three sheets to the wind in Napa

Saturday Wine Tour in Napa

While living in Arizona, we were able to take an abundance of day trips to cities out west.  Some of our favorites were Vegas, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Los Angeles.  We enjoyed exploring the cities, eating satisfying meals, and then flying back home before we even thought about a hotel room.  One of the most enjoyable day trips was to Napa, California.  While the region is classy and can be a little pretentious, we managed to drink way too much wine and have a grand ole time anyway.  We hired a driver (of course, don't drink and drive!) to pick us up at Oakland airport and planned out an itinerary of 3 wineries and a stop for lunch.  Dazzling scenery, heavenly wine, and an exceptionally fun time with friends, made this one of the best day trips to date.

Plan your trip with the help of the Visit Napa Valley website.  There are tour ideas as well as a description of every single winery in the Napa Valley.  I often browse this site just for fun.  If you decide to stay longer than a day, the website also lists the local hotel accommodations and restaurants.

Our tour started at Robert Mondavi Winery, world renowned for it's Cabernet Sauvignon as well as the Sauvignon Blanc grapes that are a Mondavi signature.  Do a tasting and then pick your favorite to enjoy outside on the grounds.  Next up was Clos Du Val and the most stunning estate.  Here we enjoyed award winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (all California specialties).  The third stop on our tour was the magnificent Chateau Montelena Winery, one of the most important wineries to put Napa at the forefront of the wine world.  Here tasting include a variety of current or showcase wines and a lesson in history and production.  The scenery is enchanting, thanks to an actual castle where you taste the wines. 

 

Despite the flight back to Phoenix, we all packed crates of wine to be shipped home with us.  Sure Robert Mondavi wines flood the super markets across the country, but there is something about buying a bottle right at the source.  Until next time, Napa!