on
educational
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
The 1976 “Judgment of Paris” was a monumental event that changed the world of wine and put Napa on the map. If you aren’t familiar with the event, you should watch the movie Bottle Shock with Chris Pine and Bill Pullman. The movie chronicles a blind tasting in Paris that pitted several quality wines from Napa and throughout California against some of France’s finest. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars of Napa stunned the world when its 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon bested some of Bordeaux’s first-growth wines in this tasting. Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay won out against some of Burgundy’s best whites. Freemark Abbey was the only winery to have a nominee in both the red and white categories. All three wineries, and several others including Ridge, will forever be remembered for paving the way and inspiring so many other great wines and winemakers in the area!
I would like to recommend you visit these three iconic wineries in a
single day’s jaunt through Napa. You will need to make reservations in advance
and spend a little money but it will be a day to remember. There is a bent
toward Cabernet Sauvignon so lovers of Napa Cabs will love this itinerary.
Approximate Time: 5.5 hours (not including travel from home)
Approximate Cost: $140 (not including lunch)
Recommended Modification: Add a stop at Silver Oak Napa Valley. While not a participant in the Judgment of Paris, Silver Oak is famous for producing only two wines: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. And they are excellent wines! I would spend all day drinking Silver Oak at the Napa Valley location if I could! They are en route between Freemark Abbey and Stag’s Leap. You’ll have time to stop if you do a very quick lunch and re-adjust the times here. Note the last tasting time for Silver Oak is 3:30 and for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is 3:00.
10AM Chateau Montelena For $40 enjoy a 45 minute tasting session “Taste of Montelena” that includes current releases of their famed Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and two Cabernet Sauvignons including their flagship Estate Cab and Napa Cab. They offer many other types of tastings if you’d like up-level. Take some extra time after your tasting to enjoy a stroll around the grounds, look for swans and crawfish in the pond and admire the beautiful estate. Some sessions are offered indoors but ample and attractive plastic screens have been installed to protect guests and hosts alike.
12PM Freemark Abbey is just a short 20 minute drive from Montelena where, for $50, you will enjoy an outside “Appellation Tasting” of some outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons. Fee is waived with 2 bottle purchase. If you have the opportunity to walk though the inside of the property, the decor and ambiance is rich and relaxing. Freemark Abbey is providing a unique Appellation Tasting of 6 diverse and unique Cabs from varying single vineyards. Some current selection and some pulled from the library. That’s a great opportunity to experience the effect of aging on the wine.
1:15 Lunch Options There are several eateries in Rutherford and Oakville along Hwy 29 as you drive south from Freemark Abbey to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. I haven’t been to one that I can recommend but you can find them in Google Maps to plan your day. Roadhouse 29 (adjacent to Freemark Abbey) appears to be permanently closed.
2:30 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars This is a great ending to your day. Stunning and picture-perfect views from your outside seated Estate Tasting (see photo above) and friendly and informative staff make this a great experience. But what really pushed this experience over the top for me was that for $50 you have a rare opportunity to try their unique and high quality wines. I have to say, $50 to try 5 wines from bottles totalling almost $1000 was pretty awe-inspiring! I will probably not have an opportunity to try so many wines of such high caliber in one sitting soon! One small caveat is that they are pouring the current releases for the Cabs, and these Cabs can sit ages more to mellow, so they do come off a bit “tight.” But young or not, the wines are stellar! Included in the tasting are:ARCADIA Chardonnay (WE 91pt) with wonderful herbal notes
FAY Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
S.L.V. Estate Cab Sauv (the wine/vineyard that won the 1976 competition!)
CASK 23 Estate Cab Sauv ($300 retail)
A rotating bonus pour, for me it was the The FAY Hillside
Approximate Time: 5.5 hours (not including travel from home)
Approximate Cost: $140 (not including lunch)
Recommended Modification: Add a stop at Silver Oak Napa Valley. While not a participant in the Judgment of Paris, Silver Oak is famous for producing only two wines: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. And they are excellent wines! I would spend all day drinking Silver Oak at the Napa Valley location if I could! They are en route between Freemark Abbey and Stag’s Leap. You’ll have time to stop if you do a very quick lunch and re-adjust the times here. Note the last tasting time for Silver Oak is 3:30 and for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is 3:00.
10AM Chateau Montelena For $40 enjoy a 45 minute tasting session “Taste of Montelena” that includes current releases of their famed Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and two Cabernet Sauvignons including their flagship Estate Cab and Napa Cab. They offer many other types of tastings if you’d like up-level. Take some extra time after your tasting to enjoy a stroll around the grounds, look for swans and crawfish in the pond and admire the beautiful estate. Some sessions are offered indoors but ample and attractive plastic screens have been installed to protect guests and hosts alike.
12PM Freemark Abbey is just a short 20 minute drive from Montelena where, for $50, you will enjoy an outside “Appellation Tasting” of some outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons. Fee is waived with 2 bottle purchase. If you have the opportunity to walk though the inside of the property, the decor and ambiance is rich and relaxing. Freemark Abbey is providing a unique Appellation Tasting of 6 diverse and unique Cabs from varying single vineyards. Some current selection and some pulled from the library. That’s a great opportunity to experience the effect of aging on the wine.
1:15 Lunch Options There are several eateries in Rutherford and Oakville along Hwy 29 as you drive south from Freemark Abbey to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. I haven’t been to one that I can recommend but you can find them in Google Maps to plan your day. Roadhouse 29 (adjacent to Freemark Abbey) appears to be permanently closed.
2:30 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars This is a great ending to your day. Stunning and picture-perfect views from your outside seated Estate Tasting (see photo above) and friendly and informative staff make this a great experience. But what really pushed this experience over the top for me was that for $50 you have a rare opportunity to try their unique and high quality wines. I have to say, $50 to try 5 wines from bottles totalling almost $1000 was pretty awe-inspiring! I will probably not have an opportunity to try so many wines of such high caliber in one sitting soon! One small caveat is that they are pouring the current releases for the Cabs, and these Cabs can sit ages more to mellow, so they do come off a bit “tight.” But young or not, the wines are stellar! Included in the tasting are:
Comments
Post a Comment