Carneros region is just north of San Francisco Bay and at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Most of the terrain is gently rolling hills with the tidal sloughs from the bay encroaching. The hills are decorated with vineyards and the occasional farmhouses and wineries.
Last Sunday we escorted a young woman from St. Petersburg, Russia and her San Francisco friend to five Carneros wineries. The normal breezes off the bay just didn’t happen that day and the still air was HOT. Huge bunches of grapes hung from vines everywhere awaiting the harvest. This was wine country at its finest.
Besides our escort service, Katya and I were photographing the wineries for our upcoming road trip series of videos that introduce each of the 19 California wine regions.
We visited the monumental tasting rooms of Vianesa, Jacuzzi, and Gloria Ferrer, the quaint farmhouse tasting room at Cline, and we picnicked at the rustic Larson Family Winery for a little diversity. So what did we find?
Stop 1 -Viansa has stunning Italian themed architecture, trophy landscaping, and views of the SF Bay and the Sonoma Valley and surrounding mountains. The extensive gardens, water features, picnic areas, and landscape art create a relaxing and intimate atmosphere that helps visitors fantasize being very rich. At least until closing time and you have to come back to earth.
Stop 2 -Jacuzzi is also monumental Italian architecture with great views, especially from the tower, and beautiful but less extensive landscaping, water features, and art than nearby Viansa. The courtyard is especially attractive and restful. Try their olive oils and wines in the cozy vaulted interior.
Stop 3 -Cline’s tasting room is a comfortable farmhouse with surrounding ponds, landscape art, water features, lawns, and a little yucca forest next to a creek. The picnic areas are extensive and they are family friendly. A sign warns about mud sharks in the ponds but I suspect that the carp are about all there is.
Stop 4 -Larson Family is a small winery in a barn with a little petting zoo for the kids. This is an old horse ranch and retains the ranch character. Signs on the narrow road off Highway 12 warn of suicide squirrels and encourage you to keep bouncing along the broken pavement until you reach the signpost with various animal’s names on it. Stop there, pet the farm animals, and taste some of our favorite Carneros wines.
Stop 5 -Gloria Ferrer is Spanish owned and themed. They focus on sparkling wine and caves. Enjoy champaign flights on the terrace patio with world class views of the region.
Stop 6 – Our Russian friend was seriously jet-lagged and along with the heat and wine she was out of action after Ferrer and headed back to San Francisco with her friend. Katya and I drove east into Napa County and photographed Artessa, a stunning modern hilltop tasting room buried in the earth and landscaped with ponds, fountains, modernist art, and expansive views of the nearby mountains.
Stop 7 – Last stop was Domain Carneros, a French chateau style estate with sparkling wines and pino noir. They serve flights on the terrace patio with a view of the gardens and Napa Valley to the north. I’ve only visited here a couple of times but I’ve always found the staff to be super friendly and personable. My first impression, due to the architecture, was that unless your drive a high-end vehicle you really shouldn’t be there. I’m sure that you could show up in a Dodge Colt and they would still love you. Still, dress nice. This place is classy-friendly.
Did I taste at all the wineries? No. Work and driving first.
- jim
Jim on Twitter as @winequester.