My favorite way to start a day wine tasting in Napa is either with brunch at the Boonfly Café (located at the charming Carneros Inn, and only if you’re coming from San Francisco) and order the BLTE with an over-easy egg. Simply, to DIE for! Or opt for a coffee, pastry and/or other quick provision from the Oxbow Public Market. For today’s purpose the latter was a better choice since we were visiting three wineries in close proximity to said Market. And considering we were tasting on a Sunday we chose to stick around the Silverado Trail that runs parallel and just east off Hwy 29.
A Pro-tip side note: visit the busier wineries on weekdays (Thur/Fri) and the wineries that are a little harder to access on the weekends. This formula ensures you won’t get caught up with craziness that comes with heavy traffic. That said, if it’s more of a crowd you’re looking for go and and reverse the formula. And the winter season is a great time to steer clear of crowds altogether – not to mention everything is green, lush, and 75% of the time you’ll find a cozy fireplace. My all-time favorite way to do wine country.
Now the winery. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars has definitely made its mark on the world, having won the blind-tasting portion of the Cabernet Category at the Judgement of Paris in 1976. This was an event that forever changed California and the potential of its wine industry as a whole. One man to thank is TIME reporter George Taber for sharing this new found warrior with the world and if he wasn’t there to share what he witnessed, most wine connoisseurs may have never known the importance of that event.
As one might imagine, most wineries in the area clearly have stunning views, Stag’s Leap is no different with an intoxicating environment from arrival to departure. Don’t leave here without a taste of my personal favorite, FAY Vineyard Cab and/or a large format offering that you won’t find in any retailer. This is one place I can come back to time and time again!
For a more in-depth experience of the grounds check out my tour and tasting below.
See you on the soil,
LIPSTICK ON MY GLASS 
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