Ralph & Lahni de Amicis, Napa, Sonoma, San Francisco
Winery Directory Letter B Return to the Main Winery Directory B.R. Cohn Winery: 15000 Sonoma HwyGlen Ellen(SonomaValley) 707.938.4064www.brcohn.comHrs: 10-5Tours by apptTF: $$CWPWines: Cab Sauv, Zin, Chard, Merlot, Syrah Blend. Notes: This is just north of the Plaza on a picture perfect hillside, surrounded by vines and olive groves. The building was a stage coach stop. Bruce Cohn, a native of this area, is the manager of the Doobie Brothers and the tasting room has gold records and other music memorabilia. There is a separate gift shop for their olive oils and related products. Picnic tables. During the summer they host concerts. Bruce also has a wonderful collection of restored cars including General MacArthur's woody staff car from the Philippines. Baldacci Vineyards: 6236 Silverado TrailNapa(Stag's Leap District) 707.944.9261www.baldaccivineyards.comHrs: by appointment instant10-5TF: $CWP Wines: Cab Sauv, Pinot Noir. Notes: This is a wonderful family-run winery tucked in a southern facing hillside of the Stag's Leap district, surrounded by some of Napa's most famous wineries. They have great caves, a charming tasting room and a very loyal wine club and clientele. If you see any redheads, that's probably a member of the family. Great folks!
Ballentine Vineyards:2820 St Helena Hwy (Rt 29). N.St. Helena 707.963.7919www.ballentinevineyards.comHrs: 10-5 by appointment instantTF: $CWP Wines: Cab Sauv, Chenin Blanc, Zin, Merlot, Cab Franc, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot.
Barnett Vineyards: 4070 Spring Mountain Rd.St. HelenaSpringMountain 707.963.7075 apptwww.barnettvineyards.comHrs: 10-4 by appointmentTF: $20 Wines: Cab Sauv, Pinot Noir, Chard. Notes: A charming little winery, with a great reputation, clinging to the side of SpringMountain, producing spectacular wines. They have incredible views which you get to enjoy since the tasting is outside on patios built into the hillside. They have an excellent staff, it is a great place for a picnic, but make your appointment early so you don’t miss out. Go on a tour of the vineyard.
Bartholomew Park Winery:1000 Vineyard Ln.Sonoma 707.935.9511www.bartpark.comHrs: 11 - 4:30TF: $-$$Wines: Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Syrah, Zin, Cab Sauv. Notes: To the east of downtown Sonoma, this place has loads of history, and it is surrounded by a park. The wines are good, the tasting room staff is friendly and the museum is worth the ride by itself. They also have nice gift shop and a resident ghost or two. Bring your picnic basket, and if you are traveling with kids this is a place to go.
Battaglini Estate Winery:2948 Piner Rd.Santa Rosa(Northern Sonoma) 707.578.409www.battagliniwines.comHrs: by appointmentTF: $CWPWines: Zin, Chard, Petite Sirah. Page 55 Beaulieu Vineyard: 1960 St Helena Hwy (Rt 29).Rutherford
707.967.5230www.bvwines.comHrs: 10-5TF: $-$$$Wines: Cab Sauv, Chard, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zin, Syrah, Sauv Blanc, Shiraz, Sangiovese, Viognier, Port, Blends. Notes: One of the grand wineries of Napa. They have a main tasting room and a reserve room. This was the site of major innovations led by the revered winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, with the help of many others including Mike Grgich. The gift shop is downstairs in the main tasting room and is quite extensive. The reserve room includes the history in bottles of big Rutherford reds.
Behrens & Hitchock Winery: www.behrensandhitchcock.comSee Erna Schein Bell Wine Cellars: 6200 Washington StreetYountville 707. 944.1673www.bellwine.comHrs: 10:30-4 by appointment - InstantTF: $$$-$$$$$ Wines: Cab Sauv, Syrah, Port, Chard, Zin, Viognier, Merlot, Sauv Blanc. Notes: This is a small, very classy winery south of Yountville. Being by appointment they are sometimes overlooked, but the wines are excellent and the tasting experience is friendly and knowledgeable. They offer a wide variety of programs including food-pairings and reserve tastings. BellaVineyards & WineCaves: 9711 W. Dry Creek Rd.(DryCreekValley) 707.473.9171www.BellaWinery.comHrs: 11- 4:30TF: $Wines: Zin, Syrah. Notes: This is a small, charming family-run winery specializing in Zinfandel tucked up a very narrow road at the top of the DryCreekValley. It is more convenient than it sounds and more than worth the ride. The tasting is in the caves that is dug into the hillsides beneath their vineyards. Whenever there is a special weekend, such as the Barrel Tasting or Passport, this is always a favorite stop for those in the know. It is pet and picnic friendly. Picnic. Benessere: 1010 Big Tree Rd.St. Helena 707.963.5853www.benesserevineyards.comHrs: 10-5TF: $$Wines: Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Syrah, Zin, Pinot Noir, Muscat di Canelli, Blends. Notes: A romantic jewel, small, family owned winery with a love of all thinks Italian. The name means 'Well Being'. Some tables outside under the rose arbor. You pass Sangiovese vines by the front door.
Bennett Lane Winery: 3340 Highway 128Calistoga 707.942.6684www.bennettlane.comHrs: 10-5:30 TF: $$Wines: Chard, Cab Sauv, Blends. Notes: They are at the far northern part of the NapaValley and so they have worked even harder to make their tasting experience attractive, with considerable success. Besides good wines they also have picnic tables, tours, race cars and a great staff. Benziger Family Winery: 1883 London Ranch Rd.Glen Ellen 707.935.4500www.benziger.comHrs: 10-5TF: $$ - Tram Tour $$ Wines: Zin, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Barbera, Malbec, Cab Franc, Petite Blanc, Sangiovese, Pinot Blanc, Chard, Viognier, Fumé Blanc, Syrah, White Burgundy, Claret, Muscat Canelli. Notes: This is one of the great wineries of Sonoma, Biodynamic/Organic, Caves, Gardens, Gifts, Picnic tables, and the best tours in Sonoma. A tractor pulls trams into the Biodynamic Vineyards for a great lecture, followed by the caves and the winery. Tours are on the half hour, except 12:30, until 3. The Benziger family are great champions of healthy agriculture.
Beringer Vineyards: 2000 Main St.St. Helena 707.967.4412www.beringer.comHrs: 10-5ToursTF: $$ - $$$Wines: Chard, Dessert Wines, Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cab Sauv, Riesling, Viognier, White Zin, White Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Shiraz. Notes: They have been continuously in operation since 1876, right through Prohibition by making sacramental wines for the churches. They are a destination winery currently owned by Fosters of Australia. Beringer offers an amazing variety of tours all through the day. The reserve tasting in the mansion offers their very bes wines. Great Architecture, Caves, Gardens,and Gifts.
Big Horn at the Silverado Trail Wine Studio: 3105 Silverado TrailNapa 707.226.8569www.bighorncellars.comHrs: 11-4Fr-Sun or appt TF:$$ Wines: Cab Suav, Merlot, Pinot, Syrah. Notes: The Studio is a crush facility used by an array of winemakers, a common practice in this area where sharing equipment is more reasonable than the considerable expense of setting up you own facility. Big Horn is the principal winery there.
Black Stallion Winery: 4089 Silverado TrailNapa 707.253.1400www.blackstallionwinery.comHrs: 10-5TF:$$-$$$$ Wines: Pinot Grigio, Sauv Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Rose of Merlot, Merlot, Syrah, Cab Sauv. Notes: This is a newer winery opened in a completely transformed stone building that was once an equestrian center. Very conveniently located on the southern edge of the Silverado Trail just minutes north of town. Beautiful tasting room and good wines.
Blackstone Winery: 8450 Sonoma Hwy.Kenwood(SonomaValley) 707.833.1999www.blackstonewinery.comHrs: 10:30 - 4:30TF: $Wines: Merlot, Cab Sauv, Syrah, Zin, Sauv Blanc, Chard, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Viognier. Notes: A well-known name with a surprisingly intimate and relaxed tasting room.
Bonneau Wines, at the Carneros Deli: 23001 Arnold Drive, Sonoma (Carneros) 800.996.0420www.bonneauwine.comWines: Cab Sauv, Zin, Chard, Malbec.10-5TF: $ Notes: The Bonneau family came from Bordeaux, France in the 1920's and have farmed this land since then. Since the early 1990's they have been selling grapes to other wineries. In 2002 they introduced their own wines and they also source grapes from some of the areas best vineyards. It helps to know the right people. Their deli also makes a great sandwich.
Bouchaine Vineyards: 1075 Buchli Station Rd.Napa(Carneros) 707.252.9065www.bouchaine.comHrs: 10:30 - 4TF: $- $$ Wines: Chard, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Pinot Meunier, Gewürztraminer. Notes: The outdoor seating area is a great place to bring a picnic and, if you are filling your wine seller, this is a great value. A wonderfully friendly staff and great breezes on a hot day. Gardens, picnic in the rolling hills of Carneros.
Bremer Family Winery: 975 Deer Park Rd.St. Helena 707.963.5411www.bremerfamilywinery.comHrs: 10-5 by appointment(max party of 6 in Winter)TF: $Wines: Cab Sauv, Merlot, Zin, Cab Franc, Claret, Petite Sirah, Port, WhitePort, Blends. Notes: Tastings are outdoors as their tasting room is quite small. The staff very knowledgeable and the location is great. Very good wines.
Broman Cellars: 945 Deer Park RoadSt. Helena 800-514-4401Hrs: by appointmentwww.bromancellars.comWines: Cab Sauv, Sauv Blanc, Syrah. Buehler Vineyards: 820 Greenfield Road., St. Helena(ConnValley) 707.963.2155www.buehlervineyards.comHrs: M-F 10-4 by appointment.Wines: Cab Sauv, Chard, Zin, White Zin. Buena Vista Winery: 18000 Old Winery Rd.Sonoma(Carneros) 707.265.1472www.buenavistawinery.comHrs: 10-5TF: $-$$$Wines: Sauv Blanc, Chard, Merlot, Cab Sauv, Zin, Pinot Noir. Notes: Historic winery in the old town of Sonoma. See the huge, old style barrels and enjoy a picnic among the Eucalyptus trees. After many years of detached, impersonal corporate ownership, it have come into the care of a native Sonoma business who is dedicated to the idea that this winery be given the respect that it deserves. This is where modern winemaking began in California. Gifts, picnics, tours and history.
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For convention & conference meeting planners we provide Top Achiever Award Trips, plus Speakers, Seminars and Team Building Programs. For more information designed for the busy meeting planner visit www.AmicisSeminars.com .
Call 707-235-2648 for Tours, Books & Seminars Copyright Ralph & Lahni de Amicis 2011 All tasting fees, hours, wine lists, etc are subject to change.
