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A Day on the Silverado Trail Part 2

3/25/2016

Del Dotto Winery & Cave Tour
Visit the original Del Dotto off The Silverado Trail (also a Del Dotto in St. Helena, but we recommend the original) for a barrel tasting through the winery’s caves. Lit only by candlelight, you'll enjoy 70’s music and generous pours as you learn about the impact that different woods have on the wine. Along the way, you can taste and taste and taste, tossing your leftover wine on the stone walls and grabbing the labels of the ones you might want to purchase later. Be forewarned - the wine is not inexpensive, so it’s quite possible to toss a few sips from a $100 bottle - it may be better to savor each one as you go.

Did we mention there are snacks? Yes, indeed, a few sweet and savory treats greet you as you complete the tasting, and sober up enough to consider purchasing a bottle or two. So spend your money on the cave tour, skip the bottle purchase, and grab some munchies before you hit the road.

Takeaway: This is one barrel tasting that is worth booking. If you start your day here, you can be sure to make your appointment. And the snacks will help you make it to another stop before lunch.

Del Dotto Winery
1055 Atlas Peak Rd, Napa, CA (707) 963-2134
Cost: $30 tastings, or $60 for wine cave tour with barrel tastings

Pick-up Lunch @ Soda Canyon Store
Stop in at Soda Canyon store (also on the Silverado Trail) to pick up a delicious box lunch (which comes with a specialty sandwich, homemade salad, cookie and fresh fruit). They also have espresso and fruit smoothies, and everything is made to order.

Soda Canyon Store
4006 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558 707-252-0285
6am to 6pm Mon-Sat, 7:30am to 5pm Sunday

Clos du Val - Picnic and Taste
Clos du Val was part of the famous 1976 Paris wine tastings. But don't worry, there's no wine snobbery here. In fact, Clos du Val is one of the friendliest wineries to visit, especially for wine newbies. Some wineries are more interested in educating you on their wine clubs, but at Clos du Val, they actually teach you about wines, and do so in a very unassuming manner.

And the grounds are quite pretty with a nice picnic area in front. They also have intimate cabanas that can be reserved on a busy weekend.

Clos du Val
5330 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA (707) 259-2200
Cost: $15 for basic tasting
After lunch, the fun can continue. See our blog on Silverado Trail Part 1 or hit up one of the hundreds of others along your way!

Best Off-The-Beaten Path Tasting Rooms

3/20/2016

The Winery: Cline Cellars
Unique Point: Country charm and expansive picnic area
Signature Wine/Varietal: Zinfandel

The Experience
With the unique appearance of old country home, Cline Cellars is an unpretentious and peaceful spot in Sonoma. Surrounded by rose bushes and a variety of other trees and plants, Cline offers expansive picnic areas, a half dozen fountains and pools (no swimming) and a bird zoo.The grounds are quite spread out so finding some privacy for an intimate picnic is relatively easy.The winery offers public tastings. Winery tours are by appointment.

Cline is also home to the California Mission Museum which showcases handcrafted models of all twenty one California Missions made for the 1939 World's Fair.It's a unique addition not to be missed if you have the time. Call ahead to schedule a tasting and tour.

A Day on the Silverado Trail - Part I

3/20/2016

The Silverado Trail is a small highway on the eastern side of Napa Valley where you can find hundreds of wineries of all shapes and sizes. It runs parallel to Highway 29, but is more beautiful and also less crowded – a great place to bike should you choose to get some exercise between
tastings.

Let’s Start Drinking…

The Signorello Estate Winery is beautiful, quiet, and located just a few minutes past Napa as you drive north on the trail. The small hilltop winery has a quaint elegance with a lovely area for sitting outside with or without a glass. A typical tasting is $15 – reasonably standard pricing for Napa – and the service is excellent.

Back on the Silverado Trail, travel a bit further to find the trail’s namesake - the Silverado Winery. A little touristy given the name, but these views are impressive! And the smell of the barrels is one you won’t find anywhere else!

From here, you can continue up or down the trail, or cut west across Zinfandel Road to the busier Highway 29. Once you turn on to Highway 29, you’re just a couple minutes from V. Sattui, which is famous for its deli and picnic grounds. Read on to learn more about this picnic spots and others.

Despite the crowds, visiting the deli was worth it. There were cheeses available to taste. We bought picnic supplies and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Gourmet sandwiches are also for sale, but if you want
a sit-down meal, there are nice restaurants just down the road.

We wanted to continue north on Highway 29, but we soon gave up because there was too much traffic; it was a weekend, after all. We went back to the Silverado Trail and headed toward home but made one last stop at the unique Cliff Lede Winery.

The winery has sculptures scattered in its gardens, including work by the famous 20th-century artist Jim Dine.

Stay tuned for Part II...

Best Off-the-Beaten Path Tasting Rooms

3/6/2016

After having visited numerous renowned wineries, many of us are looking for the hidden gems within the Napa Valley. Good wines are certainly valued, but the entire experience a winery provides leaves guests wanting to return and telling their friends and family to visit. To this end, we’re starting a series on best off-the-beaten-path wineries. Criteria for inclusion are that the winery is:

Not readily found or can be easily missed when driving the usual routes
Small or medium-sized in terms of wine production or size
Unique in some way
Open to the public, no appointments necessary

1. The Winery: Artesia Vineyards and Winery
Unique Point: Bold architecture and stunning views
Signature Wine/Varietal: Pinot Noir
Winery Tasting and Other Fees:$10-$15
The Experience
By far, the most extraordinary approach to any out-of-the-way tasting room is that of Artesa Vineyards & Winery. Take Highway 121 to Old Sonoma Road in Napa, and you will drive country roads lined with fields of wildflowers until you finally see signs into the entrance of the winery. The entrance itself is unique - it keeps going. And going.

The winery structure is built into the side of the hill and has been compared to a modern art museum. Interiors are reminiscent of the 1960s, with bold colors and graphic paintings hung throughout. Outside, the pristine pool requires true reflection.

Artesa’s collection comprises pinot blanc, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, albarino, pinot noir, merlot, syrah, cabernet franc,cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and sparkling wines. Their Estate Pinot Noir is classic for the grape, while their upper tier Limited Release Carneros Pinot Noir is bigger and inkier.

Enhance your visit by upgrading from the $10 basic tasting to a Reserve and Limited Release Wine Flight for $15 or a glass of Grand Reserve Sparkling Wine for $10. Or book a Vino con Queso pairing on a Saturday or Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and enjoy artisan cheeses paired with reserve wines. Or skip the enhancements - a basic tasting in this beautiful is all you need for an experience that is truly off the beaten path.

Stay tuned for more in this series...

﻿A Day on the Silverado Trail Part 2

Best Off-The-Beaten Path Tasting Rooms ﻿

A Day on the Silverado Trail - Part I

Best Off-the-Beaten Path Tasting Rooms

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A Day on the Silverado Trail Part 2

Best Off-The-Beaten Path Tasting Rooms