Acacia Vineyard - Napa / Carneros, CA

Acacia Vineyard
2750 Las Amigas Rd.
Napa, CA
(707) 226-9991
acaciavineyard.com



Acacia Vineyard was the 7th winery we visited during the Carneros Harvest Passport Experience. My husband was driving, so he didn't finish all the wine he was poured today...but I did. He liked the 2006 Lone Tree Pinot Noir that Acacia Vineyard featured today and I have to admit that I didn't taste it because I had enough wine already! :)

Adastra Wines - Napa / Carneros, CA

Adastra Wines
2545 Las Amigas Road
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 255-4818
adastrawines.com



Adastra Wines is located on Las Amigas Road in the Carneros region of Napa Valley Wine Country. Their tasting room is an old wooden barn with lots of rustic charm. Today for the Carneros Harvest Passport Experience, Adastra Wines was pouring their 2007 Adastra Chardonnay, 2006 Adastra Proximus Chardonnay and their 2007 Adastra Pinot Noir. They also offered a variety of cheeses to go with the wines, along with their pairing recommendations.

Bouchaine Vineyards & Winery - Napa / Carneros, CA

Bouchaine Vineyards & Winery
1075 Buchli Station Road
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 252-9065
bouchaine.com



Bouchaine Vineyards & Winery is located in the world famous Carneros region of the Napa Valley. They are open from 10:30am to 4:00pm and they have an indoor tasting room plus an outdoor deck that is for food pairings. During the Carneros Harvest Passport Experience, Bouchaine Vineyards & Winery was pouring their 2008 Bouchaine Bacchus Collection Chardonnay, 2008 Bouchaine Bacchus Collection Pinot Blanc and their 2007 Bouchaine Bacchus Collection Pinot Noir...the last of which was our favorite. However, what we couldn't resist taking home with us was a bottle of their Bouchaine Chocolate Sauce, made from their very own Pinot Noir!

Ceja Vineyards - Napa / Carneros, CA

Ceja Vineyards
1019 Las Amigas Road
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 255-3954
cejavineyards.com



Ceja Vineyards was our 4th stop during the Carneros Harvest Passport Experience today. They have a bocce ball court and an outdoor kitchen where they were pouring some of the wines. Today, they featured their 2007 Ceja Carneros Chardonnay, 2007 Ceja Carneros Pinot Noir and their 2005 Ceja Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The highlight of our visit was the Truffle Gateau vendor, though...their chocolate truffles are SO decadently delicious that a $20 splurge for 6 pieces was worth it!

Etude Wines - Napa / Carneros, CA

Etude Wines
1250 Cuttings Wharf Road
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 257-5300
etudewines.com



Etude Wines is located in the famous Carneros region in Napa county. The wines they were pouring for the Carneros Harvest Passport Experience ticket holders were their 2008 Pinot Gris Carneros and their 2006 Pinot Noir Carneros - Estate. Perhaps if we tried their Cabernet Sauvignon, we may have liked Etude Wines a little better. They do have a beautiful tasting room that overlooks the barrel storage area...and some interesting topiaries on their grounds!

Saintsbury Vineyard - Napa / Carneros, CA

Saintsbury Vineyard
1500 Los Carneros Ave.
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 252-0592
saintsbury.com



Saintsbury Vineyard is located in the Carneros Region of the Napa Valley Wine Country. Normally, they are open by appointment only, but today they were open to Carneros Harvest Passport Experience ticket holders.



We were greeted by their very friendly French winemaker, who poured us the Chardonnay, and even their winery cat came by to say hello! Saintsbury specializes in the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wine varieties...and I thought their 2007 Saintsbury Lee Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir was spectacular!

Carneros Harvest Passport - Sonoma, CA / Napa, CA

What: The First Carneros Harvest Passport Experience
When: Saturday, October 17, 2009 (10 am - 4 pm)
Where: Carneros region (Sonoma and Napa counties)
Cost: $49 per person/advance, $59/at the door
Contact: Carneros Wine Alliance, 707-253-2678

Come and celebrate the harvest with 18 different CWA (Carneros Wine Alliance) wineries in the highly acclaimed Carneros region, some of which will be their first time pouring wine to the public!



List of participating CWA wineries:

1. Acacia - 2750 Las Amigas Road, Napa, CA
2. Adastra - 2545 Las Amigas Road, Napa, CA
3. Bouchaine Vineyards - 1075 Buchli Station Road, Napa, CA
4. Buena Vista Carneros - 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma, CA
5. Ceja Vineyards - 1019 Las Amigas Road, Napa, CA
6. Clos du Val (pouring at the Carneros Vineyard) - Old Sonoma Road & Buhman Avenue, Napa, CA
7. Cuvaison Carneros Estate Wines (pouring at the Carneros Tasting Room) - 1221 Duhig Road, Napa, CA
8. Crazy Flower Wines (pouring at Merryvale Starmont/Carneros) - 1451 Stanly Lane, Napa, CA
9. Donum Estate (pouring at the Ramal Road Vineyard) - 24520 Ramal Road, Sonoma, CA
10. Etude Wines - 1250 Cuttings Wharf Road, Napa, CA
11. Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards - 21355 Carneros Highway 121, Sonoma, CA
12. Highway 12 - 498 First Street East (on the Sonoma Plaza), Sonoma, CA
13. Macrostie Winery - 21481 Eighth Street East, Suite 25, Sonoma, CA
14. Merryvale/Starmont (pouring at Starmont/Carneros) - 1451 Stanly Lane, Napa, CA
15. Nicholson Ranch - 4200 Napa Road, Sonoma, CA
16. Patz & Hall (pouring at the Sonoma Winery) - 21684 Eighth Street East, Bldg C, Suite 200, Sonoma, CA
17. Saintsbury - 1500 Los Carneros Avenue, Napa, CA
18. Schug Carneros Estate Wines - 602 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, CA
    

Concannon Vineyard - Livermore, CA

Concannon Vineyard
4590 Tesla Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 456-2505
concannonvineyard.com

Concannon is definitely "the" winery everyone must visit during a trip to Livermore Wine Country...especially with its history...did you know that Concannon was established in 1883 and is also the home of America's first Petite Sirah?

We came here during Livermore's First Barrel Tasting event last weekend and also the Harvest Festival last year, which we enjoyed tremendously as we sat in the shade of their grape arbors while eating a mid-afternoon meal and sipping wine...ahhhh!

As a local winegrower who has experience with both Wente and Concannon...just skip Wente and go to Concannon. Trust me on this one...seriously.

Eagle Ridge Vineyard - Livermore, CA

Eagle Ridge Vineyard
10017 Tesla Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
eagleridgevineyard.com

Came here during Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Weekend last Sunday for the first time and this winery definitely has a more rustic, country feel from the drive there to the old wooden sign that says "Tasting Room" (see my pic.)

The people make you feel welcome and it was cute that we were greeted at the door by a little girl! I don't know if I have a fresher perspective on wine earlier in the day, but this was the 7th winery we visited that afternoon and none of the wines here really stood out for me. It's worth a second trip, though...

Charles R Vineyard - Livermore, CA

Charles R Vineyard
8195 Crane Ridge Road
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 454-3040
charlesrvineyards.com

The people here are all very hospitable and we even ran into someone we haven't seen for years and ended up chatting so much, we went straight to the barrel tasting outside and forgot to taste the rest of their wine in the tasting room!

For what it's worth, I enjoyed the barrel tasting of their 2007 Syrah.

I'll be back soon to update my review! :)

Garre Vineyard & Winery - Livermore, CA

Garre Vineyard & Winery
7986 Tesla Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 371-8200
garrewinery.com

This was our last stop on day 1 of Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Weekend and although there was some wine left in the bottom of the barrel for us to taste, we did arrive just as everyone was wanting to call it a day. We plan on coming back here for a regular tasting...and maybe even some lunch

Here's a story on Day 1 of Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Weekend:

http://whrrl.com/story/show/711