Nov 03, 2016
I think I made a mistake
Yesterday was a great first day exploring the Napa Valley and the over 600 wineries.
From Napa to Calistoga and a bit beyond there are wineries of all sizes. It is a distance of approximately 28 miles each way and there are two roads, you take one going up and other going back down to Napa. There are wineries along both sides of road and beyond.
Too much to take in over three days. Our plan was to just meander and stop here and there. I had researched a few places we wanted to check out for the architecture and the volunteer at the downtown Napa info center had added a few more stops she thought we would enjoy. We had no idea how long we would be so we created a nice area for the girls in the back of the car and they traveled with us. They were happy to stay in the car parked in the shade with all four windows open. They were able to get their scheduled 1PM feeding and lots of small walks and potty breaks.
We come from wine country in Canada and were surprised at how small an area this is. We are used to seeing miles and miles of vineyards with wineries spread out all over the Okanagan. It took a a while to figure things out yesterday as there are very few addresses nor street signs. Back home all wineries are marked with names and directions on the main roads.
My research also showed that I would not be doing many tastings. From $25.00 to $50.00 and up, it was out of reach financially. Besides as this photo shows this particular tasting was $40.00 but the wines were being sold for $75.00 to $150.00 per bottle. Not in our budget. In the Okanagan wine tasting is less than $10.00 and if you buy a bottle the fee is waived. Here you need to buy 2 -3 bottles to have the tasting fee waived.
I did however have two tastings and they cost me nothing! I was not interested in a tasting that involved red wine so I asked if I could just taste the Sauvignon Blanc. Both times I was given a glass with the same amount of wine everyone else was paying for. I was willing to pay but I was offered the tasting. That was my mistake. How can I ever go back to drinking wine that costs less than $45.00 per bottle 😯
Our first winery was Opus One. They only make one wine and it is a red. The tasting cost is $45.00 for a 4oz pour. One does need to make an appointment for the tasting.
As we walked up the ramp to the entrance piped music could be heard. It really was a very nice place. We were allowed to wander a bit.
The girls even got to wander around.
Next stop was the Turnbull Winery which was rustic on the outside.
The inside was bright and filled with the owners’ private black and white art collection. That is me in the yellow jacket. I was much more interesting in the art that the wine.
Many of the photos were Ansel Adams originals including this 1927 “Monolith, The Face of Half Dome”. There was so much light that it was impossible to take photos without reflections.
Turnbull was also a red only winery but they recommended St Supery just up the road. A lovely location.
This was my first ‘free’ tasting of 2015 Estate Sauvignon Blanc.
Wish I knew where this Napa Valley shot was taken.
Next was a simply named Raymond. It is said that a playboy started the winery for fun. We didn’t get any photos of the exterior but it is a different place. Check it out on Google.
The following is from the Raymond website. Today, inspired by the vision of Proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset, Raymond is a dynamic destination dedicated to inspiring its guests’ passion for fine wine in an environment of exploration, creativity, and elegant whimsicality, where each in a series of diverse experiences progresses visitors into another world of discovery and exceptional wines.
Further, Raymond’s Rutherford and St. Helena estate vineyards are certified organic and Biodynamic, and 100% of the winery’s power comes from renewable solar energy.
Certainly a unique place.
The corridor of senses. The hands on the right have little red bulbs to squeeze to get a variety of smells. Further up are various pieces of material to stimulate the senses of touch.
The library was the most normal room.
Very creative in their displays.
The Crystal Room, one of the many tasting areas has some interesting ladies hanging up there with wings. A touch of the Playboy Mansion here and there throughout the winery. Certainly a unique winery.
So much to see, so much to share. To be continued.
The Opus One interior and the last two photos were taken by Colin and of course any photos of me 😉
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Aren’t the Ansel Adams pics wonderful? He had such amazing depth of field!! I got to see some of his pics at the community college in Pendleton in 1976. And now we are having a display at High Desert Museum in Bend right now and I am going to have to get up there to take it in!!! Looks like you both are having a wonderful trip and time!!!
Oh my! Forty dollars for a wine tasting?? Seriously?? I am shocked out of my socks! And I thought the $10 tasting flights at Lake Chelan were out of line. I guess it’s been a while since I went to Napa Valley! Well, at least the beautiful scenery is free! BYOV!
Looks like a fun time but the wine and the tastings are way to rich for me. We just had a very good bottle of wine last night that is from Moldova. Here in Romania it cost us about $10 CAN but in Canada it sells for over $20 CAN. I think that is probably the most we have spent on a bottle of wine ever and it was very nice. Looking forward to trying more. Hopefully when we visit Moldova in about a month’s time we will do one or two winery tours.
Ruth
The scenery there is beautiful , but we would not bother with the wine tastings either. So much to see out there and so little time, oh and money too could be an issue.
$45 for TASTING! They should pay you to taste! They for sure would have lost any sales from me. Glad you are enjoying yourselves and weather is good. We are in Quartzsite – just for a day or so. Hoping to meet a traveling friend here today.
Great wineries and great tastes if you can part with the cash. Calistoga also has some wonderful spa places for a massage and mud treatment, cucumber slices included!
Wow, prices have increased since I was in the Napa Valley! A few years ago many wineries were free and some were in the $10 – $15 range but you got several tastes for that price and usually you got to keep the engraved glass so it was a little easier to take.
I am surprised the Okanagan wineries are charging now.
if you travel into adjacent Sonoma and Mendocino counties, there are values to be had—tastings and bottles. It’s the way Napa used to be twenty years ago.