Gargiulo Vineyards: 575 Oakville CrossroadNapa 707.944.2770Hrs: 10:30- 3:30 by appointment. TF: $$$Wines: Bordeaux Blends. Notes: This is a charming private winery with great views of Napa's best vineyards. They spent three years re-engineering their land before planting their grapes. The Gargiulo family has a long tradition with agriculture due to their connections with the orange producer Sunkist, and they know how to make a great bottle of wine. It is a very relaxed, but elegant tasting and their staff is first rate, friendly and knowledgeable.
Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery: 10701 Westside Rd.Healdsburg(RussianRiver) 707.473.2900www.garyfarrellwines.comHrs: 11-4TF: $-$$ Wines: Chard, Pinot Noir, Zin, Merlot, Cab Sauv, Blends.Notes: The winery is up a very long driveway with the result that it enjoys wonderful views of the RussianRiverValley. A very neat building, a nice staff and some very good wines.
GeyserPeak Winery:22281 Chianti Rd.Geyserville(Northern Sonoma) 707.857.9400www.geyserpeak.comHrs: 10-5TF: $-$$Wines: Cab Sauv, Chard, Merlot, Sauv Blanc, Shiraz. Girard Winery: 6795 Washington St.YountvilleTasting Room 707.968.9297www.girardwinery.comHrs: 10-6 TF: $$$Wines: Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Petite Sirah, Zin, Chard, Sauv Blanc. Notes: The Girard Family has been making wine in Napa for many years and their current property is in SageCanyon. They make very good wines and their lovely tasting room in Yountville is a lot more convenient. GloriaFerrerCaves & Vineyards: 23555 Carneros Hwy. 121Sonoma(Carneros) 707.996.7256www.gloriaferrer.comHrs: 10-5TF: $by the glass.Wines: Sparklers, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Blanc de Noirs, Cuvee, Brut Rosé, Chard, Pinot Noir, Syrah. Notes: They produce a good, well-priced product and their tasting room patio is a great place to enjoy them.
Goosecross Cellars: 1119 State Ln.Yountville 707.944.1986www.goosecross.comHrs: 10-4:30TF: $Wines: Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Sauv Blanc, Chard, Orange Muscat, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc, Syrah, Red Blends, Meritage. Notes: This is a small family-run winery, with a great wine selection. You walk past the fermentation tanks and taste in the barrel room. The winemaker is also the vineyard manager. That means he guides the grapes along their entire journey into the bottle. Great staff, informal and friendly. Everyone loves Goosecross. Gifts, Picnic. Graeser Winery: 255 Petrified Forrest RoadCalistoga 707.942.4437www.graeserwinery.comHrs: 9:30-4:30TF:$ Wines: Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot, PortNotes: Off the beaten.
Grgich Hills Cellar: 1829 St Helena Hwy S (Rt 29).Rutherford 707.963.2784www.grgich.comHrs: 9:30- 4:30Tours $10 at 11 & 2TF: $$(logo glass) Wines: Chard, Fumé Blanc, Violetta (botrytis dessert wine), Cab Sauv, Zin, Merlot. Notes: Biodynamic/Organic, Gifts, Tours.Mike Grgich is one of the famous winemakers of Napa. Originally from Croatia, he came here as a young man and produced Chateau Montelena’s award winning Chard that put Napa on the world map at the Judgment of Paris in 1976. The name Hills comes from the Hills Coffee company who is his partner. They are the owners of the largest Biodynamic vineyards in America which are managed by his nephew. His daughter manages the winery. The tasting room is the barrel room, relaxed, earthy and fun. The wines are wonderfully made and a good value.
Groth Vineyards & Winery: 750 Oakville Cross Rd.Oakville 707.754.4254 apptwww.grothvineyards.comHrs: 10-4 by appointmentTF: $$CWP Wines: Cab Sauv, Chard, Sauv Blanc. Notes: A grand building in pink and good wines but an anti-climatic tasting, and not always easy to get on the phone. Nice staff.
Guilliams Vineyards: 3851 Spring Mountain Rd.St. Helena 707.963.9059Hrs: by appointmentTF: $Wines: Bordeaux varietals.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery: 2000 Denmark St.Sonoma 707.938.3015Hrs: 11-4:30TF: $-$$Wines: Zin, Gewürztraminer, Chard, Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, Merlot, Cab Sauv.Notes: The family started farming this area in 1858, near the time when their neighbor, Buena Vista was founded. They are just five minutes from the SonomaPlaza in a beautiful location, but they produce a very inconsistant tasting room experience and have a reputation for being snobbish and rude. That is very unusual in Sonoma.
Call 707-235-2648 for Tours, Books & Seminars Copyright Ralph & Lahni de Amicis 2011 All tasting fees, hours, wine lists, etc are subject to change.