Comments on: Joy the Baker in Wine Country

By: The Vine Goddess

The Vine Goddess — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:54:00 +0000

Joy,
I’d love to invite you to visit Michigan. You’ll find a lot of very friendly, small winery experiences here. To learn more about growing wine grapes in Northern Michigan, I invite you to visit our blog at http://www.thevineyardchronicles.com/ where we write about our experiences growing chardonnay and pinot noir for the last 20+ years.

By: Suzanne Lowell

Suzanne Lowell — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:31:20 +0000

I am an Aussie living in Napa with 2 little kids and wine geek husband, I would like to think that I am down to earth and not snooty, but I am sure I can have my moments. Napa can be snooty but if you ever need any help, I would love to help make your visit less snooty.
PS Fatted Calf makes killer sandwiches as well.

By: Faith

Faith — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:43:46 +0000

Joy, I’m from Napa and I now live in Sacramento. I MUCH prefer to go winetasting up here in Amador County. My friends and I head up there often, my favorites are Montevina, Bray (try their red table wine, the “Bray-Zin Hussy” and if you shoot over to Clarksburg, you’ll hit Bogle, which is amazing.

By: Aunty m

Aunty m — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:25:34 +0000

How things have changed. We lived in the napa and sonoma valleys and woudn’t live there again, too many people snooty or not. It is too bad napa has become… well your right a tad snooty. And downtown holly molly! The town of Napa used to be where the poor people lived and the rich in St Helena, Calistoga back to more ordinary folk. Don’t think it’s that way anymore. With that said one of my very best friends lives and makes wine in the valley. It helps to find a local and talk them up. Walk into any of the hot air balloon companies and talk them up, trust me they love to talk, full of hot air and all….

My vote go to Korbel for a good champagne but also a wonderful garden and a history in pictures of the early 1900’s harvesting redwood trees. Big big redwood trees.

The CIA is a wonderful place to have a not too expensive lunch and talk up the wait staff who are also the students. Tell them what kind a wine you like, what your price range is and I am sure you will lots of suggestions. They also have a herb veggie garden too die for. Used to be a winery… forget which one. Christion Brothers?

Baringer gives a good tour, one doesn’t really need more then one. Go find the Olive Oil store in St. Helena for funk and great food stuff. Hmm I wonder if it’s still there? Also this little bakery in St. Helena on the west side of the main street at the north end of the second block. Chocolate cookies with expresso, gotta get there fairly early they sell out. Silver Oak yummy yummy, Heizt (sp?) old family wine could be out of your price range.

Oregon wines…. sorry Oregonians, lived in Oregon, wines do not compare to Sonoma, Napa and some of the central valley wineries. No way no how. My opinion.

My upper divsional science class at Sonoma State was a wine making class. That was a hoot. I start rolling my eyes when the instructer would start talking about the essence of orange…. or some other od discription. Ya either like it or ya don’t. Now Yellow Tail from Austriala is pretty darn good, so are wines out of chili. And cheap!

By: mary grace

mary grace — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:49:20 +0000

I completely agree with the Napa/Sonoma comments above — Sonoma is the “country-fied” (read: friendlier) version of Napa by far. Santa Rosa isn’t all that bad either (although not a lot of vineyards, it’s gorgeous!). I work in Sebastopol, which is definitely the country side of Sonoma County… great for boutique shops and cafes. Come explore!

By: Melinda

Melinda — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:32:26 +0000

Hop Kiln! J Vineyards! You must drive down West Side Road and see the wonder of the Russian River up close. There’s a fabulous old bridge from 1922. And with Hop Kiln’s Thousand Flowers white blend at $15/bottle, you can sip your way into sunshiney happiness. We started our two days in wine country in Napa, and by 10am we were beat down by the man. Took some crazy twisty road to Sonoma County, and we were much, much happier.

I also recommend the lovely place at Bogle, south of Sacramento. Talk about good wines, good people, and a lovely place!

By: Amy B.- Portland, OR

Amy B.- Portland, OR — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:43:48 +0000

Hi Joy, I’m preaching to the choir a little here…but come to Oregon and taste the wine. Little attitude, lots of variety, good food to complement the wine. Sokol Blosser makes grapeseed oil (and offers tastings) out of the leftover seeds. It’s a double play between their wine and olive oil. If you don’t mind lots of canine love, you can stay with us. For real.

By: Aliza

Aliza — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:10:13 +0000

Check out the olive oil/vinegar tastings at Round Pond! We went up with another couple a few months ago for the day. The woman who led us through it was so nice and down to earth. Your entry makes me think I should take a spur of the moment trip right now! Anyway, love your blog!

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:01:46 +0000

“Can I be honest? Napa was a little too uppity, snootypants for my taste”
I TOLD you that you should go to Sonoma Valley instead of Napa. But NOOOOO….. you still had to go. Honestly, Sonoma County (my home) is much more relaxed and not so uppity. I agree that Healdsburg is a wonderful little town that can rival St. Helena or Calistoga in it’s charm.

By: Maeve

Maeve — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:38:14 +0000

Dry Creek Valley!
If you want a fun experience, and can end up affording a bottle at the end, I have to second the Korbel suggestion (take a walk through Armstrong Woods first near Guerneville). Also, the people at Pedroncelli are super friendly, and they are one of the oldest wine-making families in the area. Their Midnight Run Zinfandel is great and there isn’t a tasting fee. Dutcher Crossing has a beautiful tasting room and picnic area… they are a bit pricey and charge a $5 fee, but the wines are yummy and the tasting staff is jovial. It’s a nice place to end the day.
The trick is to befriend someone, anyone, in the business who has a business card that can be flashed… then tasting are free (and wines occasionally discounted). I could lend you my brother, if needed