Blog 50 to 100

Blog 50 Hot-Air Balloon Ride in Wine Country

I made it to my 50th Wine Blog! I wanted to celebrate by taking you on a flight in a balloon high above the Napa Valley in California’s Wine Country. Napa Valley’s Hot-Air Balloon flight path is the busiest that the world has to offer.

With the Wine Country weather in northern California, flights can take place year round. If the weather does not permit, you can opt to cancel your reservation or to lift off from an alternate location outside of the Napa Valley area where the weather may cooperate.

There are many balloon companies to choose from. Pick the one that you feel comfortable with and that has the options that you desire. Many will offer pick up and drop off from your hotel. Most offer a pre-boarding breakfast and when the flight is finished you will be awarded a certificate, with champagne and a brunch or lunch served to you. The whole experience can last up to five hours.

The flight itself takes one to two hours depending upon the weather conditions, but the experience is priceless. You can take pictures or video while in the air. You may want to dress in layers because the temperature will get hotter in the balloon and you can take off or put on whatever you want while on your flight. The balloons may fit about two to ten people depending on the company that you pick and the packages that they offer.

Float several thousand feet into the sky and enjoy your experience with a spectacular way to view the Napa Valley vineyards.

Let’s celebrate! 50 Wine Blogs! Wish me luck on getting through the next 50 blogs!

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica


100 Wine Blogs: Blog 51 Visit to the Napa Valley



Blog 51 Visit to the Napa Valley

100 Wine Blogs is going to the Napa Valley American Viticultural  Area (AVA). When people think of Napa Valley, they may not realize that there are 15 sub AVA’s in Napa County. Napa is actually a city in the Napa Valley area. Napa Valley consists of the 15 sub AVA’s listed below. Calistoga being the most recent sub AVA added in December of 2009, which took them 6 years to become an AVA. There are over 300 wineries just in these areas alone.   

American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) of Napa Valley
• Atlas Peak AVA
• Calistoga AVA
• Chiles Valley AVA
• Diamond Mountain District AVA
• Howell Mountain AVA
• Los Carneros AVA
• Mt. Veeder AVA
• Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA
• Oakville AVA
• Rutherford AVA
• Spring Mountain District AVA
• St. Helena AVA
• Stags Leap District AVA
• Wild Horse Valley AVA
• Yountville AVA

Wine Blogs will be visiting the Napa Valley area during the Mustard Festival season. Some of the events taking place while we are there is “The Marketplace” consisting of many wineries from the local area getting together along with sponsors to celebrate some of the gourmet food, treats and wine that Napa Valley has to offer. This takes place along the Riverfront in Downtown Napa on March 13 – 14, 2010.

On March 20, 2010, we will visit “A Taste of Yountville” which will include gourmet restaurant fare, olive oils, vinegars, mustards, fine wines, and micro-brews all from the Yountville area.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs: Blog 52 Smart Wine Tour Tips



Blog 52 Smart Wine Tour Tips

You have decided to spend a day touring wine country but someone has informed you that it might not be as easy as you think. How do you make your day great? What can you do to create a memorable experience?

I suggest planning out your day prior to going on the wine tour. There are many people that just get in their car and go from one winery to the next. The only problem is that you need to get back and you may miss your favorites or ones that you have not been to before that are off the beaten path.

Each year when I head out to wine country, I plan out my entire itinerary. I call in advance to get any tours or tastings in to make sure that there is availability. It took me five years to get into Far Niente Winery. I finally had to beg them and I set up a tour for eight people well in advance. It was worth the trip. Some wineries you can get into with no problem and other wineries request that you ask in advance for your tasting. Caymus Winery will only take a few people at a time for their tasting and they do it at certain times; again, well worth the wait. Opus also works this way; however, you can go in their tasting room and pay for a tasting separately without a tour. Caymus and Far Niente are both gated and will not even let you on their grounds without an appointment.

Don’t drink and drive. Have a designated driver if you are going to be drinking wine. Don’t speed in wine country. If you can, try to start your day early in the morning when it is best to have a tasting. Plan your tours with food in between the wineries that you will taste at. Drink water and water crackers in between each winery if you are actually drinking any of the wines.

Spit the wines that you do not like. You don’t have to empty your glass with each wine. Only drink the ones that you want to enjoy. There are plenty of wines to taste. Pace yourself when you taste and only try the ones that you really want to try.

Take time to eat a nice lunch by either packing a picnic lunch or sitting at a great restaurant that the area has to offer. For instance, in Napa Valley, I always eat at Rutherford Grill or Don Giovanni’s with some of my best memories made there. Food is an important part of my day and I want to make sure that I eat and taste in comfort.
 More on how to pick your favorites…coming soon.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs: Blog 53 More Smart Wine Tour Tips


Blog 53 More Smart Wine Tour Tips

It is all about the planning. You may have already scheduled a Wine Train or Balloon Ride. You have eaten at the best restaurants, had a picnic and even scheduled some tastings or tours. You have gone to your favorite wineries off the beaten path. Everything has been scheduled. You are even eating water crackers and drinking water in between wineries. You are only tasting the wines that you like and spitting the wines that you do not. What else can you do to make your wine experience great?

How about a limo tour for one of your days? You can create your own plan and use their driving expertise or you can ask them to schedule something for you. Limo drivers can be great tour guides. One thing to look out for is when a limo driver takes you only to wineries that they want you to go too. Do not let them change the itinerary that you have. You are in charge.

Look online at places that you like and call them up. Ask questions. Check out how much they charge for tastings or tours and decide using that information. This will help you decide along with your budget what you can afford to do.

You can also rent bikes and tour the wine country by bike. You are exercising, enjoying the scenery and really taking in the great weather that wine country has to offer. Check what the local weather will be and have an alternate plan if that falls through.

How about a hike? There are hiking trails and other adventures that you can do in groups or privately. It can be a lot of fun when you are really taking in the nature that surrounds you. Make sure that you are able to withstand the hiking trails and that you do not have any health problems that will interfere with your experience and success.

You can try different lodging as you go about your wine tours. You can stay in Napa one day and then Yountville, and then Calistoga. You can then go to the Sonoma side and work your way up too or just stay in the same hotel and drive to where you will be tasting for the day. When I go, I like to stay in one hotel and just work my way around the entire valley by car coming back to my familiar surroundings.
Make your experience your own and schedule what you think is fun.
 
Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs: Blog 54 Gateway to California Wine Country


Blog 54 Gateway to California Wine Country

San Francisco is the gateway to Sonoma and Napa Valley. I enjoy getting to these areas by flying into San Francisco as opposed to Oakland. Renting a car is a great idea because you can stop in many places on your way to the wine country. First, I drive through the city and enjoy the view of the houses and hills that are so unique to San Fran.

I drive down the “crookedest” street in the world, Lombard St. After going down it three times, I head down to the Fisherman’s Wharf and take a stroll along the shops. I stop at Ghirardelli Square and purchase some Ghirardelli chocolate while I walk into some of the art shops. I enjoy looking at the Leroy Neiman paintings. I even purchased a few. There are also some other great artists that I adore such as Thomas Arvid. They have many original paintings there.

Then, it is off to the Golden Gate Bridge. While I drive over the bridge, I am sure to take a peek of Alcatraz. Alcatraz is an old prison that sits in the middle of the water. You can also take a tour there and see Al Capone’s cell. It is no longer used as a prison but is a tourist destination.

There are some very cute towns on the way to Napa if you take any of the exits and head towards the water. Sausalito is one of the most picturesque places to stop and capture a view of the waterfront. There are many small restaurants and shops in a row that you can stroll by.

Then, you have to decide; is it Sonoma or is it Napa. Take your pick and head on your way through to wine country. Although I stay on the Napa side, I always visit both. There are over 500 wineries to choose from just in these two areas. Create your wine schedule and start your tasting journey.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica


100 Wine Blogs: Blog 55 Clos Du Val

Blog 55 Clos Du Val

Clos Du Val is a winery that is well known for being seen in some famous movies such as Forgetting Sara Marshall. The label is distinctive with Clos Du Val being represented by the goddesses of Splendor, Mirth and Good Cheer. These “Three Graces,” daughters of Zues, were known in ancient Greece for gracing Olympian parties with dancing and singing.

Located on the famous Silverado trail in Napa, California, Clos Du Val offers daily wine tastings. Started in 1972, Goelet and Portet founded Clos Du Val. Their 1972 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the six original wines picked for the famous Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. Ten years later, that same vintage took first place in the rematch.
 
Clos Du Val owns 150 acres in the Stags Leap District which is known for world class Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. They also own 180 acres in the Carneros District which is famous for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Planting grapes in these two districts give their wines a regional character that adds to their classic style of winemaking. 

My favorite wine from Clos Du Val was the recently released 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir. This wine started with a ruby color and aromatic spices with raspberry, cherry, red currant, and pomegranate. 14 months in French Oak with 5,000 cases produced all going for $30 a bottle. 

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica