Napa Valley Day 5
Today we are leaving St Helena for Napa but three tastings first!!
Our first stop is Chateau Montelena, the winery featured in the hit movie for wine buffs 'Bottle Shock' . This is a treat and the winery that really put Napa on the map.
A seated tasting, 'Beyond Paris and Hollywood Tour' with videos, 5 wines, and many references to the movie and what parts were accurate, is well worth a visit.
Even if movies are not your thing a visit is a must to try the Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet, made in the Bordeaux style and the Chardonnay which won the competition in Paris.
Next is an Inglenook Heritage Salon Tasting. Owned by Francis Ford Coppola, this is a feast for the senses and an excellent tasting if you can get a booking - do your best and book in advance because it is amazing!!
A Chateau built in the 1880s it has been owned by the Coppola's since 1975. They have gone to great effort and expense to restore this property to its former glory!!
Stunning surrounds, exceptionally good wine and a museum to die for that includes and an Oscar on display. Our host was very generous with his knowledge.
The seated tasting in old Hollywood was simply wonderful!!
At $45/person it is one of the dearer ones but worth it - allow two hours if you want to have a good look around and enjoy the ambience.
Now off to Hess Collection winery near Napa. As we leave St Helena we are both sad and glad. Glad we found an amazing place that we love and sad that we do not have more time here! Many highlights that we strongly recommend you experience for yourselves! And girls....the shopping is wonderful!!!
At Hess we have a tour and tasting ($25/person).
Hess are the current owners of Peter Lehman Wines in Australia.
They are high up above the valley and again combine art and wine. A serious art gallery operates on levels 2 and 3 of the original winery which is very old. A nice tour and wines that are very reasonably priced and more Monday to Friday wines as Larry our guide called them.
Our tasting was in the barrel room (pictured).
Staying in Napa tonight and may stay in and drink some of the wine we have collected given we can't bring it back to Australia.
