Napa winery visit

Forgot to mention something...

I don't mean to get anyone's goat up with this remark, I believe I am being as objective as possible in this regard. I find the Cape Wine Route (Stellenbosch + Franschoek in particular) a much better experience than the Napa one.

It's difficult to justify this statement. It may have to do with the general beauty of the landscape, Napa is quite brown and barren in places with these pockets of greenry. Sure that looks quite nice'ish, but the rolling hills of the Stellenbosch area are a lot more spectacular.

Secondly I think it's the nature of the buildings. I didn't find the architecture of any of the wine farms there that um, quaint or cosy. There is a particular ambience about the old Cape Dutch style wineries that just, for me, reflect what wine is all about. This is probably to do with my upbringing, but that's just my thought on that one.

Finally, the tasting staff at many of the Cape wine farms are more directly involved in the wine making process or on the farm. They will either be junior wine makers or perhaps children of the wine makers/owners and just seem a little more pasisonte and knowledgable about their wines.

Saying I was disapointed would be a bit strong, but something was missing...

So if you ever are thinking about doing a good Cape wine holiday, drop me a note and I'll try to recommend some farms for you and maybe we can compare sentiments (not sediments we hope!).

That's what it is like here in the summer and fall; come here in the spring and it's usually quite green. April in particular is usually stellar.

Dana

I'd also recommend a visit in the Winter. With mist in the valleys and no one on 29, or the Silvarado Trail, the tasting room folk will welcome you with open arms, and open libraries! Though some might find the area a bit stark, there is a wonderful beauty at that time of the year, as well.

Hunt

Salut/Hi Michael,

le/on Mon, 6 Sep 2004 17:23:45 +0100, tu disais/you said:-

better experience than the

Michael, thanks for your comments and for the "warning" - as I'm shortly to be doing some visiting in the area.

I wonder if you weren't falling a tiny bit into the trap I so often feel catches many french wine tasters. They seem to judge all other wines _as if_ they were French, and of course no matter how good a non French wine may be, it doesn't attempt to be French. So it seems to me that your comments showed that you seemed to be judging the Napa _as if_ it were in South Africa, and finding it lacking.

If you had judged it by its own criteria maybe you would have been happier on the whole. Maybe I'm talking utter rubbish.

There is probably some truth to that, Ian - the Cape wine route is certainly a benchmark for my expectations when it comes to touring wine farms. I still haven't got around to doing any French wine regions, so it should be interesting to see my reaction when I finally get out there.

However, having said that... I do snowboard every year in Europe and last time I was in San Francisco was around winter and so I spent a weekend up in Tahoe. The whole snow thing up there is VERY different to European snow resorts, but I was suitably impressed despite these differences and whenever I talk to other friends of mine who ski or board I'm quite happy to rave about Tahoe, in its own way - whereas I have already talked with a bit of indifference about the Napa wine route.

What I'm saying is that I do try to be objective, but obviously my experiences in SA probably have set some precedents in my judgement criteria.

Have you done Napa before, or will this be your first time? I'd be interested to hear your comments when you get back.

I think over the years I have noticed that Napa has become quite commercial and crowded.

My tips are as follows:

#1-Visit Monday thru Friday to avoid crowds/Rooms cheaper too. #2-If crowded do the Silverado Trail vs. Hwy 29 #3-Bring lots of cash as tastings in most places cost from $5 to $25 #4-Share/Split tastings with spouse so you don't get trashed.

There are some great little wineries that still are comp on fees.

Franks Family Wines, Rombauer, to name a couple that are excellent.

Michael Bartlett wrote: It may have to do with the general

As others have mentioned, N. Cal. is in a "Mediterranean" climate zone, so summers are dry and brown, and the greenery emerges in Winter through late Spring. Having said that, Napa's scenery isn't spectacular but rather pastoral (when it's not been overrun by newly constructed mansions).

You're seeing the effect of tourism and money. Thirty years ago, Napa was a relatively unknown wine region and all wineries were low-budget operations, usually situated in barns or sheds (except for Beringer's historical mansion). Fast forward to the present and witness the effects of global tourism and the influx of the nouveau riche. Give Stellenbosch another few decades and it will probably see the same sort of money-driven decline.

Again, this is the result of the huge industry that has grown up around Napa Valley winemaking. In my younger days, I could rely on the winemaker or a close relative pouring the wine, but those days are long gone.

To get a sense of what Napa was like back then, you'd be better served to visit one of the lesser known CA wine regions (Amador, Paso Robles, Anderson Valley). There your experience will be far closer to what you've experienced at the Cape.

Mark Lipton

in article chnbvr$861$ snipped-for-privacy@mozo.cc.purdue.edu, Mark Lipton at snipped-for-privacy@eudrup.ude wrote on 9/8/04 9:28 AM:

I'd echo that, but also suggest that the Sonoma Valley is much more "accessible" and just next door to Napa. This past Saturday we visited Acorn (by appointment) and spent almost 2 hours with the owners, picking grapes off the vines and learning the history of this 50 year old vineyard. We also visited A. Rafanelli (again by appointment) and Dave Rafanelli had us tasting recently pressed Cab and Zin juice out of the fermenting tanks.

We are not 'insiders'..... just people who are familiar with a few very good wineries that have a very personal feeling.

In my experience, I'd encountered nothing but warmth and generosity in Napa, while there are at least three wineries in Sonoma, that we would neve visit again. Now, I love the wines of Sonoma, and have over the years enjoyed many wonderful tastings with most of the producers in that AVA. OTOH, every tasting in Napa has been excellent, with "library stock" being brought out and tasting fees waived, regardless of whether a purchase was made. Yes, I've made appointments with those that require it, and have been extremely pleased with the care and treatment these wineries have afforded me, or my group. Maybe I've been lucky, and should "knock on wood," as my next trip to Napa, may well prove to be a disaster.

Other than the three wineries in Sonoma, I've only received two "cool" receptions, one in Temecula, and the other in Amador. Central Coast is still batting 1.000, as is Paso Robles, and that even after their disaster.

When I have the opportunity, or can make one, I'm off to Napa, to renew old friendships, and hopefully make some new ones - oh yeah, and drink some great wine!

Guess those few folk in Sonoma saw my "I (Heart) Napa" bumper sticker . No, I almost always have a rental. They must have recognized the Rutherford dust on my boots.

Hunt