We take a dry run through Wine Country

Written last night:
Dear Friends,

I decided to go to Napa today because tomorrow the streets both here and in Napa might be full of young gun-control demonstrators.(I hope they are!) I went to check out the wine tour that Mary, Gretchen and I will be taking in mid-April. I want to become more familiar with the streets and the hills. Gretchen picked the wineries (with one bubbly suggestion from my local friend Hilary) and made reservations for tastings. She decided on three wineries and a lunch stop. Then she made a little map for herself (which she discarded, or I would reproduce it here), trying to keep the area compact. We did not want to be driving all over Napa-Sonoma-Calistoga. I offered to drive and not drink, but everyone seems to think that’s a terrible idea, so Gretchen is going to book a driver. I didn’t taste any wine today — but these are sure to be good, since Gretchen picked wine she loves. Her wine tour might help you, too, if/when you go to wine country. There are so many choices that it's easy to get confused.

I’m just getting to know wine country. People around here all seem to have a favorite place. Some belong to wine clubs, and get regular mailings and crates of wine delivered. They have weddings and other events at "their" winery. I’ve been to a big winery, where you can just drop in and have a tasting — giant rooms with bars scattered everywhere, each one hosting a small group. You pay a fee and get three to five tastes. They are hoping you will buy a bottle or a case, but you don’t have to. I’ve also been to a small winery, with the same setup on a more intimate scale. Some wineries have delicatessens and beautiful picnic areas. It can get crowded. That’s why Gretchen made reservations.

Today I only made it to Caymus and Oakville Grocery. It took an hour to get from Sacramento to Napa and 2 1/2 hours to get back. Traffic.

Love,

k

Here’s Gretchen’s Napa Wine Tour:

Caymus (— beyond Napa — an hour and a half from downtown Sacramento)

8700 Conn Creek Rd.

Rutherford, CA 94573

707-967-3010

(6-minute drive)

Oakville Grocery (for lunch — a fine deli with minimal eating space outside. Looks like there’s just a little parking, but there’s more in the rear, next to the tiny Oakville Post Office.)

7856 St. Helena Hwy.

Oakville, CA 94562

707-944-8802

(12-minute drive)

Clos Du Val

5330 Silverado Trail

Napa, CA 94558

707-261-5225

(20-minute drive)

Domain Carneros (sparkling wines)

1240 Duhig Rd.

Napa, CA 94559

Above and below, Zing! at Caymus