Wineries?

Oh my, I don't know where to start. Sonoma is better because the wineries are not as pretentious and it's closer by about 20 minutes. However, Napa is beautiful and rustic.

My favorite wineries are:

Cakebread - solid regular cab and solid chardonnay
Chimney Rock - all of their wines are 90pts or higher and they are delicious and consistently good (Silverado trail)
Robert Sinskey - also on Silverado Trail, yummy Pinot Noirs
Cliff Lede - Nice sparkling wines
Sebastiani - Sonoma - solid red wines - had it at my wedding
Silver Oak - good cabernet sauvignon


Love riding a bike through wine country, makes you feel like you are burning off the calories as you drink them.

I've been to St. Helena and Calistoga, but I'd have to look at a map to remember the names of the wineries. Haven't tried Monterrey or Carmel, but have been to Paso Robles and it was fantastic!

I'm terrible with winery names so although I have been a few times, I did not get the names of the places nor do I know enough about wines or wineries to tell you if what I had was good or not. (I love a good Merlot or Port and have settled on Kendall Jackson as my favorite for Merlot--but you take that to mean what you will.)

What I have always thought would be fun up in Napa is the wine train that they have. I have heard that is really fantastic. That way no one has to worry about driving until you get back.

@Flowergirl: It might make for a good first or second date too.

@Tracypie - Were all your new wineries in Napa? The biking is great; only problem with it is that you can't buy bottles unless you come back for them, and given that most places close around 4:30, that is tough to do. Is Sebastiani any good? The bike shop warned us that it was a tourist trap, so we avoided it, but it sounds like you had success there.

@Nightowl - I think wineries are one of the hardest things to remember, given that they have distinct similarities and most visitors have been drinking quite a bit by the end of their tour. I've heard mixed reviews on the wine train in Napa. On the plus side, it is fun, scenic, and the food is good, but you also spend hours sitting and eating and not moving. Depends what you are looking for, I guess.

I've also been to Gundlach Bundschu (http://www.gunbun.com/), Ravenswood (http://www.ravenswoodwinery.com/), and another in that circuit whose name escapes me. Gloria Ferrara's is good for sitting outside, drinking champagne, and enjoying the Sonoma scenery.

@StephSF - Yes, the wineries I went to were in Napa. And Sebastiani has good wine. Isn't all of Napa like a tourist trap??

Sebastiani was in Sonoma, unless there is more than one. Haven't spent enough time in Napa to do a side-by-side comparison, but I am confident that you are right.

Hehe. Love the pun. I can't say I've been there myself, but here is the website for Castello di Amorosa (the winery of choice).

http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/

I wouldn't mind going there, myself, after taking a look at the beautiful castle.

No worries on the guilty pleasure; I've been obsessively Hulu-ing "Pretty Little Liars." But don't tell anyone.