Stay like a vineyard proprietor at The Residence at Skipstone
When my son was two years previous I took him on a visit to Napa and Sonoma—as insane as that will sound, and this was over 25 years in the past, it labored out properly. The adults tasted wines and my son puttered across the tasting rooms and gardens along with his toy tractor (he’s a chef now, so I wish to assume this was a part of his journey). Naturally this expertise solely bolstered my need to return to California wine nation with every of my youngsters once they lastly got here of age so they may correctly take pleasure in one among America’s biggest treasures. This yr, my youngest lastly crossed the road into 21 and boy did I’ve a visit deliberate. I researched, I reviewed and I quizzed my wine business colleagues, leveraging all of my experience to make sure we had a doozy of a visit. We did, however it seems every little thing I deliberate is out there to anybody and also you don’t should be an insider to have a spectacular go to to wine nation, you merely should plan forward. Therefore, I share this information with you in order that your celebration may be as particular as ours was—and so the subsequent era of wine lovers can see for themselves how wonderful wine, wine nation, and the people who make wine, actually are.
Prime Tastings:
Having fun with the ambiance in one of many cabanas at Flowers Winery.
Flowers Winery: A lot of the winemaking at Flowers takes place on precipitous ridges near the Pacific Ocean so to accommodate wine lovers they constructed a phenomenal vineyard only a few minutes south of Healdsburg. The principle tasting room oozes wine nation ambiance with vaulted ceilings and clear easy strains, and the redwoods and luxurious gardens add to the stunning out of doors setting. But, the very best seat right here is in one of many personal cabanas—breezy sailcloth-trimmed areas and opulent lounge seating. Right here, you’ll have the ability to sit again and revel in experiences such because the Property Winery Immersion tasting, a tasting of Flowers’ single winery expressions paired with beautiful chef-prepared bites.
Opus One: Ebook no less than two months early for an opportunity to go to this iconic Napa Valley vineyard the place the setting nearly rivals the wines. The Opus One Expertise is with out query the best choice. You’ll take pleasure in a seated tasting within the unimaginable Companions’ Room—an opulent glass-walled lounge with sweeping views of the property vineyards and considerate refinements reminiscent of unique paintings and Jurassic period limestone flooring. None of those distractions, nonetheless, will overshadow the wine—a tasting of the present launch and two library wines from their collectors’ record. Your private information will stroll you thru the fascinating historical past of Opus One and also you’ll end with a grand tour of the vineyard.
Suite at Jordan Vineyard
Jordan Vineyard: Jordan’s tastings are likely to guide out nicely prematurely, so name as quickly as you realize your plans and guide the Tasting and Tour for the total vary of experiences, You’ll begin out on the newly renovated terrace with a glass of Jordan Chardonnay and a chunk ready by Govt Chef Jesse Mallgren. Then it’s off to see the vineyard backyard and vineyards in addition to a peek on the beautiful new personal eating room, adopted by a tour of the historic oak tank room and the grand library. End with a seated tasting within the very cool cellar room—and put together to be dazzled by the culinary pairings and the prospect to style a number of vintages of their iconic Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Schramsberg Vineyards: A go to here’s a worthy cease for any journey to Napa Valley for the historical past, the schooling and the bubbles. Beloved for his or her wonderful vary of glowing wines, many contemplate Schramsberg to be America’s true glowing wine—and for good motive—their Blanc de Blancs was used for President Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace” with China’s Premier Zhou Enlai, and thus far Schramsberg’s glowing wines have been served at official State features by each U.S. Presidential administration. The Cave Tour and Tasting expertise means that you can “go backstage” into the vineyard caves the place you’ll see firsthand how a lot effort and time should go into making a methodology champenoise glowing wine. You then’ll end with a tasting of their expressions (and, like us, in all probability go away with a number of bottles to take pleasure in later).
Unbelievable Stays Which are Not Resorts:
Jordan Vineyard has an intimate assortment of lodging which are obtainable to members of the wine membership—and the power to remain on this 1,200-acre property is well worth the bother to change into a member (you’ll additionally get first dibs on the cool tastings and occasions they’ve all year long). Rooms are positioned in a phenomenal French nation chateau-inspired vineyard with beautiful, newly designed interiors. Every jewel of an area options elegant designer touches, classic antiques and paintings. Some rooms have home windows that overlook the barrel room and all of them boast views overlooking Jordan’s rolling winery panorama.
Exterior of The Residence at Skipstone
The Residence at Skipstone: Reserving a complete house is a giant problem in wine nation so this selection is a uncommon gem—a fabulously personal sprawling 200-acre wine nation property that overlooks the Alexander Valley. The Residence is simply that—an 8,300 square-foot property which was initially the house of Skipstone Vineyard proprietor Fahri Diner. It affords 5 bedrooms, 6.5 loos, health club, cellar, pool, recreation room, and vegetable backyard all tucked into the fold of rolling vineyards. The principle kitchen is fully-stocked however you’ll doubtless spend extra time across the two out of doors firepits, grilling native lamb within the out of doors connoisseur kitchen, (which features a Mugnaini wood-fired pizza oven, actually). A concierge is readily available for every little thing you may want, together with stocking the kitchen or retaining a non-public chef to do the cooking for you.
Company additionally get a non-public tour and a tasting of their beautiful property wines, cultivated proper on website. Property winemaker Laura Jones, beforehand of Aubert Wines and Cliff Lede Vineyards, crafts the wines which embody the flagship Oliver’s Mix Cabernet Sauvignon and Faultline Winery Bordeaux mix, in addition to two extraordinarily restricted 75-case bottlings, the Luka’s Mix Cabernet Franc and Sofia’s Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. Skipstone additionally produces Viognier, Malbec, Preface Proprietary Crimson, and the Rose de Constance Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne, in partnership with Diebolt-Vallois. In case you actually need to get swanky, the concierge may prepare personal aviation companies and a possibility to golf or take pleasure in different facilities and companies on the unique members-only Jack Nicklaus-designed Mayacama Golf Course and Non-public Membership.
Superb Meals:
Cyrus Restaurant: This Michelin-starred restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Douglas Keane opened in 2022. It’s a gem of a vacation spot only a bit north from Healdsburg—and completely value the additional five-minute drive. Begin your 20-course journey (in addition they supply a three-course lounge menu when you choose) within the Champagne Bubbles Lounge with cocktails and canapés, then its into the precise kitchen for a number of programs and real-time interplay with the cooks. Subsequent, you’ll sit within the glass-walled eating room with breathtaking, panoramic winery views. The finale takes place within the Chocolate Room, that includes a flowing, liquid chocolate wall. After dinner, when you can handle, stroll the one block as much as the primary avenue in Geyserville seize a negroni on faucet (or a Soiled Mezcal Martini with tomato water and olive oil) on the Geyserville Gun Membership—a lot of locals discover their means right here.
On the best way again to the airport make sure to take a chunk of wine nation with you—you’ve your alternative of fabulous to-go meals. Seize a breakfast sandwich on the Mannequin Bakery (their from-scratch english muffins are the stuff of legend), or pop into Oxbow Market and wander the choices—every little thing from recent salads and from-scratch bakery items to Moroccan eats, and it’s all scrumptious. Simply make sure to take pleasure in one final celebratory glass of wine earlier than you head again residence.