places
Wine and Dine: Robert Mondavi Winery Inspired by Robert Mondavi’s autobiography Harvests of Joy, where the winemaking icon shares his joie de vivre, the Robert Mondavi Winery offers an extraordinary dining experience right on property – a rarity in the region. During the Harvests of Joy lunch, guests are taken on a private tour of the estate and then seated in the Vineyard Room, which overlooks the famed To Kalon Vineyard and neighboring Mayacamas Mountains. Acclaimed in-house chef Jeff Mosier then uses local ingredients to dream up a three-course menu paired with some of Mondavi’s favorite wines.
Blend Your Own Wine: Franciscan Estate
Franciscan offers one of the most interactive wine experiences in Napa: a wine blending class. During the interactive program, a trusted wine expert shows guests how to blend the winery’s most-beloved varietal, the Magnificat, while tasting several specific types of wine. Each guest is also given beakers, various measuring instruments and glasses to mix together a signature blend of his or her own.
Taste on the Terrace: Mumm Napa Mumm Napa follows traditional winemaking techniques from France to create fine, handcrafted sparkling wines. The current winemaker – Ludovic Dervin – is actually a native of Champagne, France. His expertise is evident in every single
bubbly drop. To experience a flight of their sparkling wines right, opt for the Terrace Tasting just before sunset, which gives guests an expansive space on the colorful patio and a tasting overlooking the vines. A bonus – head over to their on-site art gallery, which features everything from rock ’n’ roll photography to Ansell Adams’ private collection.
Step Back in History: Inglenook
TASTING THE TOWN
Visiting California’s Napa Valley is now easier than ever
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BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
reaking news: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport now flies directly into the Sonoma County Airport. This means getting to Napa Valley (www.visitnapavalley.com), the premier wine country in the U.S., has never been easier. Here are some best bets on where to stay, what to do and where to dine when visiting this lush land.
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Among the oldest wineries in Napa, Francis Ford Coppola acquired more than 1,500 acres of the property with profits from The Godfather in 1975. However, the brand name and remaining 94 acres were bought by another company, who began making lower-quality wines under the Inglenook label for decades. In 2011, Coppola succeeded in acquiring the rest of the land and restored the brand to its original glory. To really indulge in the entire property, consider the Inglenook Experience reservation option for a tour of the chateau, vineyards and Infinity caves (yes, actual caves!), culminating in a seated tasting.
Taste in the Clouds: Sterling Sterling offers guests a sky-high winery experience – literally. Perched atop a hillside, guests take an aerial tram – the only one of its kind in Napa – to the winery, which offers stunning views for miles in each direction. From the moment visitors depart the tram, they are greeted with wine as they are ushered into one of several tour and tasting options.
| SO SCOTTSDALE!
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