How to go Wine Tasting in Napa Valley by tikini

"One of the finest ways to spend a day, any month, any season"

How I did it: The first time I went wine tasting in the Napa Valley I was still in high school.  Yes, I was underage, and that made it all the more fun.  


At the time, drinking meant cocktails, where I was living, just north of San Francisco.  Martinis at the end of the day, or scotch and water - very popular among the parental generation.  Not mine, though. I think there was some sherry for cooking in the pantry, and some kind of mint or cherry cordial my mother kept on hand for adult snow cones.  You see how it was in my house.  I wanted a sophisticated hobby, to be far more urbane than my rather vanilla or at best strawberry family.  I chose... wine tasting.

It turned out that back in the day, the wineries didn't ask for ID.  Therefor I was successful in my early endeavors. 

Wine tasting first in Napa and then Sonoma became a life long hobby.  When I got married the first time (still sounds weird) I picked up a mixed case of Cuvaison Chardonnay and Kornell Champagne for the festivities.  It was a wine tasting tour, natch.  

Before I left California, I made certain to earmark several weekend dates for wine tasting excursions.  There are so many wineries now, you could make this a regular thing and try different wineries every time.  

Lessons & tips: For Napa Valley, best during the week.  If you must go on a weekend, fall is wonderful.  It is harvest.  Beautiful full clusters of grapes on the vines, leaves turning colors.  

It is way too easy to try to pack in too much.  Many wineries have picnic areas, and some have picnic items for sale.  

The photo is taken during the mustard season, late winter - seems like spring.  

One way to plan a wine tasting outing is to pick wineries in advance, know where you will have lunch. and keep the numbers down.  The most I have ever done in a day is 5. And that was a lot.  

Resources: This is a printable Napa Valley Winery Map: http://napavalley.com/visitorsinfo/Napa_Valley_Winery_Map.pdf

This is an app for your phone: http://ivisitwinecountry.com/    It lets you get two for one passes for wine tasting at certain wineries, and that can save you a lot of money and help you plan your day.

Here is a current list of free wine tastings: http://www.drvino.com/2003/07/26/free-wine-tastings-in-napa-valley/

There are two main routes through the Napa Valley wine country.  One is Highway 29 - the main drag.  Just east of Highway 29 is the Silverado Trail, the road less traveled, with many chances to cross back and forth.  


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Sep 20, 01:38PM PDT | 0 comments | 12 cheers


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