The Carneros district is best known for its cool-weather grapes, like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Merlot can also be found growing in this region. Running nearly along the San Pablo Bay waterfront, this area is swallowed by fog earliest in the day, and relents to the sun later in the morning than the upper Napa Valley. This weather pattern helps to develop the ideal balance between acids and ripeness that make for some of California’s best Pinot Noir wines. Driving through the rolling hills in mid-November on a sunny day allows you to take in some spectacular color just before the vines shed their leaves for the winter.
 |
| Carneros area wineries described below |
Etude (Cuttings Wharf Rd. off Highway 12/121) www.etudewines.com
What I enjoy most about visiting Etude wines is the tasting bar and its backlit wine-bottle display. It is enchanting. The cathedral ceiling and high windows let a lot of natural light into the tasting room, which brightens that atmosphere (so to speak). The setting is beautiful too, surrounded by vineyards and graceful old eucalyptus trees. They offer a number of white and red wines, but their flagships are their single vineyard Pinot Noirs and single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons.
Cuvaison (Duhig Rd. off Highway 12/121) www.cuvaison.com
Autumn is the time to sit back and enjoy a flight of wines outdoors on a bench overlooking the flaming fall color spectacle before your eyes (sometime in November). The winery is configured to take advantage of good weather, and to provide spectacular vineyard views for those who choose to stay indoors. Modern elegance graces the building, which is set up on a rolling hillside to enhance the view. While mostly a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producer, they also offer a few other reds, including Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Domaine Carneros (Duhig Rd. off Highway 12/121) www.domainecarneros.com
Directly across the roadway from Cuvaison lies Domaine Carneros. This chateau replica is readily visible from the main highway driving through Carneros. In nice weather, this is an ideal setting to sip on sparkling wines outside on the grand balcony overlooking the Carneros vineyards. They offer a flight of sparkling wines or a flight of still wines (Pinot Noir). Their flagship bubbly is worth the visit.
Artesa (Highway 12/121 to Old Sonoma Rd. to Dealy Rd.) www.artesawinery.com
Use a map to find this winery, as it is tucked back in a way off the main highway. The grounds offer interesting water structures, landscaping, and modern architecture integrated into the landscape. The winery is nearly 100 feet above the rest of Carneros and offers fantastic views of the area. They offer a wide variety of white and red wines, prepared in a more restrained, food-friendly style.
No comments:
Post a Comment