Best Winery/Vineyard

Over the 3 months that I lived in central California, I visited 16 vineyards in wine country, which included the regions of Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, Healdsburg, Paso Robles, and Santa Cruz County. The amount of vineyards in central California is absurd… How did I get down to 16? My research started by looking at blogs and well-known magazines which showcased “top vineyards in the nation,” the vineyards from the movie “Bottle Shock” (due to it’s historical/factual implications), and by asking patients and friends who have visited the area. From this, I probably had a list of about 75 vineyards. I chose which ones to visit when I saw and heard duplicates of the same vineyard. I also had to remove some from my must-see list based on price; any tasting that was $80 or more I did not visit. This list ended in a total of 16 vineyards.

Then, I picked my favorites based on several components. I am no sommelier, so I couldn’t base it merely on the taste of the wines, but my tastebuds did have a say. Other factors were the scenery, how I was treated (typically as a solo guest), price of the wine tasting (the lower the price the better), and the overall feeling I got when I was there (whether it be excitement, was “wow’d,” or just plain happiness).

Best Overall Vineyards

1) Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley

Driving up the winding steep road lined with Cyprus trees and ending at a castle (with a moat!) will take you straight to the wineries in Tuscany, or to the Castello di Amorosa. This was my first wine tasting in Napa and it is still my favorite. From the beautiful stone cold castle to the animals outside it, the grandiose entrance, the most delicious Chardonnay I’ve ever had, and how they treated me was a lasting memory. I was told by multiple people (from the east and west coasts) to go to this vineyard. I am glad I did!

2) Dao Vineyard in Paso Robles

The view from this vineyard was the best out of all of the vineyards, and the wine was also very good. It is hard to beat Napa wines, but this was right up there with them. I had heard that Paso Robles was the new Napa, and it makes sense why! The service we got here was spectacular as they accommodated for us being late and helped us move our table when it started to rain. They also showed us how to get a closer look at the bell tower. Finally, the story of the “Soul of a Lion” wine made my friend, Jeannie, cry!

3) Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

Stag’s Leap is one of the vineyards that won the Judgment of Paris in 1976. I could feel the importance of this place as soon as I got out of my car with the picturesque “backyard” filled with grape vines and a striking mountainside. Inside the building, they showcased the bottle of wine used in the Judgment of Paris along with the “report card” from it. Another one of my favorite parts of this winery was the statue! I thought it added character and gave me a chuckle. Because this was the most expensive wine tasting I had been a part of (at $75), I had to drop it down a few notches in my own “report card.” However the cabernet sauvignon that has won many awards was on the tasting flight, and it made it worth every single penny (this wine bottle normally costs $300). I can honestly say that was the best wine I have ever had, and I tend to not favor the red wines.

4) Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma

Upon approaching their vineyard-lined driveway, Chateau St. Jean was nestled at the bottom of a mountain in Sonoma. As I entered into the tasting room, I was immediately accommodated and taken care of by the management and my sommelier/wine server. I stayed until the end of the day, and had the entire staff who was still there giving me ideas on places to eat and what else to do in Sonoma. My sommelier also added more wines to the flight based on my taste which was the icing on the cake.

Rosie’s Favorite Wines

Since I went to 16 vineyards, I tasted AT LEAST 80 different wines. I tried to pick one favorite per main type of wine. Obviously everyone’s taste preferences are very different, and wine is no different. This is a list of my favorites, in order with #1 being my overall best-loved wine.

1. Chardonnay - Castello di Amorosa

2. Merlot - Beringer Vineyard

3. Sauvingon Blanc - Dao Vineyard

4. Cabernet Sauvignon - (tie) Grgich Vineyards, and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

5. Late Harvest - Stags’ Leap Winery

6. Pinot Blanc - Chateau St. Jean

7. Rosé Sparkling Wine - (tie) Folktale Vineyard, and Mumm Napa’s Brut Reserve Rosé