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March 13, 2013

Unique Winery Experiences in Napa

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Oh, how I enjoy Napa. Just like there is a wine for each palate, so is there a winery for each personality. On my first visit, I got to check out some pretty incredible wineries, but going back made me realize I didn’t even begin to cover the tip of it all. And truly, it would take a lot more than just a long weekend to check out the over 450 wineries in the region, all of them so different from each other and many with incredible stories to tell.

The following are some of the wineries, each with something unique to offer guests. Note, all listed tasting fees are as of date of this publication and are subject to change. Please check the vineyards websites for more information and reservations. 

Raymond Vineyards

Owned by the Boisset Family Estates, one of the world’s leading family owned wine companies. They have wineries in Burgundy, Beaujolais, the Rhone Valley, the South of France, and expertise in French sparkling wines. Mr. Jean-Charles Boisset serves as president and was a lovely host, sharing his family’s history and his growing vision for the winery with us.

Dressed in true roaring 20s fashion, we gathered in the Red Room, an area exclusive only to wine club members. It is an a sight to behold, with its red velvet sofas, curtains, and walls, lit with ornate Baccarat crystal chandeliers.

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Raymond_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

Raymond_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

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There are several event spaces at Raymond Vineyards to cater to whatever the crowd, mood, or occasion. Whether it be the Barrel Room, the Gold Room (which I absolutely LOVED), the Blending room (where guests can be wine makers for a day), or the Crystal Cellar, which is the main event space, visitors are treated to a one-of-a-kind experience. As far as wines, Raymond Vineyards mainly produces Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, all of which I truly enjoyed.

Chappellet

Located in the beautiful slopes of Pritchard Hill the Chappellet Family has been producing some of the most celebrated wines here since 1967. We met and toured with second generation members of the family along the breath-taking winery, with views of Lake Hennessey.

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Chappellet_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

Chappellet_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

Chappellet_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

Chappellet_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

This award-winning estate produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Chenin Blanc. Visitors can schedule vineyard tours and tastings, as well as seated tastings in the barrel room in the fabulous main building inspired by Molly Chappellet’s love for pyramids and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Quintessa

The best way to start a tour of Quintessa is by going up to the top of the slope and take in the views of the pond and vineyard. Starting your tasting right there will immediately connect you with the estates’ ideologies and commitment to the land and the wines they produce. Located on 280 acres, only 165 acres are allotted for planting, leaving the rest of the property in its natural oak woodland state.

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Quintessa_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

Quintessa_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

Quintessa_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

The commitment to producing “healthy wines” starts in how Quintessa honors and works with the land and its surrounding nature. This has resulted in multiple accolades and awards, and through the various events and tours hosted at the estate, community members and visitors can personally enjoy the Quintessa experience.

Palmaz

Julio Palmaz, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, found success in his medical career which led him to the Inventors Hall of Fame as the inventor of the Palmaz Coronary Stent. But his love for wine and dream for creating his own brought him, his wife, and their three children to Napa Valley, where every member of the family is currently involved in various aspects of running this refurbished and redesigned, state of the art winery.

Palmaz_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

Palmaz_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

We met with Florencia Palmaz, the first-born of the Palmazes’ children, and an avid foodie (and food professional) and wine connoisseur. What I most enjoyed about this vineyard was in seeing how Mr. Palmaz’s love for technology and science has been passed down to his children, and how they all have been able to incorporate it to help maintain the perfect balances in the process of wine production, without altering the natural elements that affect what we taste and how experience the wine itself. It’s truly a remarkable process, and though I can’t say I understood all of it, I was quite fascinated by it all.

Palmaz_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

Palmaz_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

Palmaz_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

Touring the property is also a lot of fun, and experiencing a tasting in one of the caves was a highlight.

Domaine Carneros

The Chateau at Carneros is the landmark centerpiece of this beautiful landscape. When I visited, it was beautiful, clear day and the views of the vineyards and all the surrounding greenery was stunning from the outdoor terrace.

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Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTravel

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Our group met with CEO and Founding Winemaker Eileen Crane, who also oversees and directs wine making and operational duties. She is an inspiration to female wine makers everywhere and a leader in the industry – meeting her was a true honor.

Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTrav

Domaine Carneros was established in 1987 by Champagne Taittinger, along with partner Kobrand Corporation on this 138 acres located for the sole purpose of producing sparkling wines.  This is the same year Claude Taittinger selected Eileen Crane to oversee the planning and development of the property, as the winery’s first and only winemaker.

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Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTrav

Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTrav

Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTravel

Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTrav

In the beginning the focus was to produce just sparkling wines, such as their Brut Vintage and luxury cuvée Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs. But in 1992, the production of Pinot Noir was added and is a must try when visiting the vineyard. Visitors can also enjoy table service and tastings, and a small shop on site is available for purchases and delivery of your favorites bottles.

For more wineries to visit while in Napa, CA check out my Napa Winery Guide for The Clueless Wine Lover.

Disclosure: I was a guest of the Wine Sisterhood Gathering 2013 and their sponsors during my visit to Napa, CA. I received no requirements or requests to review any particular experience. All the opinions expressed here are my own.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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3 Comments
  • Beduwen
    March 14, 2013

    Nice article! I linked to it from my own post about Wine Tasting in Napa Valley – http://beduwen.com/2013/03/14/wine-tasting-in-nap… Cheers!

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Beduwen
      March 15, 2013

      @Beduwen: Thank you! Your post was great too! I tweeted it!

      Reply
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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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