WineCountry Staff: December 2008 Archives

by WineCountry.com Staff Member Kasha Buckley

For me, Christmas always brings to mind thoughts of laughter, beautiful lights, decorations, holiday treats, anticipation of presents. Of course, it is also during this holiday season that we spend the most time with special friends and endearing family members while enjoying our favorite bottle of wine.

One of my earliest Christmas memories goes back to the early 80s watching my family share in the festivities with wine glass in hand.  At the time, I was far too young to partake, but it made me joyful all the same for the simple fact that it was oh so fun refilling my mother's and grandparent's wine glasses. It meant playing with the spigot because yes, ladies and gentlemen, our wine came in a box.

I have not personally tasted wine from the box, so cannot in good conscience vouch one way or the other for the quality of that wine. However, whenever I've mentioned this beloved family tradition, folks tend to break out with a few snorts and snickers.  And if you seem to think that boxed wine is a wine faux pas, let me tell you about a few of mine. Does anyone remember wine coolers in the two liter bottle? I do, and my excuse - I was young.  Gradually I did move on to Bartles & James in the actual glass bottles and even dabbled with the peach flavored "wines" which were at least in real wine bottles.

(2012 Update!) See the list of Napa Valley & Sonoma wineries that will be open for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

*Napa Valley & Sonoma Restaurants Open for the holidays - Click Here
*Events Calendar Guide - Click Here


CHRISTMAS EVE

Napa Valley

• Chateau Montelena Winery ~ 707.942.5105
• Hours: 9:30am - 12:00pm

• Back Room Wines ~ 707.226.1378   
• Hours: 02:00pm - 5:00pm

• V. Sattui Winery ~ 707.963.7774   
• Hours: 9:00am - 3:30pm

Sonoma

• Gloria Ferrer ~ 707.933.1917
• Hours: 10:00am - 3:00pm   

• Imagery Estate Winery ~ 707.935.4515   
• Hours: 10:00am - 3:00pm

• Thumbprint Cellars ~ 707.433.2393
• Hours: 11:00am - 4:00pm

• White Oak Vineyards & Winery ~ 707.733.8429   
• Hours: 10:00am - 1:00pm

Ring in the New Year at Chandon! 

Join Chandon for a Roaring 20s party on New Year's Eve. Enjoy a decadent six-course tasting menu paired with Chandon wines. Then, dance the night away to live music with  Soul Project. It will be a party to remember for ages. Don't delay, tickets are selling fast. Buy Online toay!

More Details:

• December 31, 2008
• Dinner & Party Tickets: $225 (plus tax & gratuity)
• Party Tickets Only: $75
• Formal Portraits Included
• 1920s Cocktail Attire (Black Tie Optional)

Call 888.242.6366 for more information and to make your reservation or visit Chandon.com for party tickets only!

CLICK HERE for more Details.

NAPAVALLEY, CA - Brrr....it's definitely cold in Northern California!

Yesterday saw snow at Cade Winery on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. Snow adorned the vineyard as well as the branches of the Manzanita trees from which CADE bases its logo. The eco-winery, opening in March 2009, will be the first LEED-certified, solar powered and organically farmed winery in the area and will likely be the only Gold-LEED-certified winery in California.

More information, visit www.cadewinery.com
Located at 360 Howell Mountain Road, South Angwine, CA 94508

Golden State Sparklers Give Us Lots to Toast.

by Courtney Cochran

With all the fuss made over Champagne it's easy to overlook California's many outstanding sparkling wines.  That's right - our very own Golden State boasts numerous cool coastal microclimates ideally suited to bubbly production, enabling a handful of producers to make world-class sparklers that rival their French counterparts, right here in our own backyard. 

Read on for the 411 on some of the state's top bubbly producers, so you can enjoy the spoils of fabulous sparklers, without booking a trans-Atlantic flight..