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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. 
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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.  ​
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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


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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. 
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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. 
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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. ​
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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!

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.
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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!
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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.
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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...
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