Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you have to choose only one champagne/sparkling wine maker in Napa
County, productions don't get more elaborate than
Domaine Chandon
5
(1 California Dr., Yountville;
%
707/944-2280; www.chandon.com; Nov-Apr daily
10am-6pm, May-Oct Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri-Sun 10am-7pm),
which has its
own local radio station, 88.1 FM, to orient you as you drive onto its property.
(You don't need it, but it demonstrates what caliber of tourist operation we're
dealing with here.) The winery, which focuses on sparkling wines, was founded in
1973 by the French outfit Moët-Hennessy in an effort to make sparkling wine in
the French way, called
champenoise.
That means it's just like champagne, even if
for tangled winemaking rules, they can't actually call it that. This place is every-
thing a modern champagne palace ought to be; after parking, you cross into the
main building, which gives the sense of a conference center, over a stream swim-
ming with ducks, and you'll pass a fascinating field of mushroom sculptures by
artist Richard Botto, a local. There's a media room screening a mini-documentary
about the place (mostly public relations pap, nothing too informative), tastings
are $15 for two to four (depending on which pours you pick) with a flute you take
home. Tours cost $10 for 35 minutes, and they're honed to a science based on the
number of bus tourists that come through here. The facility was the first in the
Picnicking in Napa
Most wineries in Napa County forbid picnickers. But a few don't. Know that
it's customary, if not downright required (are you listening, Clos du Val?)
to buy a bottle of that vineyard's wine to drink over your lunch. Never
bring your own. Check out these properties, not all of which sell food, or
just head to Sonoma, where nearly every winery will welcome your basket
and your ants:
Chappellet
(1581 Sage Canyon Rd., St. Helena;
%
707/963-7137; www.
chappellet.com; reservations required).
Serene view high over the valley.
Clos du Val
(5330 Silverado Trail, Napa;
%
800/820-1972; www.closduval.
com; $5/picnic).
Flat vineyards, olive grove.
Cuvaison Estate Wines
(4550 Silverado Trail N., Calistoga;
%
707/
942-2468; www.cuvaison.com).
Proto-suburban, like lunch in a garden.
Diamond Oaks
(1595 Oakville Grade, Oakville;
%
707/948-3000;
www.diamond-oaks.com).
Midlevel view over the valley.
Rutherford Hill Winery
(200 Rutherford Hill Rd., Rutherford;
%
707/
963-1871; www.rutherfordhill.com).
Shaded hillside.
Summers Estate Wines
(1171 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga;
%
707/942-5508;
www.summerswinery.com).
A tiled patio in the valley.
V. Sattui Winery
(1111 White Lane, St. Helena;
%
707/963-7774;
www.vsattui.com).
Shade trees, 2
1
⁄
2
acres of lawn.
