• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America
/
March 13, 2013

Unique Winery Experiences in Napa

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

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.

Raymond_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

Raymond_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

Raymond_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

Raymond_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

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.

Lake_Hennessey_GirlGoneTravel

Chappellet_Winery_GirlGoneTravel

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.

Quintessa_Vineyards_GirlGoneTravel

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.

Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTravel

Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTravel

Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTrav

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.

Domaine_Carneros_GirlGoneTravel

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.

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, close to home or farther away. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and CEO of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications management, and brand development agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She splits her time between her homes in New Jersey and Finger Lakes.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
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
  • gå
    March 15, 2013

    Best wishes, I was doing search engines along with your site came up for homes for sale within Altamonte Arises, FL but, I possess enjoyed reading through it, continue the good work! gå http://redapplesnorwalk.org/?p=234

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Pursuing Your Dreams, Against The Grain
Next Post
Favorite Asian Cuisine Spots in NYC

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am a communications professional, an award-winning travel blogger, a public speaker, CEO of a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency, a wife, and a mom of 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading!

Carol Cain

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America313 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Beach day in the winter? Yup. It is such a wonderf Beach day in the winter? Yup. It is such a wonderful way to take in the serenity the ocean brings, without the crowds, and a long stroll along the @asburyparkboardwalk was exactly what we needed to close out the weekend. On warmer days, this 13+ mile stretch can be extremely crowded, but not today.

Asbury was founded in 1871, and was a popular spot with glittering hotels, seaside pools, shows, carnival rides and more. But its hey-day glory didn’t survive a massive middle class exodus, though musicians, like Bruce Springsteen, and other artists would find this an ideal place to make their start in the 60s, and in doing so saving the area from absolute collapse with their bohemian, rocker, hippy vibes. 

But between the race riots and Atlantic City’s shinier glimmer in the 70s, Asbury would face more challenging times and severe poverty (except for its wealthier Ocean Grove area). 

Luckily, the gay and lesbian community found the area to be one to invest in and to this day are heavily involved in the community and its transformation.

In walking around today, I saw signs of aggressive gentrification and overdevelopment, with apartments selling at over a million dollars - but there’s also a fight to preserve and protect, a fight that I hope locals persevere in so that it remains a place that we can all visit and enjoy for years to come.
.
.
.
#asburypark #streetart #saveasburywaterfront #saveasburypark #obeygiant #newjersey #newjerseyhistory #waterfront #njboardwalks #art #njhistory #beach #jerseyshore
Mi gente, se que aveces le tenemos miedo a los tra Mi gente, se que aveces le tenemos miedo a los tratamientos médicos, especialmente si son nuevos o únicos para nosotros. Se que aveces la información es complicada o difícil de obtener en nuestro idioma. Pero quiero servir como ejemplo de que no tenemos nada que temer. La vacuna es fácil, rápida, y gratis. Ni siquiera la sentí! Así que asegura tu cita de vacunación tan pronto te sea posible, para tu salud, tu familia, tu comunidad. ¡Y Juntos venceremos esta pandemia! 
_____

My people, I know that we are sometimes afraid of medical treatments, especially if they are new or unique to us. I know that sometimes the information is complicated or difficult to obtain in our language. But I want to serve as an example that we have nothing to fear. The vaccine is easy, fast, and free. I didn't even feel it! So make sure you secure your vaccination appointment as soon as possible, for your health, your family, your community. And together we will defeat this pandemic!
.
.
.
#covidvacccine #vᴀᴄᴜɴᴀcᴏᴠɪᴅ19 #vacúnate #latinpower
Around this time last year we secluded ourselves i Around this time last year we secluded ourselves in our half renovated home in the Finger Lakes unsure of what the future held for so many of us and our loved ones. In a way, we felt isolated from the world...but also from our friends and family.

So much has happened in a year. So much to reflect on. So much gratitude.

Not sure how to process a year of this so I’m just holding on to all the positives - the closeness we’ve nurtured as a family. The incredible rediscovery of friendships, and the fierce protection of the same. The reminder of what matters most and the vulnerability of life.

The incredible fortune of this beautiful place of serenity and solace. Though I am eager to share it with friends again soon.
.
.
.
#lifeduringcovid19 #fingerlakes #myflx #countryliving #farmhouse #upstateny
Today we found out that Centerway Square, Corning, Today we found out that Centerway Square, Corning, NY’s public square was voted Best Public Square in the U.S. 2021 by USA Today @10best.

It felt appropriate to go and enjoy it on this beautiful evening. The added treat however, was in the amazing food and wine experience at the newly opened @thequincyexchange bistro only steps away!

The ambiance, the food, the service, the wine. 😚👌🏾

There’s so much awesome happening in the region, and I love how Corning is catering to both the local and visitor experience.

Make sure you stop here when visiting our beloved NY wine country.
.
.
.
#myflx #corningny #winecountry #fingerlakes #roadtrip #bestintheUS
Another snowy day. I do have to say, I love them. Another snowy day. I do have to say, I love them. I think they are blissful and pretty, and inspire me to want to make the yummiest dishes.
Started our day in nature and all is right with th Started our day in nature and all is right with the world.
.
.
.
#fingerlakes #myflx #countryhouse #naturelover #snowday

Copyright © 2021 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice