When visiting Wine Country you can play it loose, scouting out
wineries on the fly and elbowing up to the tasting room bar with
dozens of other drop-in guests. But if you want to get the royal treatment—formal
private tastings in exclusive surroundings complete with comfy
seating, in-depth wine education, and perhaps even gourmet snacks and
jovial banter—you'll have to book private tastings at a few of the following
hidden Napa gems. These winery visits will cost more than bellying up
with the crowds, but the adventure is a bargain considering the memorable
experiences in store. Whichever wineries you choose, don't plan on visiting
more than two or three in a day; like the fine wine poured at these establishments,
they should be savored, never rushed. –Erika Lenkert
Far Niente is a storybook winery where you can admire the historic stone
structure, California's largest southern azalea garden, a seriously enviable
classic car collection, and the flavors of rich, luscious chardonnay, powerful
Cab, and dreamy dessert wine for $50 per person. (1350 Acacia Dr., Oakville,
800-363-6523, www.farniente.com)
Joseph Phelps Vineyards pours its famed Cabernet Sauvignon blend Insignia
and five other tasty wines at its incognito hillside location. The casual
terrace tasting is $20, while the one-plus hour sit-down experience will
set you back $30 per person. (200 Taplin Rd., St. Helena, 800-707-5789,
www.jpvwines.com)
Robert Mondavi Winery is reputed for having one of the most comprehensive
educational programs in the valley—including my favorite, the three-hour
Essence Tour and Tasting; pay $60 and you can stick your schnoz into wine
glasses filled with leather, apples, blackberries, and dozens of other elements
attributed to wine and compare them to various varietals. Tres fun! The
starter tour is a great winemaking and property adventure for $25. At the
other end of the spectrum is the $110 tour and three-course lunch extravaganza.
Fabulous, darling. (Highway 29, Oakville, 888-766-6328, robertmondaviwinery.com)
Rudd Winery and Vineyards pays attention to detail in everything from the
nuances of its Cab blend, Cab, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc to its facilities
with supercool square stainless-steel fermentation tanks, chic underground
caves, and gardens graced with century-plus-year-old olive trees. It's not
surprising everything is in the best of taste; the winery belongs to the
owner of famed gourmet emporium Dean & DeLuca. A tasting will set you
back $25, while a tour and food and wine tasting (a la D&D's executive
chef) costs $50 per person. (500 Oakville Crossroad, Oakville, 707-944-8577,
www.ruddwines.com)
Schramsberg Vineyards is a captivating 217-acre sparkling wine estate once
frequented by Robert Louis Stevenson. Its hand-dug caves carved by Chinese
laborers in the 1800s are the stunning setting for a sparkling wine schooling,
which includes a stroll through the old and atmospheric caves and delicious
bubbly portfolio for $25. (1400 Schramsberg Rd., Calistoga, 707-942-2414,
www.schramsberg.com)
Swanson Vineyards by far the most stylish, relaxed, and playful
place to swirl, sniff, and sip, this wildly colorful tasting room
welcomes a handful of guests to gather around a centerpiece table
for an one-hour party complete with tasty red and white wines, cheese, and
fine china and crystal. Every time I visit, I am charmed by the dramatic
Parisian-inspired environs, fun conversation, and house-made bonbons; For
$25 to $55 per person, depending on the type of tasting, you can be, too. (1271
Manley Lane, Rutherford, 707-967-3500, swansonvineyards.com)
