Day 3- St.Helena If you are planning to visit Napa Valley, CA (one of the greatest wine regions in the world), then let The Wine Snob show you the way with The Wine Tour Series. Should you be traveling in the Napa Valley vicinity this series will assist you with deciding which wineries to visit. You are provided with three to five recommended wineries,with contacts and within close proxcimity to visit. Enough for one day of fun. Spottswoode Winery  1902 Madrona Ave. St. Helena, CA 94574 Ph: (707) 963-0134 Fax: (707) 963-2886 Winery Hours: Open by appointment only

The Wine Snob 4th Annual Blind Zinfandel Tasting Vintage 1999 Spring Blanc! Tasting Report Visit my brother's site, Kevin: Hair Dresser to the Stars! www.themanething.com This would be an area for secondary navigation

Paige It's 10:00am, on a chilly Napa morning sitting on the Spottswoode porch sipping Sauvignon Blanc, watching the sun break through the morning clouds. The Sauvignon Blanc, a "Yummy" nectar, was the perfect accompaniment to the daybreak as Paige described the nuances of the Spottswoode philosophy and winemaking methodology. Soon the glasses are empty, and the tour migrates to old stone barn left from a former ghost winery. Inside the cold barn are barrels of the 97 cabernet stacked almost to the ceiling. After delivering a fair amount of information about the 97 vintage & barrel type, Paige opens a barrel and siphons some wine for tasting! Wow! Éis the expression of each personÕs face as the first sip tantalizes each tongue with incredible black cherries, red cherries and a great deal more. Further flavor deciphering would only transpire if the barrel was beside me, from which to siphon several more ounces - "Wicked Yummy"! Awed by the barrel experience, Paige led us back to the porch where a bottle of the 95 Cabernet was ready for tasting.. Oh yesÉ Cherries! Big ones, red ones, black ones, purple ones! Blackberries, chewyness and a delicious touch of oak - "Yummy"! Favorite Wine - 97 Cabernet Sauvignon (barrel taste)

Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards

680 Rossi Road St. Helena, CA Ê 94574
Ph: (707) 963-8600 Fax: (707) 963-7818
Winery Hours: Open by appointment only

Gus Anderson Gus eloquently explains that the Andersons are not wine makers, they are farmers. The model followed by the Andersons is that of the farmers in burgundy where grapes are hand picked and hand sorted. Gus has developed the Anderson Estate to be fully self-sufficient, including a frog pond, reservoir and wine cave. It is quite an impressive establishment in a country home style environment. Three dogs roam freely and greet each visitor upon arrival. The dogs tag along on the tour as well, and will chase and fetch tossed sticks! The tour of the grounds is augmented by continuous information transfer from a proud Gus. Each visitors gains a great deal of knowledge on the history and keys to Anderson success, including the tactics employed to battle the perils that threaten vineyards. The tours ends at the starting point, a picnic table under a shade tree, where GusÕs wife is waiting with a case of crystal tasting glasses and two bottles of the 95 Cabernet Sauvignon. Gus pours a plentiful taste into each glass and looks for reactions. As the glasses near bottom, Gus is very generous in family style environment. There is no question that wine is "Yummy" and it was unanimous just by facial expression. Note: ThereÕs a limited availability Chardonnay, (Oct release) Based upon reputation alone, it is probably well worthwhile to procure a bottle or two! Favorite Wine - Cabernet Sauvignon

Duckhorn Vineyards 1000 Lodi Lane St. Helena, CA Ê94574 Ph: (707) 963-7108 Fax: (707) 963-7595 Winery Hours: Mon. to Sat. by appointment 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Nicole First, an apology is in order for Nicole. Illegible handwriting resulted in an incorrect name that appeared in the Wine Snob March Ô98 tour. Now, back to the tour: Last tour (Mar 98), was an experience that was an unparalleled tasting pleasure. Tony (asst. winemaker), was the guide, with a surprise appearance by Tom (head winemaker) as the tour passed through the lab. Obviously, the last tour at Duckhorn was the best tour ever, making it almost an impossible act to follow. Rather than capitalize on the Wine Snob for special treatment, the tour was scheduled with the general public in order to provide readers with accurate information and realistic expectations! Well, feel free to set high expectations. Nicole was the tour guide and she did a great job of providing new information and she was quite swift to move the tour into the tasting area for a fabulous finale. The tasting, as expected, was awesome! Three wines were tasted, 97 Sauvignon Blanc, 96 Paraduxx and 96 Merlot (Napa). The first words one can utter are "Wow" & "Yummy", the Sauvignon Blanc is definitely the final word on this varietal, the Paraduxx is an Italian style zin overwhelmingly Yummy, and the Merlot, Oh soooo Yummy, was full of flavor, yet smooth & ready to drink! Each is so delicious, specificity of flavor could never do them justice. Buy it and drink it! Favorite Wine - Again, so goodÉ one cannot choose! Awesome!

Whitehall Lane Winery

1563 St. Helena Highway South St. Helena, CA Ê94574
Ph:(707) 963-9454 Fax:(707) 963-7035
Winery Hours: Open 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily

Al Ehlow Whitehall Lane has gone through a major facelift. The new facility is very impressive and the staff inside is very knowledgeable. The $4 tasting fee (where you get to keep the glass) is a bit of a discouragement, however, the $4 and the glass can be used towards your wine purchase. Tasted were the 97 Sauvignon Blanc, 96 Merlot and the 96 Cab. Favorite Wine - Merlot

Day 1- Napa/Yountville Tour

Day 2 - Alexander Valley Tour

Day 3 - St. Helena Tour

Day 4 - Rutherford/Calistoga Tour

Day 5 - Heldsberg/Dry Creek Tour

Day 6 - Oakville Tour

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