Aug. 6 Wine Tour: Who's in?

[ChopsJazz]

Please see latest update, post #25, 7/23/05 New max number of 17!

I am in the process of putting together a Napa tour of three or four wineries and lunch.

Update: Price? Possibly $30-$40 per person without lunch
Update: What wineries? Possibly Rombauer, Kunde, Darioush, and V. Sattui
New Update: Interested people? It looks like a maximum of 17 people (first 17![B/]).

Update:
1. Ken Crowell and guest
2. Juejaimon and guest
3. amgnsx and wife(or guest)
4. Coleman and gf
5. phongnsx
6. Beerdog
7. RAVN NSX
8. NSXER119
9. Aterpak ?
10. NorCalwhite ?

 

[juejaimon]

Fester,

count me in for 2.

 

[juejaimon]

1. Ken Crowell and guest
2. Juejaimon and guest

 

[phongnsx]

count me in for two

 

[ATERPAK]

Love to make it but it conflicts with another activity I've already been booked for. Glad to see you putting this together however and wish you great success.

 

[NorCalwhite]

I would like to know more and thanks for the effort to put this together

 

[Beerdog]

Count me In....also add Wife..

 

[amgnsx]

1. Ken Crowell and guest
2. Juejaimon and guest
3. amgnsx and wife(or guest)

 

[RAVN NSX]

u know u got me in!

 

[NSXER119]

Count me in please....and my gf
looking forward to see everyone

1. Ken Crowell and guest
2. Juejaimon and guest
3. amgnsx and wife(or guest)
4. Coleman and gf (NSXER119)
5. phongnsx
6. Beerdog
7. RAVN NSX

 

[ChopsJazz]

Please see update in post #1 for price, locations and maximum number of participants.

 

[D'Ecosse]

V Sattui will be packed - always is - consider striking this with a 30 car pool (let alone potential doubles making for maybe 40-45 people)
What is the $$ for if no lunch? Wine-tasting? Can't see many signing up for wine-tasting at 4 wineries while driving - not sure I want to be part of group where people are imbibing at 3-4 wineries on the trot!
But the drive & winery tours are obviously interesting since I initially suggested it .....

Other non-winery things to consider -
Petrified Forest - this is a minimal fee, $6 - 15% off with coupon from website - or a group is available by request
http://www.petrifiedforest.org/admission.html

Jack London Park, Glen Ellen
http://www.parks.sonoma.net/JLPark.html
House of Happy Walls Museum & Wolf House.

 

[ChopsJazz]

V Sattui will be packed - always is - consider striking this with a 30 car pool (let alone potential doubles making for maybe 40-45 people)
What is the $$ for if no lunch? Wine-tasting? Can't see many signing up for wine-tasting at 4 wineries while driving - not sure I want to be part of group where people are imbibing at 3-4 wineries on the trot!
But the drive & winery tours are obviously interesting since I initially suggested it .....

Other non-winery things to consider -
Petrified Forest - this is a minimal fee, $6 - 15% off with coupon from website - or a group is available by request
http://www.petrifiedforest.org/admission.html

Jack London Park, Glen Ellen
http://www.parks.sonoma.net/JLPark.html
House of Happy Walls Museum & Wolf House.

Ken, I am currently lining up the possible wine cellar/cave tours with regard to route and a drive or non-winery event afterward. I'm just waiting to see how the wineries shake down first before I plan anything else (possibly a no-host dinner in Yountville as a wrap-up).

As for imbibing on the road... Well, many here on Prime will attest to the fact that I'm a spitter! :biggrin:

 

[D'Ecosse]

The emphasis seems to have completely changed from my original suggestion to be DRIVING tour of the Napa/Sonoma Valleys, to being a winery tour.
I had suggested a meet, drive, perhaps stop at ONE location for lunch, but the focus from your running with this Ken (respectfully) has changed to being more on the wine end of things.
Now, don't get me wrong - I enjoy wine-tasting & vineyard tours as much as anyone - just wasn't my suggestion for a club meet.

 

[NSXER119]

I thought this is only a drive to Napa like last time. If this event will emphasize on wine tasting, I probably will not make it because I can't even drive with one glass of wine
Ask Ariel (AMGNSX) or Steve (juejaimon). They knows me. :biggrin: I was drunk after drinking one glass of cocktail that specially made by Ariel in his birthday party. :tongue:
Coleman

 

[randomharmony]

i think the emphasis is DRIVING, DRIVING FAST and stop @ winneries for photo. not sure about wine tasting and driving. the last napa trip was fun, but not long enough. that's why i like to see we can pre-map all the routes.

 

[Hrant]

If I may add a suggestion or two from our prior experience with such matters.

Spirited driving especially during the hours that this event may happen is not feasible, not advisable, and not around anywhere in greater Napa/Sonoma counties on a weekend. That is best done as a dawn patrol in some back roads which often starts at 6:00 am the latest.

On the other hand, as Ken noted, imbibing in wine and driving can cause problems, and some are not into "tasting" but I am sure they will enjoy the social company.

Perhaps the best compromise scenario would be to have one or two wine tasting before lunch in the vicinity of the restaurant/winery of choice. A more out of the way restaurant, perhaps in a scenic setting would be great. The drive to the first stop could be whatever you all opt it to be. Ideally, you don't want to have lunch after 1:00 pm., and you don't want to press with several wine tasting stops before on an empty stomach either. Last time we did this, we were half tipsy, and starving by the time we had lunch at 4:00 PM! After lunch, which in a nice setting can take 1.5 to 2 hours with socializing, people can opt in and out of further activity given their alcohol content, need for scenic drive, how far back they have to drive, etc. HTH. YMMV.

 

[ChopsJazz]

The emphasis seems to have completely changed from my original suggestion to be DRIVING tour of the Napa/Sonoma Valleys, to being a winery tour.
I had suggested a meet, drive, perhaps stop at ONE location for lunch, but the focus from your running with this Ken (respectfully) has changed to being more on the wine end of things.
Now, don't get me wrong - I enjoy wine-tasting & vineyard tours as much as anyone - just wasn't my suggestion for a club meet.

Sorry Ken. In fact, I'd be happy to opt ot of the lead seat for organizing this drive, it's quite a hassle to get last-minute tour accommodations. But I was assuming we were thinking about a winery drive, not just a Napa drive. As Hrant says, a Napa drive, especiallty at any decent rate of speed as randomharmony suggested, is unadvisable on the weekend as that area is not only very crowded but highly patrolled as well!

My idea, if it's not stepping on any toes, was to first visit Rombauer at 10:00 AM to tour their facility, taste, buy wine and then get a guided tour at V. Sattui and finish that with a picnic lunch (along the lines of Hrant's suggestion). After that we can find a nice winding route over the mountain to Sonoma, or thereabouts for another taste and dinner.

From reading some replies, this may be too winery oriented and ambitious for some paricipants (it would, after all, require a fee at participating wineries). If that's the consensus I'd be happy to drop it, no hurt feelings.

 

[NSX88]

Update:
1. Ken Crowell and guest
2. Juejaimon and guest
3. amgnsx and wife(or guest)
4. Coleman and gf
5. phongnsx
6. Beerdog
7. RAVN NSX
8. NSXER119
9. Aterpak ?
10. NorCalwhite ?
11.NSX88

 

[Beerdog]

added wife

Update:
1. Ken Crowell and guest
2. Juejaimon and guest
3. amgnsx and wife(or guest)
4. Coleman and gf
5. phongnsx
6. Beerdog and wife
7. RAVN NSX
8. NSXER119
9. Aterpak ?
10. NorCalwhite ?
11.NSX88

 

[amgnsx]

I thought this is only a drive to Napa like last time. If this event will emphasize on wine tasting, I probably will not make it because I can't even drive with one glass of wine
Ask Ariel (AMGNSX) or Steve (juejaimon). They knows me. :biggrin: I was drunk after drinking one glass of cocktail that specially made by Ariel :tongue:
Coleman

I know.. dont u remember the things u said that nite while u were drunk???
Dont worry. Your secret is safe with me!!! LOL

 

[randomharmony]

i was waiting to be #12 on the list. hehehe :biggrin:

1. Ken Crowell and guest
2. Juejaimon and guest
3. amgnsx and wife(or guest)
4. Coleman and gf
5. phongnsx
6. Beerdog and wife
7. RAVN NSX
8. NSXER119
9. Aterpak ?
10.NorCalwhite ?
11.NSX88
12.randomharmony and guest

 

[Ben]

I won't be able to make this event, since I'll be out of town, but a few weeks ago, one of the S2000 guys who works for Atalon and Cardinale (the premium lines of Kendall-Jackson), was able to give us a private tasting and tour of the office, lab, production & storage facilities for us. If that's something the organizers might be interested in, let me know, and I'll ask him to see if he's willing to organize another group tour.

Pics from our event:

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=301298

 

[randomharmony]

sounds interesting, can you find out more info for us? thanks bud!!

I won't be able to make this event, since I'll be out of town, but a few weeks ago, one of the S2000 guys who works for Atalon and Cardinale (the premium lines of Kendall-Jackson), was able to give us a private tasting and tour of the office, lab, production & storage facilities for us. If that's something the organizers might be interested in, let me know, and I'll ask him to see if he's willing to organize another group tour.

Pics from our event:

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=301298

 

[ChopsJazz]

UPDATE: We may have reached our maximum for attendance for the Napa Wine Tour. The wineries that I have confirmed with would like us to limit our numbers to 25 at Rombauer (our first stop) and 17 at Darioush at the end of the day!

I invite everyone to come to Napa for the drive and pinic, but I must limit the tasting numbers to those mentioned above.

These are very nice wineries with fine products and fantastic facilities. Darioush has recently finished new construction and they have agreed to a 3:00 PM tour with tasing and cheeses. Rombauer has agreed to see us at 10:00 AM for a tour of their caves and a tasting. You may be familiar with the Rombauer name as the author of the Joy of Cooking cook book. The husband was and still is an avid pilot.

I am in the process of putting together a drive/picnic/drive to fill in the time in between.

Please PM me to confirm your place on the list. SPACE IS LIMITED!