Napa Valley Day 6
The first visit this morning is to Domain Chandon in Napa proper.
It is a little hidden away to start with but once you find your way through the car park it is a nice setting and the only winery in Napa with a restaurant.
This is evidence of what appears to very restrictive licensing rules. So much so they need a stand alone Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control!
The tour ($40): is fairly short and ends with 3 Etoile sparkling wines - their premium range. One is matched with an oyster.
A nice touch along with a small gift including a bouchon (champagne stopper) to take home. If you can spend some time a lovely place to have lunch, sit and sip the bubbles!!
The next stop is Mumm in Rutherford.
Having been to Mumm in Champagne it is one of our favourites. The setting for tastings is very lovely!
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If you don't know much about the process of making sparkling wine the tour is well worth it!
Views into the bottling room are a particular feature. The laws in this county that forbid them having restaurants at wineries is a real shame - the setting is one any Australian winery or restaurant would kill for! Unusually this winery uses Pinot Gris in their sparkling - not seen very often!
The third visit is to Stag's Leap.
This Cabernet won against the French in a blind tasting at The Judgement of Paris in 1976 (featured in the movie "bottle shock').
A small tasting room with some outdoor seating the flagship wine is the SLV Cabernet, the same tasted in Paris.
The Chardonnay is also good.
Tonight is our last night in Napa and the US. Tonight we are dining at La Toque a Michelin star restaurant. Review of this tomorrow!
