Travel Excursion:
Napa Valley enters
'crush season'
Domaine Carneros, Napa Valley
By Patrice
Raplee
September is "Crush Season" in the Napa Valley
region and the air resonates with the aroma of sunshine warmed grapes.
The lush green hillsides and verdant winery gardens verge on a fantasy
painting in the late afternoon light. This is the optimal month to experience
scenic splendor and the exciting events that surround fall harvest in
California's wine country.
St. Helena Highway (Highway 29) in Napa Valley meanders
past a multitude of popular wineries, quaint shops and gourmet restaurants.
This famous route provides the greatest concentration of wineries in
the county; however, this is only the beginning. Fabulous wineries are
scattered over the entire region, so be sure to make a thorough examination
of the area before selecting the establishments that you wish to visit.
Links to website maps, wineries and accommodations in Napa Valley are
listed at the conclusion of this article.
Whether you are a connoisseur, or you just want to become
better acquainted with a variety of wines and terminology, the Napa
and Sonoma wine merchants are friendly and unpretentious. Several wineries
in particular provide excellent atmosphere, as well as magnificent wine.
Turnbull Wine Cellars, in the heart of Napa, produce an exceptional
Cabernet Sauvignon. Complex, rich and silky, this wine is well balanced
and ready for the palate upon opening. In addition, the winery lists
Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese. All of the wines produced
by Turnbull are superb and an excellent value.
Peju Province is a beautiful winery with gardens fashioned
of water fountains and Greek mythology marble sculptures. Peju's wines
are gold medal winners and receive high honors on a regular basis.
Grgich Hills creates premium wines ranging from lively
Chardonnays to spicy Zinfandels. The winery's shinning star is Violetta,
a luscious, late harvest table wine that combines peach, orange and
apricot overtones in the wine's bouquet. This unique wine is only produced
in years when perfect conditions are met in the vineyard.
V. Sattui Winery features a multitude of fine wines including
sparkling, white and red wines. Sattui's masterpiece is their gold medal
Madeira. Essentially, Madeira is a port, but aged for a much greater
period. Consensus among Port aficionados is that this Madeira is the
best to be found outside of Europe and at an excellent price.
On the wine touring list, Sterling Vineyards is a must!
Recognized by fine restaurateurs and wine connoisseurs alike, Sterling
produces superior vintages. The winery offers tours and tasting for
their reserves and on occasion will present Cabernets and Merlots that
are 20 years old. The picturesque setting for Sterling is worth the
trip alone. An aerial tramway takes guests from the base of a wooded
glen up to the winery at the top of the hill, with a breath-taking view
of the valley and vineyards.
The Napa Valley has several wineries that produce sparkling
wine, the two most popular, Domaine Chandon and Domain Carneros. Sparkling
wine has a myriad of subtleties and varies greatly in taste. Sample
the sparkling wines at Domaine Chandon, they are a wonderful experience
and after you finish tasting, visit Chandon's gourmet restaurant. The
press raves about the cuisine regularly.
Domaine Carneros Taittinger is another must see winery;
a gorgeous chateau sitting above the vineyards with an unbroken view
from the French stone terrace. The winery produces three tremendous
sparkling wines with accolades to their premiere Le Reve. Carneros also
produces a few still wines of premium quality, mainly Pinot Noir and
Chardonnay. Events at the chateau often include special luncheons and
dinners, as well as private tasting and tours; refer to Domaine Carneros'
website for full details. Domaine Carneros is a chic affair and this
establishment rates highest in excellence and eminence.
Napa Valley is also home to superb accommodations, spas,
the Calistoga mud baths, hot-air balloon rides, the Napa Valley Wine
Train, horseback riding and is only 50 minutes from San Francisco. For
exquisite accommodations, book your stay at the famous Auberge Du Soleil,
located a few miles from the heart of Napa. Nestled in a terraced hillside,
this fashionable and beautifully private hotel provides every service
available including private mud baths.
In Sonoma, try MacArthur Place. Steeped in history, this
elegant inn and spa has the distinction of European charm with gardens
to match. Rated as one of the top places to stay in California's wine
country by several travel magazines, MacArthur Place is impeccable.
For more information on Napa Valley and wineries visit,
www.napavalley.com and www.napavintners.com.
For more information on Auberge Du Soleil and MacArthur Place visit
www.aubergedusoleil.com
and www.macarthurplace.com.
For more information on hot air balloon rides and the Napa Valley Wine
Train visit, www.balloonrides.com
and www.winetrain.com.
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