Carneros Knows Best

As many of you readers know, I enjoy frequent rendezvous in Wine Country from time to time. Yesterday, I traveled to the Carneros region between Napa and Sonoma for some wine tasting with my brother, Alex, and friend, Brion. Not only were we able to implement a relaxing, "go with the flow" schedule, but we ventured to four wineries that I had never been to, all within 5 miles of each other.

Jacuzzi: Recommended by a friend, we decided to make this our first stop. You can hardly miss it if you're heading up to wine country via the 101, to the 37, to the 121. It's only been around for a couple of years, but the wine is great, and complimentary tastings to boot! We tasted a great Sangiovese and a fantastic Barbera, but it was the Nero D'Avola that stole my heart and I just had to buy a bottle. We also tasted a reserve Valeriano, which is a unique blend of 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Malbec, 1% Petite Verdot. Highly recommended! And don't forget to visit the olive oil tasting bar on your way out!

Domaine Carneros: If you've ever driven down Route 12 towards Napa, then you've seen this beautiful mansion perched atop a hill. Owned by the Tattinger family and known for their sparkling wines, it's a great place to sit outside and sip on some bubbly while admiring the scenery (both land and people - Alex and Brion were especially taken with a bevy of beautiful barely clothed women that strolled by our table). We decided to buy a $26 bottle of their 2005 Vintage Brut because it was the most cost-efficient-get-you-a-little-boozy option. Both the bubbles and service were excellent! I managed to spill two glasses of champagne all over myself with one fell swoop of my hand (Brion saved the glasses and most of the sparking wine), and the server came by to fill up our glasses with the contents of what we had lost in the casualty. Kudos!

Bouchaine: Best stop of the day. Not too far from Domaine Carneros, Bouchaine is tucked back on a private road off of Los Amigos, and it straddles the Napa Valley-Carneros border. We brought some sandwiches with us, and they graciously let us picnic in the back (even though it's usually reserved for members only) before starting out tasting. Once finishes, we moved up to the outdoor tasting deck and sampled several fantastic wines. We started with a non-buttery Chene d'Argent Chardonnay that was delicious (we had to buy a bottle), and then we were poured the Pinot Gris which was also pretty tasty. My favorite white was the Gewurztraminer, which I put in a special request for after I noticed they only produced 240 bottles. The nose was sweet and floral, like nectar and daisies, and the palette was smooth and tangy - not like the typical sweet Gewurz that you get in Napa. We also sampled some great reds, including a Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and a Syrah. The atmosphere was so pleasant, and the servers were a delight. Definitely a must for anyone who is tasting in the area. They close at 4pm though, so don't delay!

Gundlach Bundschu: Had we known most of the wineries in Carneros close at 4pm on Sundays, we may have moved more quickly. Fortunately we discovered that Gundlach Bundschu (in Southern Sonoma) stays open until 4:30pm! So we rushed over there for our last tasting, and it was well worth it! For $5 per person, we tasted 4 wines each from a list of 8 or 9 vintages. I started with a nice Gewurz, and moved on to a delicious Temperanillo (which we ended up buying), followed by a spicy Zin and a smooth Cab - all good choices and three of them are only available at the winery. The winery has lots of property, and they even host concerts and other benefits in the picnic grounds above the tasting room. Definitely a fun place to check out if you're looking for one last stop before heading back to Fog City.

All in all, tasting in Carneros is a lovely experience, and pretty unique as far as tasting outside Napa goes. It was nice to avoid the crowds and snobs in Napa that a gorgeous day like yesterday tends to bring in. It should also be noted that we were only charged for one tasting! Granted, we bought bottles at every other spot, but the prices were good so what can I say?