Would I do Culture of the Vine Again?

While I enjoyed the Culture of the Vine cruise by Cruise West , it was a little confining for my taste. When I go to Napa or Sonoma, I typically hit at least four or five wineries a day. The Spirit of Yorktown was lovely – the crew, ambience, food, accommodations were all very nice. It was good to have someone else drive us to the wineries (and home again after we’d been sampling). But, free spirit that I am, I really prefer doing my own thing.

That said, I think a cruise like this is a good choice for people who don’t want to have to drive around unfamiliar roads and try to locate the various wineries (some are up in the hills and not easy to find, although there are plenty right along the main roads, too). Or those who want to travel with a group too large to fit comfortably in a car or van. A number of our shipmates were rather elderly and the combination of cruising and coaching was particularly welcome for them. For folks who are new to Napa and Sonoma, this cruise provides a “taste” of the two valleys and an introduction to wines and viniculture in this popular region. And the ship provides a convenient “base” to return to each night. The people in our group who had not been to the wine country before thought it was great, although most said that next time they want to try a “land” trip.

As for me, I’m already planning my next trip to Napa Valley — a land trip in 2010 — with a driver! If you want to join me, give me a call (407.399.7758) or email me at jhaven@yourtravelhaven.com

And be sure to check this website frequently for information on all my upcoming trips!

We left the Benziger winery to return to the Spirit of Yorktown for lunch and a short rest. Then it was off to Domaine Carneros for some bubbles. Domaine Carneros in the heart of the Carneros wine region of Napa and Sonoma counties, is the California expression of the tradition and excellence of its founder, Champagne Taittinger.

Established in 1987, Domaine Carneros is a regional landmark. Exquisite views of endless vineyard-covered hills are the perfect setting to savor their wines. At Domaine Carneros, we were treated to a tour and discussion of the making of sparkling wine. Of course, part of the tour included tasting some of their product! Everyone enjoyed the bubbles, and several people bought and shipped some of their wines. The favorite seemed to be the Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine – Estate, described on their website as

“a wine of great balance, emphasizing fruity and floral characteristics to a greater extent than evident in the Brut or Le Rêve. It is made strictly with artisan attention to quality, with sourcing exclusively from Carneros and the use of time-honored Champenoise methods of production. A blend of 58% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay, the Brut Rosé is meant to be enjoyed at a fairly young age, when the fruity character is still predominant yet there is enough age to make the wine round and balanced. The wine’s aroma has hints of wild strawberries and roses with notes of peach Although a pale pink in color, Brut Rosé is not sweeter than our other wines.  It is a true Brut.”

Domaine Carneros was the final stop on our tour of the Napa and Sonoma wineries, and a grand finale, too. We went back to the ship for the wonderful Captain’s Dinner and dessert extravaganza and a last night with the friends we traveled with and the new friends we made on the ship.

As we slept, the ship made it’s way back to San Francisco and we disembarked Sunday morning to fly home.

http://www.domainecarneros.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&pageid=5ff07901-c634-36a6-c883-edd75a4d094c

Benziger Family Winery

Sunday morning brought another beautiful day (we were so lucky with the weather — no rain and cool temperatures all four days). After breakfast, we split into two groups again and set out for the Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen. Another great experience!

From the bus, we boarded a tractor-pulled tram and were taken up into the vineyards, where our guide explained that the Benziger Family Winery is leading a new definition of wine quality through its Farming for Flavors™, organic and Biodynamic® winegrowing practices. Their 85-acre certified Biodynamic Sonoma Mountain estate has become a research and teaching center for the cultivation of grapes with more flavor, more intensity and site-specific vineyard character. Grapes for all Benziger wines now are grown by one of three farming methods: Farming for Flavors, organic or Biodynamic.

Oh and did I mention that their wines are really good? My group enjoyed their wine so much that we bought and shipped home two cases! My personal favorite was the Pinot Noir, but most people bought the Oonapais. Here’s what the Benziger website says about their Oonapais:

“Oonapais showcases the diverse and healthy environment in and around the Benziger Family Estate. In 2005 the blend is made up of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. This wine is made with the most traditional hands-on methods. The grapes were hand sorted in the vineyard, fermented in small tanks and serviced by hand with love and care. Native yeast and malolactic bacteria were employed throughout. The wine was aged for 19 months in French oak – about 30% of the barrels were brand new – and bottled in July of 2007.”

We did a lot of shopping at Benziger too. One of their guides makes furniture and other items from wine barrels. Of course, being the wine lover that I am, I had to have a lazy Susan made from the top of a wine barrel — Cabernet Sauvignon, of course!

http://www.benziger.com/pdf/sell%20sheets/BZ%2005%20Oonapais.pdf

Just a short ride brought us to Merryvale Vineyard, our second winery on Saturday. Merryvale was the first winery built in the Napa Valley following the repeal of Prohibition.

The surroundings are beautiful, a layout of formal gardens, highlighted by a European style fountain. The proprietors seek to maintain the founding vision from the 1930s to “capture the essence of the region’s noble vineyards in rich, complex, supple wines rivaling the best in the world.”

Indeed, Merryvale has earned international acclaim for its wines.

However, no one in our group was impressed by wines they offered for tasting. The gift shop was very nice and we did buy several things there!

Then it was back to the Spirit of Yorktown for a brief rest before the evening happy hour, which again included an educational presentation. The dinner that followed was just as wonderful as the first night’s.

Since the day had been packed with activity (not to mention food and wine !), by the time dinner was over, we were ready to return to our cabins and climb into bed.

http://www.merryvale.com/