Total Trail Miles: 30.3
The Reserve Tours are focused on blending wineries within each category to create a 'best of ' wine trail. Reserve Blend #1 is focused on exploring multiple AVA's (American Vineyard Areas) within a day trip. The wineries include Viader (Napa Valley AVA), Hall (Rutherford AVA), Keever (Yountville AVA) and Robert Biale (Oak Knoll AVA).
Start the day at a winery growing Bordeaux varietals in a unique micro climate at the foot of Howell Mountain. We can't think of a better winery to represent the Wine Country Navigator model (aesthetics + taste + discovery). Viader produces exceptional wine on a picture perfect estate in the Napa Valley AVA.
Work your way back down Deer Park Road and head south on Silverado Trail until you reach Rutherford Hill Road on your left. Hall Rutherford sits on top of the hill at the end of Auberge Road and is the home of vintners Craig and Kathryn Hall. This is one of their two Hall Napa estates focused on producing small lots of vineyard specific wine. Their informative taste + tour experience is well worth the time and rivaled by few. Views, sculpture, technology, caves and delicious hand crafted wine served under and around spectacular art inside the Rutherford AVA.
Make your way back down on the floor and cross over to Highway 29 via Conn Creek/Rutherford Road. Make a left and head south until your reach the Yountville exit at the Veterans home. Continue south on Solano about a half-mile to the Keever Vineyards gate on the right. Keever is a small family winery that sits off the floor at the eastern edge of the Yountville AVA. They produce wine from 5 acres under vine including Cabernet Sauvignon, a Bordeaux Blend, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. Celia Welch makes Keever's wine in an elegant style that we find memorable. Enjoy unique views of the Vaca Range from a large entry terrace just off the tasting room.
Final stop, Robert Biale. Take Solano Avenue South and cross Highway 29 at Oak Knoll Avenue until you reach Big Ranch Road. Biale is on the left hand side about a mile south. This winery produces some of best Zinfandel's in California and pours to taste under a porch next to the vines in the middle of the Oak Knoll AVA. Lengthy vistas of the northeast enhance a relaxed experience and ideally suited for the last stop on this trail. Biale's wines are powerful, complex and finish long.
Dine at Coles Chop House in Napa. (707) 224-6328
Winery Option: Caymus | Rutherford AVA
The deck at Viader | Napa Valley AVA
Pretty close ;-)