Napa Valley

Case Study - Winery Business Type: Napa Valley Winery (specific name withheld) Initial Status: To the untrained eye this merchant account statement looked just fine; here are a few of the problems that stood out to me: One merchant account for both their tasting room and wine club 25% of there Visa transactions going to a “non-qualified” status Transactions being [...]

Rating : WS-92 Price : $ 25.01 Vintage : 2006 Size : 750 ml Purchase :FinestWine.com Description : A rich, creamy, yet elegant wine, with a seamless mix of ripe pear, apple and creamy, toasty oak flavors that provide a nice balance between fruit and oak. Has a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2012. 3,500 cases made. Source : [...]

Napa Valley, California is a world-class wine-producing region or viticultural area of the U.S. It's a very popular attraction since people troop there for the winery tours which most definitely includes wine-tasting!Obviously, I'm now in sunny California. I arrived in chilly San Francisco late last night on a flight that was three hours delayed! Napa Valley is about an hour from San Francisco and

Spring Mountain wineries are situated in the northwestern hills of Napa Valley, directly above St. Helena. Some of the most notable producers in the area include Smith Madrone, Cain Vineyard and Paloma Vineyard.Smith Madrone. This winery is considered today to be one of the premier wineries in the entire Napa Valley region. The winery was originally established in 1971 by Stuart Smith.Cain Vineyar

Si usted es un amante de vino, no hay nada mejor que tomando un viaje de algunos de los lagares de Napa Valley. Para muchos amantes de vino, una visita a Napa Valley puede ser la culminación de un sueño del curso de la vida. El paisaje impresionante y el clima muy agradable hacen por vacaciones maravillosas.Napa Valley se sitúa en California norteña. El suelo y el clima

As this year's luxury sponsor of the Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, Chopard will be showcasing a jewelry set to celebrate the best wine and food in the wine region.  Chopard's artistic director, Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, has designed an exclusive jewelry  set inspired by the wine region.  The grapevine motif necklace and earrings will be on display for the 10 day festival that runs from Ju

Region: Napa Valley Winery: Dominari Type: White Wine Variety: Chardonnay Vintage: 2006 Price: N/A Purchase: Finestwine.com Tasting Tags: Lemon, Green Apple, Almond, Butter Scotch, Apricot, Melon Tasting Notes: In the style of a classic Chablis, this wine delivers bright lemon fruit and fresh green apple along with hints of almond, butterscotch, apricot, melon and nutmeg. This is what Chard shoul

When you first decide to visit Napa Valley you may well find that the most difficult decision is which winery or wineries you want to visit. This is because there are literally hundreds of wineries in Napa Valley, scattered throughout a 35 mile area that can be broken down into several different regions within that area.Some of the most well known wineries in Napa Valley include Chateau Montelena,

St. Helena’s Charles Krug is the earliest winery that appeared in Napa Valley back in 1861. The winery has a lot if history, the most interesting not involving Krug, the Prussian immigrant who got the barrel rolling. No, that occurred when the winery changed hands from the second owner James Moffitt to Cesare and Rosa [...]

Peter Y. Hong (LATimes) serves up hors d’oeuvres, fine wine and a little bit of foreclosure news. Hong explains how the foreclosure wave has moved past the guarded gates and into Napa Valley’s exquisite high-end real estate housing market. Buyers last week of a Spanish-style, 3,220-square-foot house on a cul-de-sac here got a bargain: $1 million [...]

Pale straw color with a slight greenish-brassy hue. Distinct red-grapefruit scent bespeaks its Sauvignon Blanc component, with a whiff of white pepper adding an aroma accent. Full and rich on the palate, grapefruit and lime; something a little more tropical, maybe green figs and fresh dates, perhaps reflecting its Semillon on the back of the [...]

If you are a wine lover, there is nothing better than taking a tour of some of the Napa Valley wineries. For many wine lovers, a visit to Napa Valley can be the culmination of a lifetime dream. The breathtaking scenery and very pleasant climate make for a wonderful vacation.Napa Valley is situated in Northern California. The soil and climate in Napa Valley have proven to be among the best in the world for growing wine grapes. As a result, this region has become one of the premier wine producing regions in the U.S. A number of different wines are featured through wineries in Napa Valley, including Caymus, Chandon and Frank Family.For more introduction of Napa Valley Wineries, CLICK HERE.-introduction-to-napa-valley.htm

Town & Country Vacation PackageSan Francisco & Napa Valley Vacation SpecialDates between: Mar 1 - Dec 31, 2008Promo Code: V-17312Rates from USD 4,600Choosing a city or country destination poses no dilemma, as this ultimate travel package between Mandarin Oriental San Francisco and Meadowood Napa Valley offers the best of both worlds together, seamlessly blending the finest in accommodations, dining and wine tasting.Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco Experience• Accommodations for two nights in a luxurious room with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay• Round trip private car service to/from San Francisco International Airport and Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco• Full American breakfast for two daily in the privacy of your guest room or in Silks restaurant• Welcome sign

If you are planning a stay in Napa Valley, you may wish to make your accommodations in Yountville. You will find a number of luxurious options in Yountville as well as a variety of boutique shopping options.Read more Introduction to the Yountville Wine Region in Napa Valley at -wine-region-in-napa-valley.htm

The Ramey Jericho Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has been a favorite of mine for years, and for Valentine's dinner it was time to try the Larkmead Vineyard.The Ramey 2005 Larkmead Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon consists of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petite Verdot, and 1% Malbec.It has a beautiful dark red/purple garnet color in the glass.The nose shows dark fruit and berries, spice, oak, and toasted brioche.On the palate cherry, plum, black currant, and oak, with earthy mushrooms and elegant fruit on the finish. The tannins are well integrated, but still has that tart edge that you would expect for its youth.We really enjoyed this fruity, earthy cab with good spice and oak, showing of its elegant side on the finish. Jericho Canyon Vineyard is still a noch up for me but

A short review on a wine we had with dinner tonight.Jayson 2003 Napa Valley Red Wine is produced by Pahlmeyer, and is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec. It is made from the grapes/juice that is left over after producing the "big brother wine", Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red.The wine is dark ruby red in the glass. The nose shows black cherry, plum, blackberry, and vanilla. The palate follows in it's path with black berries, oaky vanilla, and relatively smooth tannins that however shows notes of green wood. The nose is a step above the palate, which is a little thinner in the fruit at the finish then you are lead to believe.Find this wine at Wine-Searcher.com from $ 59.99. For the price it is a pretty decent bottle, but there are certainly better wines in that price range out there.Vote for my blog here and help me reach top 10 on The Blog Top!

I could not resist picking up a bottle of Valhalla Cellars 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon when I saw it on the shelf in the local grocery store. Being from Sweden with our heritage of Norse Gods and Valhalla I just had to try this wine that I had never heard of before. I just loved the label with the viking ship!Valhalla Cellars was founded in 2001 by Todd Martin and Madeleine Beeler Warner, both of Scandinavian decent. Therefore the name of their label. They are small producers that buy grapes from top vineyards in areas that produce the best quality grapes for the wine they intend to produce.This wine was fermented in open top fermenters with the cap punched down 3 times daily. It was then aged for 21 months in 60% new and 40% two year old French Oak. Only 70 cases produced.The wine has a very dark dense ruby color in the glass with slight cloudiness. Red cherry, dark red currant, liquorice and vanilla meets you on the nose. It is relatively smooth on the palate with red fruit,

sf.eater.com curbed picked up this article  Since 1981 I have been on a mission to eat in every great restaurant the world over. Living in San Francisco, and traveling, has given me every opportunity to hit many 5 Star establishments. The list includes: Charlie Trotter, Aqua (SF), Masa’s (SF), Martini House (Napa), Gary Danko (SF), Jardiniere, Postrio, Boulevard, Slanted Door, Stars (back in the day), Tra Vigne (Napa), Lark Creek Inn (Larkspur), Terra (Napa), Acquerello, the Ritz (NY), Cafe Kati, Bix, Farallon, Domaine Chandon (Napa), Auberge du Soleil (Napa), the Meetinghouse (back in the day) and the list goes on and on to the detriment of my retirement fund. Yesterday I found what may be the greatest health oriented restaurant, better than SF’s Green’s, in California: Ubuntu. Ubuntu bills itself as a restaurant & yoga studio. The restaurant is located in the revitalized up and coming downtown Napa. The space is nothing less than New York sophistication

Stag's Leap Winery is located in the heart of Stags' Leap District, Napa Valley, on a 240 acre estate. Founded in 1893 it has a rich history. Read more about it at the winery's web site.The grapes for Stags' Leap 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was handpicked and fermented in small lots in a combination of open and closed top frementers. During frementation it received frequent punch downs. Thereafter it was aged in 50% new and 50% used French oak for 24 months. 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot was added for structure and depth.In the glass this wine has a dark, dense ruby color.The nose is heavy and earthy with dark plum, cherry, and coffee. Notes of cloves and vanilla enters at the end.The palate displays dusty fruit of plum, dark cherry, and black currant, with earth, spice and a hint of coffee. The tannins are course and firm in moderate amount, and the acidity plentiful.This wine showed the heavy and earthy qualities Cabernet Sauvignon can display. We enjoyed it although I

Knowing I’d be in the mood for a simple meal at the end of a long, slow day at work on Tuesday, I took some ground lamb out of the freezer to thaw in time for dinner. In between other foci throughout the day, I gave some thought to what I’d pull from the cellar to accompany the lamb burgers I planned to make. I kept returning to two wines: one a Napa Valley red blend from Ceja Vineyards, the other a Saint-Joseph Rouge from Yves Cuilleron. During the course of the day, I stumbled upon a recent posting on Tom Wark’s Fermentation. Tom’s piece, "Pointing Us Where We Should Be Looking,” discusses the political significance and importance of migrant, often illegal, laborers in the California wine industry. In the context of the post, Tom happened to mention Amelia Ceja, owner of Ceja Vineyards, who, unbeknownst to me until that point, was the first Mexican-American woman to head a US-based winery. This chance discovery and random chain of occurrences made clear my final choic

Sonoma y Napa Valley. Viaje Costa Oeste, California, Estados Unidos Estos son dos valles de viñedos próximos a San Francisco. Se encuentra a 45 millas de San Francisco (72 Km) y el acceso es fácil desde allí. Nosotros visitamos Sonoma Valley, que es muy similar pero está menos masificado. Estos valles son mundialmente conocidos por sus vinos de gran calidad, y están en el recuerdo de muchos de nosotros por la famosa serie de los 80, Falcon Crest Como llegar. Existen diversas empresas que organizan tours desde San Francisco, aunque la mejor forma… para llegar es alquilar un coche. Aquí tienes un mapa de Google Maps de como se llega desde San Francisco a Sonoma: Es una visita interesante, y en los viñedos se pueden realizar catas de vinos y otras degustaciones gastronómicas de gran calidad. El pueblo de Sonoma también es un lugar muy agradable para visitar y pasear, con hoteles de muy buena calidad. Si hay que poner un pero es el elevado precio de los hoteles de Sono

Experience the Napa Wine Tasting Thrill of Napa Valley in California There are many places in the world where wine is produced. Each of the wines that come from these places or regions has a different taste to them. This variation in wine taste is due to many factors the least of which being the climate [...]

When up in Napa Valley earlier this spring my friend picked up a bottle of this wine at the Benessere Vineyard, and tonight she shared it with me.This wine has a slightly cloudy, ruby red, appearance in the glass. On the nose I pick up smells of the ocean, dark cherry, tea and a musty earthiness. Once in the mouth muted plum, black cherries and black currant shines through. The berries come with a hint of spice, the tannins are relatively smooth on the mid palate but leaves you with an astringency at the end of the finish. This is a medium bodied wine that shows good quality both in the fruit driven aspect but also shows a lot of terroir. We both enjoyed it along with a good conversation and would have it again if this was not the last bottle.Searching online I can not find it for sale. I think the original price at the winery was about $25-30/750 ml bottle at the winery, but I can not confirm that at this point. FYI: we tasted a 375 ml bottle that's why the glass is bigger then the

Vineyards in the Napa Valley now have protection of Geographic Indication status from the European Union that will help protect them from copycat wines.There are about 30 wines worldwide from outside of the prime California growing region -- many from China -- that use the words Napa or Napa Valley on their label. The local growers claim this is an infringement meant to deceive consumers. The new designation gives the wineries extra power in disputes, similar to trademark protection.The Napa Valley produces just 4 percent of all California wine, but sales of these sought after products generate about 25 percent of the state’s wine revenues. The Napa Valley is the first region outside of the European Union to get the Geographic Indication recognition.China is not alone in its false labeling of wines as Napa. Italy, Germany anmd the United Kingdom have Napa brands that have nothing to do with Califronia.

 Have you been to the Napa Valley lately? We travelled to Napa on Mothers Day to treat "Mom" (my wife) for her special day.  One of her favorite places to go is a winery that we like to visit regularly.  We have both been so busylately, we haven't had the chance to really go visit in a while, so the kids and I decided to take her there.The one we really like, is just a few miles past Napa in a quaint little town called St. Helena, CA.  If you ever makeit to the west coast, this area is a must see.  Some of the best wines in the world come from right here off these vines.    The Winery is called V. Sattui. They have a great deli withimported cheeses, deli meats, and a choice selection of wines that can only be bought at the winery, or shipped toyou if you're a club member.  They have a great picnic area, with tables setup all over the property for guests. Mothers Day was packed.  It was like every mother

During your next visit to Meadowood, we invite you to meet Gilles de Chambure, MS, our Director of Wine Education. Passing the Master Sommelier examination in 2000, Gilles became the 44th person in the United States and the 100th in the world to complete this program.Relying on his multi-faceted international wine background and engaging speaking style, Gilles has designed a broad range of experiences for Meadowood guests including private visits to Napa Valley's celebrated wine estates, food and wine pairings, spirited discussions, nightly wine receptions, insights into Napa Valley's diverse appellations, and entertaining wine classes.Preferred offer: Stay with Meadowood now through April 12 and receive a bottle of wine on arrival and upgrade to the next room category based on availability.These Meadowood Napa Valley specials are filling up fast, so call us at 1-800-330-8820 or click here to book your Napa Valley Weekend Getaway today with TravelWizard.com!TravelWizard.com: Special

The philosophy of Robert Sinskey Vineyards is "Farm conscientiously and make wine with minimal manipulation...". The tail starts in 1982, and it's to long of a story to tell here... Read more about it here!The 2005 Los Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir was a recent gift from friends. I knew I should keep my hands off of it but I could not resist it and tonight it got popped open. Intense ruby red color in the glass with great clarity. At first, earth and spice on the nose with the yeast smell of rising bread at the end. Letting it sit for a little bit, soft red cherries and berries emerges with herbaceous notes. Tart red cherries and raspberry on the palate with pencil lead on the finish. Good acidity and medium firm tannins. A really good bottle at this point, and letting it age for a couple of years I would expect it to improve...Find it at Wine-Searcher.com or Winezap.com from $31.98.Vote for my blog here and help me reach top 10 on The Blog TopI am now in top 15!