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Wine Country Day 1 - Napa Valley Winery Reviews
I figured I would start off my review of vineyards from the trip in sequential order, starting with the first afternoon we spent in wine country – over on the Napa/Silverado Trail side of the valley. I’ll try to give as much relevant information as possible while not being too grossly overwhelming. I feel like any time people start trying to nitpick the wine itself, something is lost. I’m just trying to share information I would want to know prior to going (in other words – “is Vineyard XYZ worth the trip”… which is much more than just “is the wine delicious/economical/etc” as far as I’m concerned).
Day 1 – 4 Wineries in Napa/Silverado Trail:
Frog’s Leap (Mid-Napa):
Pros: Beautiful grounds, comfortable atmosphere, snacks provided with tastings, and extra stuff to see and do around the property (e.g. The Barn, garden area, etc)
Cons: Requires appointment, only selected wines are not distributed (i.e. you can get majority of their wines across the country in retail environments)
Fun Fact: their corks say “Ribbit” (a nod to the other frog design and brand aesthetics)
Overall Score: 7/10 –  worth the trip
Round Pond (Mid-Napa):
Pros: Great rooftop patio, scenic views of the whole Napa Valley
Cons: Requires appointment, very limited tasting capacity (i.e. They often will not even allow all of their tables to be filled if they are at all short on servers/employees)
Overall Score: 6/10 – worth the trip, but not a “must”
Robert Sinksey (Silverado Trail):
Pros: Recently completed patio construction and other related property updates, good lesser-known varietals and blends of wine
Cons: Not a ton of “wow” factor, tastings are fairly expensive, a bit dark/void of light on the inside if that is where you do your tasting
Overall Score: 5/10 – I’d go back but not unless I was already over in that part of the Silverado Trail
Regusci (Silverado Trail):
Pros: Dog-friendly property, laid back atmosphere, very helpful and friendly staff
Cons: Not loaded with memorable wines, a bit of a hike out of the way unless you are deliberate about wanting to get over to the South end of the Silverado Trail
Overall Score: 5/10 – same story as Sinskey
Til Next Time,
Michael
