WINE
Many of our friends who visit from out of state ask me where to go wine tasting, so I decided to post it here.
Unless your health has returned fully, I don’t recommend alcohol.
Napa is possibly the most expensive spot in the world to taste wine, so if you're looking for a great value head to the Livermore Valley or the Alexander Valley where tasting are generally free. Given I live very close to Napa this one focuses on Napa, but it's not a great value in general, but it does offer in many places great wine and solid tourism.
If you plan to visit these email me at matt.hochstetler@gmail.com as I have free tasting arrangements at some of these, and I’d be happy to provide an introduction. I also don’t recommend trying to do more than 3 wineries in a day.
Generally most places will encourage you to sit for a while, and it will be possible to try many more wines than they have listed if you are nice and either tip the tour guide or buy a couple bottles.
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Domaine Carneros: $26 tasting. Excellent sparking Rose and good Pinot Noirs. It’s a massive tourist chateau, but the views are second to none and they have great cheese plates and smoked salmon that you can chow down on while overlooking the valley. Link
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Porter Family Winery: Tours are typically $60 (but comped with a $200 or $250 purchase). Florencia and her staff will spend over an hour with you giving you a cave tour, letting you taste from the vats, and pouring over 6 classes of some of Napa’s best wine. It’s a small family winery (started by the guy who patented the floppy disk drive) that has a bit more jammy of red wines than usual for Napa, and I would argue rival the 3x more expensive Camus but with a more down to earth environment, 1/3rd the price, and a personalized experience. Link
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Sodaro Wines: Wines are $70-$110 a bottle and excellent. Some of the best wines of Napa and they have plenty of older vintages such as 2013 and even some 2007 for sale. Very small and personalized tastings. Absolutely the best.
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Hall Rutherford: Amazing cave journey with some of the best cabs that Napa has to offer from a hill top overlooking the valley. $150 tasting fee. Link
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Promontory: High in the hills about Napa you will have the place to yourself in the modern building overlooking the entire valley. You will learn about wines from the Harlan family who makes $1,000+ bottles of wine. The $150 tasting fee (which cannot be waived) is worth the experience if you want the highest of the high end. Link
I've also heard great things about Chandon for those who like sparkling wines.
If you travel a bit west of Napa, there are some low key, basic Sonoma Coast Wineries with good values include:
Sonoma Coast Vineyards has a very basic tasting room with no tour and nice staff. Great wines, especially whites and Pinot Noirs, at reasonable prices. Tasting is under $25, and a great value if you are near Bodega Bay: https://www.sonomacoastvineyards.com
Char Vale Winery has excellent Pinots at exceptional values, and your tasting is waived with a two bottle purchase. It's low key with no tour and only a few barrels made each year, but has solid wines at a good value with nice people.