We managed to hit a total of 5 wineries the first day… and I think that’s probably close to the max you can do in one day. so, the second day, we had checked out of our hotel (actually a spa where Virginia and I both got Mud Baths, and a Massage) and headed to San Francisco, via more wineries. After breakfast at the Hydro Grill in Calistoga, we were on our way yet again.
Our first stop was at Mumm, where they make sparkling wines. We were there by 10AM for a tour of the facility, and apparently, we were the only ones who decided to make it there by 10, as it was a private tour just for Virginia and I. The process of making sparkling wine is rather interesting… if you ever get the chance to go on such a tour, I’d recommend it. After the tour, we sat down, had a tasting of 3 lovely sparkling wines, including one *gasp* red sparkling wine. The sparkling red was… interesting … we, of course, had never had a sparkling red, and it tasted like a regular red wine… with bubbles. Also… interesting fact, most sparkling wines are made with red grapes. The grape skins are just removed so that the color and flavor doesn’t make it to the wine.
Next up was the V. Sattui winery. We stopped in the evening before… but it was quarter till 5, and apparently they close at 5. I say apparently, but there was really no apparently about it. The previous day, we walked into the tasting area, and the person doing the tasting looked at his watch, made a face and rudely informed us that they would not have time to do any more tastings. We left, but as we got into our car we noticed the rude tasting guy running out to his Volvo. Apparently, he somewhere to be… and as I looked at the clock before we drove off, it was still not 5PM.
But, we went back to V. Sattui again after Mumm.
It was a lovely day, so we had higher hopes for this trip. We went in, started our tasting, and mid tasting, the guy that was serving us “went on break” and was replaced … … … by the Volvo driving guy… So, we had a few more samples, but the Volvo guy serving poured the sample and walked away, basically telling us that we could read the sheet in front of us if we wanted to know anything about the wine. So, even though the wines were tasty, there was no purchase made because of Volvo Guy.
Sutter Home was the next stop. Yes, Sutter Home. The same wine you can get in any grocery store. let me tell you, it was one of the better tastings we went to. The wines were nothing amazingly special, but they also weren’t bad. I’m not the biggest fan of reds, but Sutter Home had a red that I was actually a fan of. It wasn’t a Zinfandel, it wasn’t a Cabernet, according to the bottle, it was a “Red”. But, the people were nice, they described their wines, and after coming from Volvo Guy… that was a welcome change.
And look. Sutter Home has actually won a BUNCH of awards. Virginia bought a bottle of their Zinfandel… it was a reserve bottle that could only be purchased at the winery itself. Pretty awesome.
Next stop: Sterling Vineyards. Sterling is located on the top of a mountain, and to get to it, you take a ride on a gondola. The people were rather nice, the views were gorgeous, and the wine was tasty. Upon getting off of the gondola, you walk around on a self guided tour of the place. It has a certain large manufacturer feel. Especially when compared to some of the smaller vineyards we’d been to. As you walk on the tour, there are metal pipes running all around, and it just feels like a factory. But, once again, the people were nice, and the wine was tasty, so we bought a bottle of Chardonnay after we did some tasting.
The last stop on the winery tour was at a famous winery. For any folks that have seen the movie “Bottle Shock” the Chateau Montelena Winery. The story is, that in 1976 when California wines were considered “Jug Wines” there was a blind taste test arranged that pitted the California wines against some French wines. This winery produced one of the wines that beat the French.
Their tasting was rather expensive, and since I’m not a fan of red wines, I let Virginia take over at this winery.
They are rather proud of themselves, and because of that, they really could care less in what you think about the wines, as they already know that their wine is the best thing to pass your lips in your lifetime. Because their wine is so great, and you have an underdeveloped palate, they encourage you to join their wine club or my personal favorite, the wine “futures” club. Here’s the gist of that magical opportunity. Stick with me here. The next group of grapes to be picked will be in 2010. You’ll start paying into the wine “futures” today. If memory serves me correctly, the absolute cheapest membership in this super exclusive club that anyone can join is around $350 a year. So, you pay the money and in return for 2010, you get: nothing. You pay $350 in 2011 and get : Nothing. $350 in 2012 and you get : Nothing. 2013, another $350, another: Nothing. Finally, in 2014, you pay another $350 and you finally receive: nothing. But, in 2015, after paying your $350, you get 4 bottles of wine from 2010. So, you’ve waited 5 years, and paid in $2100, and you get 4 bottles of wine. Sounds like a deal to me.
After this last winery, it was time to go ahead and get to San Francisco. So, on the road again.
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