http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080715-002219 Andretti Winery

Open Daily: 10am - 5pm

Individual Tastings

Andretti Winery is the perfect destination for wine lovers of every type. Visitors are invited to join us for a unique taste of the Napa Valley in our Tasting Room for an exceptional wine tasting of four Andretti wines.
Cost is $10.00 per/person.

Please call Andretti Winery to make reservations for groups of 10 or more.

Private Winery Tour & Tasting

Enjoy a leisurely tour of our beautiful winery followed by a private tasting led by one of our friendly wine educators.
Private tasting fees begin at $15.00 per/person; private tours & tastings begin at $20.00 per/person.

Please call Andretti Winery to make reservations for groups of 10 or more.

Food & Wine Pairing

Learn how to match your favorite foods with Andretti wines in our popular seminar and tasting. Tailored to your desires, please contact our Special Events department at 877.386.5070 ext 222 for more information.

Vineyard Tour

Great wines begin with great grapes and during our Vineyard Tour you’ll learn how we cultivate the very finest grapes possible in our estate vineyards. This distinctive tour gives guests the opportunity to sample the grapes in the vineyards for a unique experience that highlights the artistic process from grapes to the bottle.

Vineyard Tours are offered seasonally. Please call our Special Events department at 877.386.5070 ext 222 for more information.

Andretti Winery
4162 Big Ranch Road
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 261-1717
http://www.andrettiwinery.com]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080715-000434
After a decade of dedication, the “Oak Knoll District” was recognized as a distinct sub-appellation of Napa Valley. Located toward the southern end of the Napa Valley at a relatively low elevation on the valley floor, this exceptional land with its climate-moderating effects of San Pablo Bay, cooling breezes and coastal fog make for superior slow ripening, often extending a growing season up to eight months. Distinguished by it cooler climate from other Napa appellations, enthusiastic advocates of the AVA argue that Oak Knoll strikes the perfect climatic balance, not too warm and not too cool for exceptional wines.

Andretti Winery’s forty-two acre vineyard is situated in the heart of this acclaimed appelation, just a few miles south of the town of Yountville. With the cooler climate and rich soils that drain extremely well, our vines endure more stress, resulting in smaller, more flavor intensive fruit. Ideally suited for growing world-class Chardonnay and Merlot, for which we dedicate much of our Oak Knoll District estate, the most favorable growing blocks of vines within this vineyard provide the grapes for our prized Montona Series Reserve wines.

Andretti wines are crafted from estate vineyard fruit and select vineyards from California's finest appellations. Specifically chosen for their excellence and distinction, each wine released meets the highest standards of the Winery's vision and mission; to consistently offer unique character, exceptional quality and a legendary wine experience.

Montona Reserve Series

Named in honor of Mario Andretti's childhood home of Montona, Italy the ultra-premium Montona Reserve Series wines are crafted exclusively from estate-grown grapes and other stellar Napa Valley vineyards.

Each vintage Andretti's Winemaker takes the finest hand-selected fruit to create wines from this acclaimed series including, an Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Reserve Merlot and Napa Valley ReserveCabernet Sauvignon.

Produced in very limited quantities, these very high demand wines are made available first to Andretti Winery Wine Club Members and are offered through our Napa Valley winery and website.

Napa Valley Series

Crafted principally from prized Napa Valley fruit, Andretti Winery's Napa Valley Series includes an array of popular, food-friendly varietals that please even the most discriminating palate.

With an extensive varietal line-up, wine lovers enjoy the elegance, complexity and quality of each wine, including Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or a unique Zinfandel-Primitivo blend.

A premium wine experience, Andretti's Napa Valley Series wines are made available directly through the winery as well as select fine wine stores and restaurants around the globe.

California Selections Series

Inspired by its Italian heritage and "La Dolce Vita" principle, Andretti Winery's California Selections Series wines are made with the belief that good wine should be enjoyed daily with meals, as part of a fine lifestyle.

Venturing beyond the Napa Valley to Sonoma and the North Coast when sourcing the grapes for these fine wines, wine lovers can savor an array of diverse and delicious flavors. Selections Series varietals include Fume Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Made accessible to wine drinkers of all types with their impressive quality and exceptional value, the Selections Series wines are available direct from the winery as well as at fine markets and restaurants around the globe.

Andretti Winery
4162 Big Ranch Road
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 261-1717
http://www.andrettiwinery.com]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080601-172624 Barnett Vineyards.

Tours and tastings at Barnett Vineyards are private and arranged by appointment only. No more than eight people are included in each tour to ensure an intimate experience. The event begins in our barrel room with a glass of either Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc and then Pinot NoirPinot Noir. These tastings go hand in hand with an introduction to the property, its vineyards and the wines.

The group then moves through part of the vineyard to the observation deck on the top of Rattlesnake Hill to taste Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The deck provides a view of most of the estate vineyards; leading to conversations about mountain farming practices, vine spacing, etc. The deck also affords magnificent views of the Napa Valley floor 2000 feet below. Cabernet Members are welcome to reserve a picnic lunch at one of several intimate tables located on the property.

Depending on the time of year, the tour finishes back in the barrel room, perhaps with a barrel taste of a new vintage of Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon or Rattlesnake Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (if available). The tasting experience at Barnett Vineyards is casual, intimate and informative. It is our goal for you to enjoy yourself while visiting and learning about this special place on Spring Mountain.

Tours and tastings are by appointment only, between 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily. Please call 707-963-7075 and ask to schedule an appointment. Our office is open Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Directions

From San Francisco and Oakland
- Go into town of St. Helena, via Hwy 29
- Turn Left on Madrona Avenue (3rd Stop Light)
- Drive 3 blocks to Spring Mountain Road - turn Right
- Drive approximately 5.3 miles to the top of the hill
- Turn right at row of mailboxes at Napa/Sonoma County Line
- On paved road, take the right fork and follow signs to Barnett Vineyards

From Santa Rosa
- From Hwy 101 - Exit Hwy 12
- Follow directions on Hwy 12 to Sonoma
- Turn Left at Calistoga Road (by Prickett's Garden Center)
- Go approximately 3 miles
- Turn Right at St. Helena Road
- Go approximately 6.8 miles to the top of the hill
- Turn left at the Sonoma/Napa County Line
- On paved road, take the right fork and follow signs to Barnett Vineyards

Barnett Vineyards
4070 Spring Mountain Road
St. Helena, CA, 94574
(707) 963-7075
http://www.barnettvineyards.com]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080601-171346
Each wine made at Barnett Vineyards is either Estate Bottled, from Spring Mountain or from a single vineyard in another viticulture district that we have chosen. The wines, therefore, are inextricably linked to the vineyards from which they come from.

With passion and patience, Fiona and Hal Barnett created this vineyard and winery in 1983 with the intent of producing small amounts of hand crafted Cabernet Sauvignon wines from their estate. Since the first vintage of Barnett Vineyards, Spring Mountain has proven to deserve it's own AVA and become known as a unique microclimate, producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots.

The vineyards are located at the top of Spring Mountain, at elevation 2,000ft, and planted on steep terraces that follow the contour of the land. In some places, the grade averages in excess of 35%. Mountainside farming is very challenging. The vines must struggle to reach nutrients and water in the soil and, as a result, yield only one to two tons per acre. The elements of sun, temperature, and well-drained porous soils give an advantageous water stress to the vines and contribute to the depth, richness and character of the wines. Grapes are harvested by hand; vineyard row by row, as optimum ripeness and maturity is reached. Fermentation is done in small batches.

Since the winery's first 100 cases in 1989, Barnett Vineyards has grown to approximately 6,000 cases total production. Rattlesnake Hill and Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignons are the focus at the estate with total Cabernet production varying between 2,100 and 3,000 cases annually. In addition, Barnett Vineyards produces limited amounts of Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown from single vineyards located in well-desired appellations.

Barnett Vineyards
4070 Spring Mountain Road
St. Helena, CA, 94574
(707) 963-7075
http://www.barnettvineyards.com]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080529-000334 Babcock Winery and Vinyards

Visitors are welcome to taste our wines in our tasting room. We are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The charge for wine tasting is $10.00 per person and includes a Babcock Vineyards logo glass. For groups of 10 or more, reservations are required a minimum of two days in advance. No one under the age of 21 is allowed in our tasting area. Those under 21 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Groups of 10 or more by advance reservation only.
For reservations call (805)736-1455 or email. It is a great help to us if you give us at least two days notice for groups.

Directions
Babcock Winery and Vineyards is located approximately 50 miles north of Santa Barbara, California.

Take U.S. Hwy. 101 to the Solvang/Buellton/Lompoc (Hwy. 246) exit.

Go West on Hwy. 246, toward Lompoc, about 9 miles.

Babcock Winery is on the right-hand side of the highway. We share our driveway with Melville Winery.

Babcock Winery and Vineyards
5175 E. Highway 246
Lompoc, Ca. 93436
(805) 736-1455
http://www.babcockwinery.com]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080528-233347
Integrity and quality are paramount to the wines of Babcock Winery and Vineyards. Because of Bryan's exceptionally high standards, no matter the varietal or vintage, Babcock wines are always among the elite.

Babcock wines feature cool climate, estate-grown fruit as well as grapes from select local vineyards. Highly intellectual and flavorful, each wine possesses distinctive characteristics. These unique qualities are further showcased in a "Terroir" program with multiple annual offerings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon labeled with specific vineyard block designations. Within a vintage, one varietal may have several different designations.

Still family-owned and operated, Babcock Winery and Vineyards is an expanding 20,000-case winery with 80 acres currently planted to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Experimental varieties such as Albarino and Tempranillo from Spain, and Pignolo from Italy, are being evaluated.

What has Bryan excited these days is the promotion of a newly BATF approved appellation, Santa Rita Hills. Named for the hills that lie in the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley between two other ranges-- the Purisimas to the north and the Santa Rosas to the south-- this region is situated at its closest point within 10 miles of the Pacific Ocean. Babcock's Winery and Vineyard and a number of other nearby vineyards are in the heart of this viticulturally distinct area. In a cool climate (Region 1), it takes longer for the fog to burn off here than it does in the greater Santa Ynez Valley to the east. Generally 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Santa Ynez, this district also is caressed by cooling ocean breezes at mid-afternoon that help keep temperatures moderate on warm summer days. The climate and soil combination is particularly ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

With new vineyards currently being planted, a new barrel aging facility, and a renowned winemaker who will continue to make wine outside of the box, Babcock Winery and Vineyards promises to continue its tradition and reputation as one of the finest and most consistently reliable wine producers in California.

Babcock Winery and Vineyards
5175 E. Highway 246
Lompoc, Ca. 93436
(805) 736-1455
http://www.babcockwinery.com]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080514-211510
We've always said that every wine tells a story. The same can be said about every winery.

Foursight Wines is a small, family owned and operated winery in the cool, coastal region of Anderson Valley. Founded in 2007 by Bill and Nancy Charles - long-time winegrowers - together with daughter Kristy Charles and her fiancé Joseph Webb, we produce just a few hundred cases of estate-grown Pinot Noir and Anderson Valley Sauvignon Blanc each year.

Our name - Foursight Wines - signifies both the number of generations of our family to live and work on this one piece of land in Anderson Valley, and the aim of our efforts: to look forward and provide for the future generations of our family.

Each and every day you will find one of us working in the vineyard, tasting our wines, or tending to the day-to-day tasks of the business. We believe that good wine is made in the vineyard, and, in the best years, no intervention at all is needed to produce the highest-quality, small-lot wines.

We are a true family business, with many years of combined experience in winemaking, viticulture, wine marketing, wine public relations and wine sales. Each of us contributes something to the whole, and in return we get to live and work in this beautiful place while preserving a part of our family heritage.

In our location we can experience daily temperature swings of up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which adds to the rich flavors and strong acid profile of our grapes. Winters can be very wet, as the annual rainfall in Boonville averages 41.6 inches. Fortunately, our vineyard sits on an ancient river bend, which means our well-drained soils are suited to this annual moisture level. The modern-day version of this ancient river, called Anderson Creek, now borders our property on the east, separating us from the eastern foothills of the valley.

All vineyard work is done by our family, with help during pruning and harvest. On any given day you can find us in the vineyard, performing one of many tasks that keep our vineyard healthy and producing the best quality fruit possible. We practice what we like to call vine-by-vine viticulture: Spending so much time in the vineyard enables us to know the vines' particular needs and tend them accordingly, from adjusting compost levels to changing pruning techniques. We live on our land, and so farm our vineyard sustainably and responsibly, to ensure that the vineyard, and our family, is healthy and happy for years to come.

Foursight Wines
PO Box 523
Boonville, CA 95415
(707) 895-2889
http://www.foursightwines.com]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080511-174512
Amici, in Italian, is "Friends!" Amici's handcrafted, limited production wines are from Napa's most renowned grape growing areas. Our farming and winemaking methods allow the characteristics of soil and climate to speak through each individual wine.

Amici was born out of a belief that good wine and good friends make natural partners. In 1991, Jeff Hansen and a group of friends from all over the country crushed a few tons of grapes in the Napa Valley for their personal cellars. The resulting wines received such outstanding accolades that Hansen and the group started producing wine the very next year to share with the public. In the 16 vintages since the inception of Amici Cellars, our wines have gained stature as some of the finest reds in America. Because our concern is quality, not quantity, our wines are hand crafted and highly allocated.

The success of Amici can be summed up in one word: passion. Passion is the primary ingredient of any artistic endeavor, and the art of great winemaking is no different. We at Amici share a taste for quality, and are truly passionate about creating great red wines. To do that, we marry the most advanced viticulture practices with skills and knowledge passed down through countless generations of winemakers and vineyard owners.

By tradition, the best winemakers charge themselves with making a wine that tells its own story: one that speaks of the rich, volcanic soil it grew in, the March rains that nourished the vines and the warm Napa Valley sun that ripened the grapes to perfection. That's why Amici lives with the grapes, and nurtures the vines to create the finest hand crafted wines. Our wines truly reflect the vineyards from which they come.

At Amici our true passion is to produce spectacular reds. And our friends who enjoy wine as much as we do, recognize our attention to detail. We invite friends old and new to share our particular brand of "bottled poetry." Taste our passion -- and our joy of life.

Amici Cellars
PO Box 399
Rutherford, Ca. 94573
(707) 967-9560
http://www.amicicellars.com]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080511-171856
Alpha Omega Winery, located in the heart of Napa Valley, on the Rutherford Bench, has begun its journey to be recognized as one of the great wine estates in the world.

Our team of winemakers, who share a history of winemaking excellence, along with our highly regarded vineyards, combine to create a unique expression of the essence of Napa Valley.

Alpha Omega has been fortunate to acquire highly sought after vineyards in the unique appellations of Napa Valley: Spring Mountain, St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Atlas Peak, Oak Knoll, Wild Horse Valley and Carneros, including the historically well known To Kalon, Stagecoach and Hudson vineyards.

Aside from the vineyards on the Alpha Omega winery property, the winemakers strongly believe in sourcing grapes from terroirs representing different appellations in Napa Valley in order to bring a completely different complexity and aromatic profile to their wines.

Alpha Omega Winery
1155 Mee Lane at Hwy 29
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-9999
http://www.aowinery.com ]]> http://www.californiawineries.info/index.php?entry=entry080422-235003
Dolcetto wines are known for black cherry and licorice flavors with some prunes and a characteristically bitter finish reminiscent of almonds. While relatively high in residual sugars the wines are normally always dry. The tannic nature of the grape contributes to a characteristic bitter finish. The dark purple skin of Dolcetto grapes have high amounts of anthocyanins in them which require only a short maceration time with the skin to produce a dark colored wine. The amount of skin contact affects the resulting tannin levels in the wine with most winemakers preferring to limit maceration time to as short as possible. During fermentation the wine is prone to the wine fault of reduction.

Dolcetto is a fruit driven wine with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums. A direct, Zinfandel-like fruitiness combined with Merlot-like soft tannins make Dolcetto charmingly seductive. While often compared to Beaujolais Nouveau, Dolcetto tends to have a fuller body with more complex taste.]]>