer a more relaxed wine tasting experience. Highway 121 and Highway 12 are the main roads that will enable you to visit the wineries in this region. Listed below are the places worth visiting to make the most out of your time in Sonoma Valley.

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards

Champagne caves at Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards

Champagne caves at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards

As you make the drive to wine country you’ll notice a change in scenery and see less buildings and more vineyards. Although the view has changed your mind may not be prepared for the day’s events. A busy mind won’t be able to enjoy a day of wine tasting to the fullest. The best way to alter your mindset is to have your first stop be at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards. On Highway 121 this vineyard isn’t located next to other wineries, which gives it a sense of remoteness. Gloria Ferrer doesn’t offer traditional tastings (better known as flights). Instead, it offers visitors the choice of a variety of sparkling wines, white wines, and red wines purchased and sampled by the glass. You should order a glass of sparkling wine as most of the wineries in the region do not offer sparkling wine. Plus, Gloria Ferrer makes the best sparkling wine not called champagne. If you are ordering a glass of the sparkling wine try the Blanc de Blancs. The best part of Gloria Ferrer, besides their sparkling wine, is their outdoor terrace. The terrace offers views of sprawling vineyards and hillsides. As you sip your glass and enjoy the view you’ll notice none of the noises of the city. Before you know it you’re relaxed and ready for your day in wine country. If you are so inclined, Gloria Ferrer offers tours on how their wines are made and their champagne caves.

Cline Cellars

Cline Cellars Vineyard and Winery

Cline Cellars has their tasting room on the first floor of a two-story building. The building appears to have been someone’s home in an earlier life. As such you feel right at home when visiting Cline Cellars. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable on the wines being offered. Two favorites to be sure to sample are the Cashmere White and the Lodi Zinfandel. The tasting room has a gift shop where you can shop for Cline specific merchandise and wine related items to take home. After you’ve completed your time in the tasting room walk around the grounds. You can capture nice photos of the vineyard lanes and a large pond with a fountain.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards and The Olive Press

Statue at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

Across the street from Cline Cellars is their sister properties of Jacuzzi Family Vineyards and The Olive Press. If the name Jacuzzi conjures up images of pools and spas you are correct. Members of the same Jacuzzi family established the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. A walk around the grounds gives you access to views of the vineyards and a fountain statue made in the Italian style. On the grounds is an event hall with wine casks lined up against the wall and more statues. Inside the tasting room you have two tasting options, wine or olive oil. Jacuzzi wines are top-notch. For white wine sample their Arneis and for red wines their Barbera, Montepulciano, and Aglianico. The tasting room includes a section reserved for The Olive Press. The Olive Press sells extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegar, and other condiments such as mustards, tapenade, herbs, and spices. Olive oils and balsamic vinegars are sold individually or pre-mixed in various tasty combinations. Visitors may taste the olive oils and balsamic vinegars on pieces of bread or crackers. Be sure to try the Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the Fig Dark Balsamic Vinegar, and the combinations of Lime Olive Oil & Coconut Balsamic Vinegar. The Basil Parmesan Dipping oil is delicious. The Olive Press has a second location in Napa at the Oxbow Public Market.

Sonoma

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Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards: 38.223579, -122.472183

Cline Cellars: 38.214360, -122.458272

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards: 38.214680, -122.453840

The Olive Press: 38.214664, -122.454012

The Olive Press: 38.301309, -122.281902

	Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards Sonoma Valley Wine Trek Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma, CA, United States
	Cline Cellars Sonoma Valley Wine Trek Cline Cellars, Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA, United States
	Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Sonoma Valley Wine Trek Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA, United States
	The Olive Press Sonoma Valley Wine Trek The Olive Press, Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA, United States
	The Olive Press Sonoma Valley Wine Trek The Olive Press, 1st Street, Napa, CA, United States

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October 6, 2015 CB4YT

Tips on Wine Tasting in Napa Valley

It’s easy to spend your travel budget on wine tasting fees alone. This article offers tips on how to get more for your dollar when in Napa Valley.

The Tasting Fees

This is anecdotal but before the dot-com bubble of 1997-2000 if you were to visit Napa Valley wineries only offered free wine tastings. During the dot-com era the number of folks who moved to the Bay Area and had disposable income skyrocketed. They wanted to spend that money and Napa Valley was an easy hour to two-hour drive away. With this sudden influx of new visitors the wineries had to adjust their procedures and institute tasting fees. This allowed the winery recoup money lost on the wine being served in the tasting room. Even after the dot-com bubble burst the wineries kept the tasting fees.

There are wineries in the industry that have priced their tasting fees at $25 or higher per person. This tasting fee might garner a visitor tastings of five different wines with pours for each tasting being minimal. The quantity might equal one glass of wine. Mind you, a tasting need not mean a full glass of wine. Wine tasting is not to get drunk. You are wine tasting to see if you enjoy the wine or not. Yet these wineries are selling bottles of wine that cost less than or the same as the tasting fee. Proportionally the cost of wine tasting is too high. Additionally most wineries have stopped waiving the tasting fee if you buy a bottle of wine. If you and a friend buy a tasting fee and each buy a bottle of wine a single visit could cost a $100 per winery.

Of course, a tasting fee is understandable. The wineries can’t just give away their wines for free. It is an extensive production to make a bottle of wine. It takes years from the moment the vines grow the grapes to the time a wine bottle hits the shelves. Plus, many people are involved with the production of the wine. This includes the employees in the field, wine makers, and tasting room attendants. If every person who wine tasted bought a bottle of wine it’s possible tasting fees could stop. Except there exist individuals who go wine tasting with no intention of buying wine. Regrettably this practice of tasting fees hurts those visitors who are new to wine and those who love wine and want to try out different wines and wineries.

Those new to wine may find tasting fees to high and avoid ever tasting at wineries. This leads to wineries loosing potential customers and prevents a person from even finding out how much they may enjoy that winery’s wine. For long time wine drinkers that same high wine tasting fee may stop them from visiting a winery and that too is a lost consumer. My suggestion to wineries is that their tasting fees should not be more than half of the cheapest bottle of wine in the tasting flight. If someone will buy a bottle of wine you don’t need to comp the entire tasting fee, but you should give a percentage off the total sale. Rewarding customers is a good practice and could land you a consumer for life.

Internet research can help you find wineries with no tasting fee, a low tasting fee, or tasting fees that go towards buying a bottle of wine. If you have a winery you want to visit but don’t want to pay the high tasting fee, my suggestion is to skip the tasting room. Instead, buy a bottle of their wine out right. For example, pack yourself a picnic lunch. Go to Frank Family Vineyards, buy a bottle of their wine, and ask them to uncork it for you. Snag a spot at one of their picnic benches outside and you and your group can split the bottle while eating lunch. If you have a big group you can buy more than one bottle. You’ve gone from a small pour in a tasting center to savoring the wine in a relaxed setting.

: Picnic Area at Frank Family Vineyards

: Wine bottle at Frank Family Vineyards

Crowds

Regardless of which wineries you visit there will be crowds. The number of people visiting Napa Valley has increased over the past couple of decades. If you’re with a big group and you’re just there for a fun outing this may not be an issue. If you’re there only for wine tasting it can be annoying. You don’t want to struggle for a spot at the wine bar or be jostled while trying to sip your wine. The only way to avoid crowds is to visit Napa Valley during the off-peak season, or weekdays. Visit wineries the moment they open in the morning to avoid crowds. If you are visiting Napa Valley with a large-sized group try calling the wineries ahead of time to let them know when you will visit them. There are wineries that offer group rates, with discounts on tours of the winery or packaged deals that include wine pairings with food. There are wineries that have specific tastings areas for larger groups that you can reserve ahead of time.

Release Day Events

Another tip to get the most out of your dollar is to attend a winery’s release day event. There are wineries that offer one or two such events a year. There is an entrance fee that may appear steep but includes unlimited tastings plus hors d’oeuvres. The best part of these events is the chance to try higher end bottles of wine. The wineries are attempting to sell cases of newly released wine, including cases that can run upwards of over a hundred dollars a bottle. If you’ve never tried wine that expensive these events allow you to do so. A lot of people attend release day events, be sure to arrive as early as possible. Even though it’s crowded, these events are wonderful for a group outing. Release day events are held outside or in event halls, which means more space than if you were inside a tasting room. Wineries that put on great release day events are Silver Oak Cellars and Groth Vineyards & Winery. Check on-line for other wineries that may host such events.

Napa Valley on a Budget

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Frank Family Vineyards: 38.559106, -122.521703

Silver Oak Cellars: 38.440849, -122.381457

Groth Vineyards & Winery: 38.449131, -122.379458

	Frank Family Vineyards Tips on Wine Tasting in Napa Valley Frank Family Vineyards, Larkmead Lane, Calistoga, CA, United States
	Silver Oak Cellars Tips on Wine Tasting in Napa Valley Silver Oak Cellars, Oakville Cross Road, Oakville, CA, United States
	Groth Vineyards & Winery Tips on Wine Tasting in Napa Valley Groth Vineyards & Winery, Oakville Cross Road, Oakville, CA, United States

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September 30, 2015 CB4YT

A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three

Parts one and two of “A Day in Napa Valley” covered how to spend your morning and lunchtime while you traverse Highway 29 in Napa Valley’s wine country region. You’ve had breakfast, you’ve gone to wineries, eaten lunch, and been a tourist. It’s now time to complete your day in Napa Valley by visiting two more wineries.

Afternoon

Stop #6 – Charles Krug

After your lunch break you’ll continue your wine education by visiting the first winery in Napa Valley, Charles Krug Winery. Even though it’s the first winery in Napa Valley it never gets too crowded. The winery has an intimate tasting center hosted by a knowledgeable staff. You can expect great service while drinking fantastic red wines. As you sip away remember that you are drinking wine with its roots from the first winery in Napa Valley. This is where it all started.

Stop #7 – Sterling Vineyards

As your day exploring wine country comes to end why not finish as you started, soaking in the scenery. Enter Sterling Vineyards by heading along a driveway lined on both sides by vines and trees. After parking you’ll need to take Sterling’s aerial tramcars to access their tasting center. The tram offers views of Sterling’s grounds, including the vineyard and a pond. Sterling’s tasting center offers an outdoor terrace where you’ll be able to sit outside while tasting and enjoy views of Napa Valley. Use Sterling’s serene location to wrap up your day of wine tasting. Relax and take the time to absorb what you’ve experienced today.

: Sterling Vineyards Sign

: Sterling Vineyards Driveway

: Sterling Vineyards Pond

: Sterling Vineyards View

Closing Thoughts

If you’ve never traveled to Napa Valley before then visiting the wineries listed in this three-part series gives you the chance at a unique opportunity. You’ll experience history and education as well as taste a variety of wines offered from the valley. Keep in mind though that the best part of Napa Valley is the sheer number of wineries in one location. This itinerary is in no way exhaustive of the opportunities available in Napa Valley. This itinerary allows you to have a guide for your first visit to Napa Valley.

After you are no longer a wine tasting rookie which winery to go to may still appear daunting but it’s part of the fun. If you drive by a winery that looks interesting to you just pull over for a visit. You’ll never go wrong because each visit to a winery is a chance for you to figure out what types of wines you enjoy and which you don’t. Everyone’s tastes differ so to find out which wines you enjoy you just have to keep trying different wines. Remember to keep a list of the wines you do enjoy. Having a list allows you to notice trends in your wine preference as well as help you order wines at restaurants. Plus, you never know, you may find your favorite bottle of wine at a local supermarket back home.

Earlier Stops

Your day in Napa Valley is now complete. Read our related articles for more information on what else to do in Napa Valley. Click below to access the other articles in this series.

A Day in Napa Valley, Part One

A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two

Napa Valley

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Bouchon Bakery: 38.402422, -122.361802

PlumpJack Winery: 38.455471, -122.374091

St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery: 38.455262, -122.414318

V. Sattui Winery: 38.488610, -122.448717

Napa Valley Sign: 38.427534, -122.394365

Charles Krug Winery : 38.518744, -122.480955

Sterling Vineyards: 38.569816, -122.545443

	Bouchon Bakery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One Bouchon Bakery, Washington Street, Yountville, CA, United States
	PlumpJack Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One PlumpJack Winery, Oakville Cross Road, Napa, CA, United States
	St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One St. Supéry Estate Vineyards &amp; Winery, Saint Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA, United States
	V. Sattui Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two V. Sattui Winery, White Lane, Saint Helena, CA, United States
	Napa Valley Sign A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two 7610 St Helena Hwy, Napa, California, United States
	Charles Krug Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three Charles Krug Winery, Main Street, Saint Helena, CA, United States
	Sterling Vineyards A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three Sterling Winery, Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga, CA, United States

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August 31, 2015 CB4YT

A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two

In part one of “A Day in Napa Valley” you started your journey through wine country. Your first stop was to have a breakfast of delicacies at Bouchon Bakery. After breakfast you eased into wine country living at PlumpJack Winery. Next you enhanced your wine education at St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery. Now that you’ve had a chance to visit a couple of wineries you’ll need to start pacing yourself on the amount of wine you’re consuming. That means it’s time for lunch.

Lunchtime

The biggest mistake one can make wine tasting is going from winery to winery without any breaks. Drinking a lot of wines in a row doesn’t allow you the chance to cleanse your palate. Soon the wines will just start tasting the same. Your tongue won’t know the difference between a Pinot Noir and a Riesling. You might fall victim to buying a bottle of wine you thought you enjoyed only to dislike it weeks later at home. To make sure this doesn’t happen you’ll want to refresh your palate with a nice hearty meal.

Stop #4 – V. Sattui Winery

V. Sattui Winery sign

It’s time for lunch and as your afternoon will continue on Highway 29 it’s best to stick to that road for dining options. A good place to fill up your stomach is V. Sattui Winery. This spot is ideal for couples, families, and groups as V. Sattui has a variety of food items available. Next to their tasting center and wine shop is an expansive deli filled with fresh cheeses, deli meats, breads, pastas, salads, and more. There’s something for every appetite. Another feature that makes V. Sattui a great stop is that the property has a large picnic area with tons of benches and large trees providing plenty of shade. Take your food purchases outside and savor the outdoors while you take a well-deserved wine country break.

V. Sattui Winery picnic area

Stop #5 – Napa Valley Welcome Sign

Napa Valley Welcome Sign

After lunch you’ll have one more stop before going to your next winery. Beyond the wineries Napa Valley doesn’t have very many traditional tourist sites as you might find in other locations. The wineries really are the sites but there is one stop that makes for a postcard photograph. The Napa Valley Sign welcomes visitors to the beautiful region with a picturesque background of hills and vines. There isn’t a parking lot near the sign. A dirt path runs in front of the sign that allows multiple cars to park next to the sign. The easiest way to find the location is by entering in the longitude-latitude coordinates (38°25’38″N 122°23’41″W) into your map search engine. Or you can use the following address: 7610 St Helena Highway, Napa, California.

Next Stop – More wine

After lunch and a tourist stop, you’re off to two more wineries. Check out part three of “A Day in Napa Valley” for where your will end your day.

A Day in Napa Valley, Part One

A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three

Napa Valley

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Bouchon Bakery: 38.402422, -122.361802

PlumpJack Winery: 38.455471, -122.374091

St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery: 38.455262, -122.414318

V. Sattui Winery: 38.488610, -122.448717

Napa Valley Sign: 38.427534, -122.394365

Charles Krug Winery : 38.518744, -122.480955

Sterling Vineyards: 38.569816, -122.545443

	Bouchon Bakery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One Bouchon Bakery, Washington Street, Yountville, CA, United States
	PlumpJack Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One PlumpJack Winery, Oakville Cross Road, Napa, CA, United States
	St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One St. Supéry Estate Vineyards &amp; Winery, Saint Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA, United States
	V. Sattui Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two V. Sattui Winery, White Lane, Saint Helena, CA, United States
	Napa Valley Sign A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two 7610 St Helena Hwy, Napa, California, United States
	Charles Krug Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three Charles Krug Winery, Main Street, Saint Helena, CA, United States
	Sterling Vineyards A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three Sterling Winery, Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga, CA, United States

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August 27, 2015 CB4YT

A Day in Napa Valley, Part One

Trying to plan a day in Napa Valley’s wine country can be tricky. There are many wineries in the region and it is impossible to visit all of them in one day. Not to mention disastrous for your liver. Your aim in visiting wineries shouldn’t be to overly imbibe. The goal is to understand the flavors and different varieties of wines available. To prevent palate overload visit three or four wineries in one day. A perfect day in wine country mixes relaxation, scenery, eating, and wine tasting. “A Day in Napa Valley” is a three-part series that will give you a complete itinerary for a day in Napa.

Morning

To reach Napa Valley, you will find yourself on Highway 29, the main artery running through the region. You can use Highway 29 to reach the various locations listed in this guide. Or if you prefer you can use back roads, which offer closer views of the picturesque hills and vineyards.

Stop #1 – Bouchon Bakery

Macaroons from Bouchon Bakery

Before your first sip of wine you will stop off at Bouchon Bakery for breakfast. The bakery is run by Chef Thomas Keller and is in Yountville. Bouchon Bakery is popular so if you are line averse be sure to arrive when the bakery opens its doors. If upon arriving there is a line do not let that deter you. The good folks working at the counter move quickly and efficiently. Plus the wait in line just allows you more time to decide which pastries to buy. If you are having trouble deciding, the macaroons are delicious. The macaroons come in multiple flavors so don’t be shy and buy a couple variations to try.

Stop #2 – PlumpJack Winery

With your belly content off of Bouchon’s delicacies you are set to begin your day of wine tasting. Your first winery to visit will be PlumpJack Winery. The winery isn’t located directly on Highway 29 but tucked away on Oakville Cross Road. Set off from what can be a busy highway makes PlumpJack Winery a great place to settle into the flow of wine country living. The grounds are quiet and the tasting room is quaint and homey. At first glance PlumpJack might appear to be a small time winery but it packs big time wines. Be sure to sample their Chardonnay, a bold buttery wine that will leave you wanting more.

Stop #3 – St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery

Grapevine tasting at St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery

Your next stop is St.Supéry Vineyards & Winery. St.Supéry offers a variety of clean crisp wines. Their moscato in particular is a light fruity dessert wine that is so popular it has its own wine club. The St.Supéry tasting center is modern and airy with comfy couches just begging to be sat on while wine tasting. What sets St.Supéry apart is that it offers the opportunity for you to expand on your wine education. When grapes are in season St.Supéry has a section of vines next to the tasting center that the public may pick grapes off of and taste. The vines are labeled so you will know which grapes are used to make particular wines. Grab a red grape from a vine labeled Cabernet. Gently bite into the grape and while tasting the juices of the grape imagine just how this little grape would have transformed into a red wine. This is a great way to experience the wine making process from where it initially begins.

Grapes on vine at St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery

Next Stop – Lunch, wine, and more

After visits to two wineries it’s time for lunch. Be sure to read part two of “A Day in Napa Valley” for how your day will continue!

A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two

A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three

Napa Valley

loading map - please wait...

Bouchon Bakery: 38.402422, -122.361802

PlumpJack Winery: 38.455471, -122.374091

St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery: 38.455262, -122.414318

V. Sattui Winery: 38.488610, -122.448717

Napa Valley Sign: 38.427534, -122.394365

Charles Krug Winery : 38.518744, -122.480955

Sterling Vineyards: 38.569816, -122.545443

	Bouchon Bakery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One Bouchon Bakery, Washington Street, Yountville, CA, United States
	PlumpJack Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One PlumpJack Winery, Oakville Cross Road, Napa, CA, United States
	St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part One St. Supéry Estate Vineyards &amp; Winery, Saint Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA, United States
	V. Sattui Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two V. Sattui Winery, White Lane, Saint Helena, CA, United States
	Napa Valley Sign A Day in Napa Valley, Part Two 7610 St Helena Hwy, Napa, California, United States
	Charles Krug Winery A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three Charles Krug Winery, Main Street, Saint Helena, CA, United States
	Sterling Vineyards A Day in Napa Valley, Part Three Sterling Winery, Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga, CA, United States

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August 14, 2015 CB4YT

Tag Archives: winery

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards

Cline Cellars

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards and The Olive Press

The Tasting Fees

Crowds

Release Day Events

Afternoon

Stop #6 – Charles Krug

Stop #7 – Sterling Vineyards

Closing Thoughts

Earlier Stops

Lunchtime

Stop #4 – V. Sattui Winery

Stop #5 – Napa Valley Welcome Sign

Next Stop – More wine

Morning

Stop #1 – Bouchon Bakery

Stop #2 – PlumpJack Winery

Stop #3 – St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery

Next Stop – Lunch, wine, and more