Comments on: 2×1=200 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/ Ratings, News, and more on Wine & Spirits since August 2003 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:54:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: The Guy http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-271 The Guy Sun, 26 Mar 2006 15:09:09 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-271 Napa - while overpriced for sure - still has some hidden gems around. I will say that you still have to pay for tastings, but we rarely pay more than $5. A recent gem that we have discovered (and to be upfront, have podcast extensively about) is the Santa Cruz Appelation. Only 1.5 hours south of Napa, most of these wineries are very small, rarely charge a fee (although some do) and for $25, you can purchase a 'passport' that gets you tasting at all participating wineries in the region for free. (They even stamp your passport for all you die hard collectors of things). In addition, more often than not, the winemakers are the ones who are pouring and greeting customers, so you get a chance to talk shop with them. Not the end all be all, but certainly if you are looking for the Northern California experience, without the prices, check out this tiny - and still unknown - appellation. Napa - while overpriced for sure - still has some hidden gems around. I will say that you still have to pay for tastings, but we rarely pay more than $5. A recent gem that we have discovered (and to be upfront, have podcast extensively about) is the Santa Cruz Appelation. Only 1.5 hours south of Napa, most of these wineries are very small, rarely charge a fee (although some do) and for $25, you can purchase a ‘passport’ that gets you tasting at all participating wineries in the region for free. (They even stamp your passport for all you die hard collectors of things). In addition, more often than not, the winemakers are the ones who are pouring and greeting customers, so you get a chance to talk shop with them. Not the end all be all, but certainly if you are looking for the Northern California experience, without the prices, check out this tiny - and still unknown - appellation.

]]> By: jatemack http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-270 jatemack Fri, 24 Mar 2006 17:40:42 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-270 Wow, I can't believe they made another winemaker, from a neighboring region nonetheless, pay for tastings! Shame on them. So which winery should we stop at on our next visit to the Russian River Valley? Wow, I can’t believe they made another winemaker, from a neighboring region nonetheless, pay for tastings! Shame on them.

So which winery should we stop at on our next visit to the Russian River Valley?

]]> By: Zinme http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-269 Zinme Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:56:21 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-269 I absolutely agree! My last Napa Experience was less than an experience. I am a winemaker for a small, family-knit facility in the Russian River and I STILL had to pay the tasting fee for over 1/2 of the tasting rooms we visited... I felt, well like crap frankly... Needless to say, we won't be going back any time soon to taste their high Ph, low acidic, overly oaked jet fuel Cab's and various other Bordeaux blends... If you still want that, meet-the-winemaker, taste-from-the-barrel and sample-complimentary feeling, COME OUT TO THE RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY!!!!! We're doing it better anyways... A faithful Wine Expression Reader, 2006 Belongs to the Russian River Valley... Long Live Pinot Noir I absolutely agree! My last Napa Experience was less than an experience.
I am a winemaker for a small, family-knit facility in the Russian River and I STILL had to pay the tasting fee for over 1/2 of the tasting rooms we visited… I felt, well like crap frankly… Needless to say, we won’t be going back any time soon to taste their high Ph, low acidic, overly oaked jet fuel Cab’s and various other Bordeaux blends… If you still want that, meet-the-winemaker, taste-from-the-barrel and sample-complimentary feeling, COME OUT TO THE RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY!!!!! We’re doing it better anyways…

A faithful Wine Expression Reader,

2006 Belongs to the Russian River Valley…
Long Live Pinot Noir

]]> By: jatemack http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-265 jatemack Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:47:10 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-265 I might have to take you up on that Cam. Can I stay at your place? :) I might have to take you up on that Cam. Can I stay at your place? :)

]]> By: Cam Wheeler http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-264 Cam Wheeler Thu, 23 Mar 2006 23:02:39 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-264 Even better, come to Australia - I've only ever been to two cellar doors that have charged for tastings. All you need to do is visit a couple of hundred cellar doors and you've covered the cost of your plane ticket ;) Even better, come to Australia - I’ve only ever been to two cellar doors that have charged for tastings. All you need to do is visit a couple of hundred cellar doors and you’ve covered the cost of your plane ticket ;)

]]> By: jatemack http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-258 jatemack Tue, 21 Mar 2006 17:32:01 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-258 Wineguy, I need to plan a trip down there soon. Places like Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Monterey, Livermore, Healdsburg, Mendocino, and the Sierra Foothills are great destinations for wine lovers who want to avoid the crowds and receive personal attention. We'll have to hook up when I visit and you can play tour guide. John, I wish I could have seen what the valley was like back then. I think you and I do the same thing now, seeking out the small producers on the back roads. Gregory, Yeah, we caught it at the right moment. All that Iranian stone that was cut in Italy must have cost a pretty penny, probably more than expected. Wineguy,

I need to plan a trip down there soon. Places like Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Monterey, Livermore, Healdsburg, Mendocino, and the Sierra Foothills are great destinations for wine lovers who want to avoid the crowds and receive personal attention. We’ll have to hook up when I visit and you can play tour guide.

John,

I wish I could have seen what the valley was like back then. I think you and I do the same thing now, seeking out the small producers on the back roads.

Gregory,

Yeah, we caught it at the right moment. All that Iranian stone that was cut in Italy must have cost a pretty penny, probably more than expected.

]]> By: gregory, el salvador http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-257 gregory, el salvador Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:55:49 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-257 wow, what a change at darioush. that is certainly not the winery i remember. guess they need the cash to pay for their lush building - and not necessarily the wine. wow, what a change at darioush. that is certainly not the winery i remember. guess they need the cash to pay for their lush building - and not necessarily the wine.

]]> By: John Guerrini http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-256 John Guerrini Tue, 21 Mar 2006 13:13:30 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-256 Couldn't agree more. Some of my favorite times visiting wineries in Napa/Sonoma area are actually events that occurred more than 15 years ago -- at a time when things were not as fast or furious as they are now, when I could pay a few bucks for a nice tasting, when I could chat up the tasting room personnel. Now, I pass on most of the wineries. Couldn’t agree more. Some of my favorite times visiting wineries in Napa/Sonoma area are actually events that occurred more than 15 years ago — at a time when things were not as fast or furious as they are now, when I could pay a few bucks for a nice tasting, when I could chat up the tasting room personnel. Now, I pass on most of the wineries.

]]> By: wineguy http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-254 wineguy Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:40:10 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/03/20/2x1200/#comment-254 Come to Santa Barbara. Tastings range from $5 to $7, and a lot of places will credit the tasting price toward purchase. The wine is better, too! Come to Santa Barbara. Tastings range from $5 to $7, and a lot of places will credit the tasting price toward purchase. The wine is better, too!

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