Dig a Little Deeper in Wine Country

By Kent Domogalla

Everyone has their own ideas of what a visit to “Wine Country” means. Here at the top of the Napa Valley around Calistoga, there is an opportunity to check out large and small wineries with unique programs.

The casual visitor may not know that many wineries host special events for the public or have unique wine clubs designed to enhance your visit and make you feel like one of their family. This can be particularly rewarding at smaller wineries who want to make each guest’s visit a personal experience.

Here are just a few ideas to think about for your next visit to the top of the Valley’s version of Wine Country!

At von Strasser, they have a very active “futures” club called the “Diamond Cartel” (named after their Diamond Mountain Vineyards). Members get allocations of wines as futures each year. During the months of November to June, club members are invited to visit the winery, tour the caves and taste the wines from barrels as futures. The cost of this visit is $30 per person. Anyone who buys futures is invited to a futures-club dinner in the caves each fall. (www.vonstrasser.com/)

Another winery with unique club benefits is Storybook Mountain Vineyards who is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year with hot air balloon rides over the vineyard, a murder mystery dinner, lamb and pig roasts and barrel tastings. These events are planned for club members, but in addition they are having an "Open House Day" on September 2 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. when they will be open to the public (no reservations required) for a chance to visit with the Storybook family and enjoy some wine and finger food. Storybook also offers vineyard tours by appointment only which conclude with a tour and wine tasting in their century old hand dug caves. (www.storybookwines.com/)

Hans Fahden Vineyards, a cabernet sauvignon producer, has a great reputation for hosting private weddings and other special events both indoors and outdoors. They have a beautiful Monet garden setting, with ponds and water lilies, rose garden and a wisteria shaded tea house. Visitors can enjoy tours of the garden daily. (www.hansfahden.com/)

What is interesting about the wine tasting at Reverie is the fact that they grow and bottle several unusual varietals including a 100% Barbera, a 100% Tempranillo, a 100% Petit Verdot and a 100% Roussanne. Generally they pour one of these unique wines each day on weekends. Reverie offers their tastings outside with an inter-active walk-around wine tour. There is a wine trivia quiz and if a customer gets all four questions right they win a bottle of wine! (www.reveriewine.com)

Silver Rose Cellars has 20 guest rooms and a spa on its campus which makes them the area’s only Resort Winery. Each day at 11:00 a.m. they host a special tour where the guests sample wine from the barrels, a unique opportunity to actually taste the progression in the aging process. Additionally they can host many types of events in their wonderful barrel room setting. (www.silverrose.com/)

Casa Nuestra is another wonderful winery that offers barrel samples and a tour of their old-world farm-style winery and vineyards. The tasting room is open by appointment only and is worth visiting just to see their collection of vintage music posters. You can expect to step back in time, to the days when quality and tradition went hand-in-hand. (www.casanuestra.com)

Sterling Vineyards is known not only for their wines, but for the winery itself, which is reached via an aerial tram. The Reserve Tour and Tasting, lets you enjoy one of wine country’s very finest educational experiences for groups from nine to 48. It is an in-depth tour of winemaking operations, followed by a private tasting focusing on highly acclaimed reserve wines. The tasting is presented in fine crystal stemware, conducted in an elegant setting by knowledgeable and gracious wine educators. Also Sterling hosts an annual Merlot event, Merlot in May, where you can sample Merlots from 130 vintners, representing the wine regions of 10 countries, taste culinary treats, watch professional chef presentations and enjoy live jazz music. (www.sterlingvineyards.com/)

The beautiful winery -- Clos Pegase -- designed by architect Michael Graves, boasts more than 1000 pieces of artwork on display, inside and outside, and a romantic cave theater. This, combined with the high quality estate wines, offers a complete sensory experience. Private wine blending seminars can be arranged at Clos Pegase, as well as other special events. Complimentary daily guided tours are offered at 11am and 2pm, and self-guided sculpture garden tours are a highlight for many. (www.clospegase.com/)

In addition to their individual opportunities, many Calistoga wineries participate in an annual Open House weekend each spring – a great way to visit some of these special properties in a festive setting. (visit www.calistogawineevent.com/ for information) If you have a favorite winery, visit their website or give them a call and ask about special tasting or events they may have – you may be surprised at how many unique touches they have to offer!

And for that added touch, what’s red wine without chocolate, especially now that both are certified as “healthy?” To treat yourself to a different wine country gift, enjoy truffles made with an individual wineries premium red wine…especially worth a visit are Summers Winery’s Andriana’s Cuvee Truffles which you can taste while watching a Bocce game at the winery (www.sumwines.com/) and Bennett Lane Winery’s Maximus Truffles (www.bennettlane.com/) which you can enjoy while checking out one of their NASCAR Team race cars. You are on holiday, right?

For local information and directions when planning your visit to Calistoga click on www.CalistogaChamber.com or when in town visit the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce located behind the historic Depot to pick-up a map to these and other local wineries.

Also, be sure to review the events listing for Napa Valley on WineCountry.com.