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Wine & Food in napa valley and sonoma countyWith over 500 wineries in the area, you'll find no shortage of places to stop off in Napa and Sonoma. You choices range from small, family-run organic vineyards to large-scale internationally-recognized wineries. Many of the wineries are architecturally stunning and beautifully located meriting a visit in their own right even if you don't plan to taste the wine. Napa & Sonoma wines are now compete successfully with the best of the European wines in both aged and new categories. Indeed, at the famous Judgment of Paris tasting on May 24, 2006 the upstart Californians once again beat out their French competitors in this international blind tasting. But the vineyards are not the only famous farms in the area. Sonoma, in particular, is famous for other slow-growth organic produce. The chefs the area know a good thing when they see it and menus at most of the top restaurants are dominated by locally produced lamb, vegetables and cheeses not to mention the locally caught Pacific fish and crustaceans. Several local restaurants, including the "World's Best" French Laundry have their own, local, organic gardens. The combination of great local produce, fine wine, discerning visitors and an affluent nearby Bay Area has attracted many of the nation's top chefs to these valleys. Celebrity chefs with restaurants in the area include Charlie Palmer, Thomas Keller, Douglas Keane and Chris Kennedy Aken. Sonoma's location has made it one of the world's most perfect places for making great wines. Maritime breezes from the Pacific provide cool nights and daily high temperatures are mitigated by morning fog producing ideal conditions for grape growing. The tremendous variation in climate among the viticultural areas coupled with little, if any, rain between May and the end of October harvest, results in consistently high-quality grape production for each variety.
Grape growing and winemaking are traditionally family endeavors and Sonoma Country is home to the oldest family-owned winery in the United States. Many wineries were founded by European immigrants who came here decades ago and are still operated by the same families today. This family-oriented approach to business ensures unassuming and welcoming hospitality to winery guests. Sonoma Wine County's main appellations that you will visit while biking with DuVine Alexander Valley The Alexander Valley follows the Russian River from Cloverdale on the north, to Healdsburg, where the river turns west. Vineyard Acres: 16,000 Primary Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley The Dry Creek Valley runs parallel to and west of Alexander Valley from Lake Sonoma to Healdsburg, where it enters the Russian River. Vineyard Acres: 10,000 Primary Varietals: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley The Russian River Valley is designated as a cool growing area because of fog intruding up the Russian River and it's tributaries. Vineyard Acres: 12,200 Primary Varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Napa Valley Wine Though just 30 miles long and a few miles wide, Napa Valley is home to diverse microclimates and soils uniquely suited to the cultivation of a variety of fine wine varietals. Among the internationally acclaimed wines produced in this small region: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangioves, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc. The Napa Valley's climate and soil have made it one of the world's great wine growing regions. It has long been famous for its ability to grow Bordeaux grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Later it was discovered that the southern part of the valley, particularly the Carneros region next to the San Francisco Bay, was ideal for growing the grapes of Burgundy, including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Other popular wines include Merlot, Zinfandel, Riesling, Petite Sirah, Gamay Beaujolais and Chenin Blanc, and some wineries are producing Semillon, Gamay, Cabernet Franc and Muscat. Recently there has been a return to the old Italian grapes that were once grown in the valley and wineries are beginning to produce such wines as Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese and Dolcetto. To the Wappo Indians who first inhabited the valley, "Napa" meant a land of plenty: a place where spawning salmon filled the waterways and the valley floor served as home to wildcats, elk, black bear, and grizzlies. In 1836, George Calvert Yount established the first local homestead in what is now Yountville, being first to plant vineyards in the valley. Other early pioneers included John Patchett, Dr. George Crane, and Hamilton Walker Crabb, who experimented with over 400 grape varieties.
Today, the Napa Valley is home to more than 300 wineries, and is recognized the world over as a leading wine region. Some of the Top Napa Wineries Robert Mondavi Winery The influence of Robert Mondavi and his winery have been instrumental in establishing worldwide attention for Napa Valley wines. The winery is perhaps the most visited and certainly one of the most recognized wineries in the world. The winery was established in 1966 when Robert Mondavi departed the family owned winery of Charles Krug. Robert Mondavi’s vision was to use innovative winemaking techniques to create wines of high quality and distinction. Because of his success and leadership, many consider Robert Mondavi to be the father of California wine. A visit to this winery will give you a better feel and understanding of the Napa Valley. If you are interested in a tour, call ahead to check on availability. The Robert Mondavi winery is located about one mile north of the town of Oakville on the west side of the highway.
Rubicon Estate This is a magnificent winery made famous by the great Inglenook wines that were once produced here. Francis Ford Coppola, of “The Godfather” fame, purchased this winery in 1975. In 2006 the winery changed its focus along with its name. Early in 2006, Coppola changed the name from Niebaum-Coppola to Rubicon Estate. The emphasis now is on the production of very high-end wines made from their estate Napa Valley vineyards. Entrance to the winery is $25 per person which includes tasting, an optional tour, and valet parking. Production of the other Coppola wines will take place at their newly-acquired facility in the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County called Francis Ford Coppola Winery (formerly Chateau Souverain).
Beaulieu Vineyards This is one of the oldest wineries in the valley founded in 1900 by Frenchman George de Latour. The winery has long been famous for fine reserve wines, particularly its estate George de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon. BV, as it is commonly called, established innovative winemaking techniques by its founder George de Latour and its renowned winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff. When the heirs of George de Latour sold the winery to the Hublein Corporation, it created quite a stir in the Valley. Today, the winery continues the tradition of making high-end wines. In addition to these wines, BV also produces several other wines from vineyards in the Central Coast of California. In addition to a regular tasting room, the winery has the George de Latour Private Reserve Room where for $25 you can taste five very special wines, including at least one of their older wines (library wines).
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