Angel's share

The Great 72 Hour Wine Escape - ESCAPE TO NAPA

Day 2

Frog’s Leap Winery

Nestled among 130 acres of vineyardson the valley floor is Frog’s Leap Winery in Rutherford. The historic “RED BARN” is one of the first things you’ll notice --a grand welcoming building constructed in the late 1800s. Using only organically grown grapes and the most traditional winemaking techniques, Frog's Leap produces wines that deeply reflect the soils and climate from which they emanate.

Prior to the tasting we’ll tour the grounds and winery and discover how “biodynamic” farming is transforming the wine industry in California. Frog’s Leap is not only known for their wonderful wines, the gardens and grounds—all organically farmed—are a showcase of colorful flowers, fruits and vegetables for you to wander though. Relax by the “frog pond” and enjoy a refreshing glass of wine, select a couple of peaches from the trees and listen to the soothing sounds of the waterfall as the dragonflys buzz by. A refreshing and wonderful way to start your day.

Venturing down highway 29, Napa Valley’s main corridor,

you’ll delight as we sail past the vineyards and wineries dotting the landscape, both large and small. On our way up the moutain to Hess Collection Winery

drink in the extraordinary views of the Napa Valley from select vantage points.

The HESS Collection

Many wineries have artwork on display, but locals know the very best collection is held in the massive gallery (three floors) at the Hess Collection Winery.

The historic ivy-covered stone building is itself a work of art. Beginning in the downstairs reception area an elevator whisks you up to the third floor where you can view the acutal winemaking operations in progress and view a presentation highlighting the vineyards in the four seasons in the theater. Upon entering the art gallery you have access to a vivid, powerful and thought provoking display of modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures by European, Asian and American artists. The personal collection of the winery owners, the art varies from 38 foot tall paintings displayed in massive great rooms, to the whimsical and amazing “burning typewriter” permanently ablaze.

After viewing the art (there’s no time limit) we descend downstairs to the extraordinary wood beamed tasting room to sample some of northern California’s finest white and red wines.

Lunch stop at Mustard’s, one of the Valley’s best loved restaurants featuring outstanding lunch fare and the home of garlic mashed potatoes.

Artessa Winery

Continuing down through the Napa Valley and into the “Carneros” appellation we come upon one of the most architecturally stunning wineries in North America, Artessa. Deriving its name from the Catalan word meaning “craftsman” the winery produces well over a dozen award-winning wines, plus a stunning 180 degree view of the Carneros all the way to San Francisco from the terrace deck.

The main winery building, described as a prism set into a mountain,

has extraordinary sloping walls covered with native California grasses and wing shaped windows. This avante garde showplace, built by the Cordinu family of Barcelona, was originally devoted to making method champenoise sparkling wine but wine reviewers and cellar devotees know it for producing collector quality white and red wines of outstanding value.

Del Dotto Wine Caves

Dipping down from the rolling hills of the Carneos over to the gravelly benchlands on the “Silverado Trail” we arrive at Del Dotto Winery. The true wine lover may say we’ve saved the best for last. Located at the southern tip of the Silverado Trail, you enter a premesis unlike anything you’ve ever seen, a world resplendid in Italiante wonder. Originally built to house a distillery in 1884, the structure has been extensively remodeled with exceptionally fine Italian and European details.

Passing through the immense set of wrought iron gates, one immediately experiences a dramatic temperature drop and increased humidity in the barrelroom and cellars. As we’re guided into one of the six

spectacular and extensive caves hand dug by Chinese workers in the late 1800’s (as evidenced by the original shovel and pick axe marks on the walls), you begin to understand how this represents fine winemaking at the highest level. Consistently rated at high levels by both Robert Parker and the Wine Spectator, Del Dotto wines have a richness, depth and complexity which are the hallmark of fine winemaking.

The highlight of the cave tour is the extensive wine tasting session.

The whole idea is to showcase how the wooden barrels impact the wine.

The same wine is selected from three different types of barrels—American oak, French oak and Eastern European oak –and you will swear you’re drinking entirely different wines. The session repeats tasting on cabernet, merlot, cabernet franc and other delicious wines. Then the entire lineup of botttled

Del Dotto wines are tasted in a resplendid private tasting room. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.