Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Wino Awards
Of the wineries I write about in this guide, here's how they break down in
terms of the experiences they offer.
Best All-Around Tour:
Benziger Family Winery (p. 241), an organic,
sustainable winery
Best for Wine History Buffs:
Chateau Montelena (p. 248)
Best for Over-the-Top Ostentatiousness:
Castello di Amorosa Winery
(p. 246), a 107-room castle with a stocked dungeon
Best for Champagne:
Korbel (p. 239)
Best Place to Hang Out and Enjoy the View:
Armida (p. 243), where
locals meet, relax, and chat on the patio
Best Place for Movie Buffs:
Rosso & Bianco (p. 242), Francis Ford
Coppola's winery
Best for Kids:
Sterling Vineyards (p. 248), home of the aerial tram tour
area, in 1977, to open a four-star restaurant on its premises, and it's still one of
the only ones to have a kitchen serving casual visitors. It's still operating, although
dishes at Étoile are $25 and up. Better to visit the tasting room, which overlooks
the soothing grounds—an artful mix of lawns, trees, and sculpture—and which
serves a few light bites for $7 to $17. Check out the carpeting, which is a clever
design that subtly imitates champagne bubbles in gray. Domaine Chandon is
something of the McDonald's of posh quaffs; there are also locations in Spain, in
Argentina, and outside Melbourne, Australia.
Another made-to-look-old Tuscan-style winery,
Andretti Winery
(4162 Big
Ranch Rd., Napa;
%
707/261-1717; www.andrettiwinery.com; daily 10am-5pm)
is
co-owned by racecar driver Mario Andretti and one of his friends, who used to be
in charge of Kmart, although the gift shop is remarkably restrained about the
celebrity worship and focuses on wine. The winery, in a little grove surrounded by
vineyards and flatlands, also comes across as a low-key operation, as if your uncle
ran a place and allowed people to come wander around whenever they wanted.
Tastings are $10 for four, or $14 for four with a free Andretti tasting glass. No tours
are given, but they'll let you wander outside the buildings and check out the eight
metal tanks used in winemaking. Strangely, there's a house in the middle of every-
thing—presumably the winemaker's, not Andretti's. Most bottles cost $20 to $35.
GROUP TASTING ROOMS
Not every winery can afford to run a regular tasting room, is located near town, or
can employ a hospitality staff. For them, you go to a tasting room that serves all
kinds of wine from a variety of wineries. Good ones are scattered around the region.
