2 days to visit wineries in Napa and/or Sonoma

[josephreese]

For sparkling wine, try S. Anderson and Mumm. Both are good and provide very different atmospheres for tasting. We've started with Mumm our last few visits.

Rombauer has built a nice reputation on their Carneros Chardonnay, and they have a small picnic area if you're looking for a nice place to eat.

Caymus is one of my favorites, with their big-flavored wines. The staff can be a bit pretentious at times.

V. Sattui is too crowded for my liking, and the wine is not particularly interresting. It's tasty, but I find it lacking something. It tastes like good young wine that will not get appreciably better with age.

[Carolyn Tillie]

Other than V. Sattui, there are little or no areas allowed for picnics in Napa.

And at Sattui, the grounds are only for paying customers. You have to be eating or drinking stuff you bought there -- I think they don't allow outside food, but could be remembering incorrectly.

I don't believe that is correct. They advertise the fact that they are a picnic ground and it is obvious that many people dining there have their own baskets of goodies that weren't purchased inside.

Maybe you have to buy their wine or something. I don't remember exactly, I just know there are signs all over the place and that I couldn't eat the lunch I'd brought. Too bad I can't remember what those signs said.

Maybe I felt guilty (for bringing a lunch) for nothing!

I could be wrong (although I brought MY food and don't remember signs)...

I'll drive by and take a look on the way home and report back!

Okay, so here's the skinny:

There ARE signs posted around the picnic grounds that states ONLY V. Sattui wines can be consumed on the premises. Presumably, if you were to plop down on the grass and try and open a Hall or Franciscan (neighboring wineries), they would ask you to leave.

The reason I was able to dine without the Picnic Police harrassing me is that what I was eating looked darned similar to what was being sold inside (crusty bread, pâté, sliced meats, fruit, etc) consumed with some bottled water. They would not have been able to discern if I bought the stuff there or elsewhere so I ate in peace.

Does that help?

[Mudpuppie]

Wine is limited, but not food. Got it!

Thanks, intrepid reporter.