Maddie’s Tips for Tasting

I just had to devote a blog entry to the little things I’ve learned that might make your visit to our bountiful valley even better. The first thing you need to know is: Take your time! When we first got to Napa, I mapped out a touring plan that would’ve made General Patton proud. What can I say - I was fresh out of NYC and knew how to move quickly. And after all, with 100’s of wineries I needed to see as many as possible as quickly as possible, right? No! Attempting to visit 12 wineries in a day was just ridiculous. Now, Michael and I have adapted to a pace that allows us to savor the wine, the beautiful settings – the experience!

My advice to wine tourists is to allow about an hour per winery and 10-30 minutes for travel between wineries. If you have a few must-visit wineries, try to see others in that same area to minimize driving time. Save the scenic drives for sunset as most wineries close at 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. And do stop for lunch. It may seem you are wasting valuable touring time, but trust me: you will need a little break and some non-liquid (!) sustenance. A picnic is quickest. Stop at Dean & DeLuca in St. Helena (deananddeluca.com) for delightful provisions. Lunchtime is also a good opportunity to visit restaurants that are booked months in advance for dinner. If you can, make your lunch reservations in advance too. We usually picnic, but when I have a little more time I adore the very French Bistro Jeanty (bistrojeanty.com) in Yountville. Mais oui!

If you are new to wine, don’t feel like you are alone. Napa is The Big League. Some of the best wines in the world are made here. The loftiness can be intimidating to novices, but not to worry. Your first stop should be one of the big wineries like Mondavi (robertmondaviwinery.com). Stroll the beautiful grounds and get a feel for the place – it’s really something. Then, go ahead and taste! They’ll have some of your favorites but be sure to try something new. Not mad for Malbec? Neither am I, but at least now I can distinguish it from Marsanne – and you will too.

On occasion you may encounter a surly tasting room employee who tells you are holding your glass wrong or corrects your pronunciation. As we say in NY – fuggetabout it! Maybe they are having a bad day and wish they were out wine tasting like you. Just don’t be like the character in the movie Sideways who comes into the tasting room chomping gum, that would make me cringe too. Keep palate-cleansing plain crackers and water with you while touring. And save the Reserve wines for your “sophomore” trip.

Wineries ship to most states, which Michael’s and my parents are grateful for. If you are buying wines to take with you, do kept them in a cooler or insulated wine carrier if you’ll be leaving them in a car for any period of time. It can get HOT very fast and heat destroys wine.

So, open your mind and the palate will follow. As trite as it sounds, do sniff the flowers. And talk to the staff and winemakers you might encounter. It’s the most enjoyable education I’ve ever had and I hope you’ll agree. Cheers!