Raymond Vineyards
A visit to Raymond Vineyards is truly a unique experience – and offers something different for everyone. Located on Zinfandel Lane, which spans the Napa Valley just south of St. Helena between Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, the Raymond Vineyards hospitality center is set back from the road a bit, behind organically- and biodynamically-farmed vineyards. Don’t be surprised if you see some sheep grazing away between the rows of vines surrounding the driveway – a touch of whimsy that merely sets the stage for what you’ll find once you arrive at the tasting room. Raymond Vineyards celebrated their first vintage in 1974, but...
Chateau St. Jean
C hateau St. Jean is a picturesque winery located along Highway 12 just south of Kenwood in the Sonoma Valley. Beyond a long driveway surrounded by estate vineyards sits the chateau itself, along with a large complex of equally-picturesque buildings housing the winery operations and indoor cellars. After parking in one of the ample on-site lots, you enter the winery through a large gateway offering nice views of a manicured European-style garden, with a path guiding you naturally toward the main hospitality area – a large main tasting room, which sits directly across from the 1920 chateau that was once the Summer home to the Goff family. It’s truly a grand property, and even though we spent over an hour there, I could easily see myself returning again...
August Briggs Winery
J ust shy of the town of Calistoga, near the North end of the Silverado Trail, you’ll find a blowing-dandelion sign announcing the August Briggs Winery, a tiny gem of a tasting room nestled snugly between several picturesque vineyards and an oak-studded hillside that marks the beginning foothills of where the Mayacama and Vaca ranges merge together at the top of the Napa Valley. We visited during a holiday weekend in early Spring, as the buds were just beginning to break on the vines, and I could imagine the views from their picnic areas during Summer and Autumn must be spectacular. As one of the few Napa Valley wineries offering complimentary tastings, I can also imagine this winery would get crowded during peak season, so I suggest visiting earlier in the...
Long Meadow Ranch Winery
L ong Meadow Ranch is a sustainably-farmed ranch in the Mayacamas Mountains to the west of Napa Valley, producing fine wines, handcrafted olive oils, grass-fed Highland cattle, eggs, organic fruits and vegetables, and honey. In fact, their St. Helena tasting room and adjacent Farmstead restaurant and gardens are only a part of the Long Meadow Ranch experience, which includes LMR Rutherford Gardens and the 650-acre Long Meadow Ranch itself. Set back from the main highway a bit by a “green zone” of vines, vegetables, and fresh herbs, the Logan-Ives house that serves as the main tasting room is a restored 1874 Gothic-revival farmhouse, and is at once modern, timeless, and elegant. The...