Sometimes I feel like the luckiest girl in the world – especially as I prepare for a weekend getaway to gorgeous Napa Valley. The rolling vineyard hills, the relaxed, leisurely atmosphere and, of course, the exquisite wine—who wouldn’t want to spend three days in vintner’s paradise?

When I checked into the exclusive Meadowood Napa Valley, I felt my luxurious getaway had officially begun. Located on a private 250-acre estate, this resort is renowned for its nature-oriented surroundings, stunning architecture, comfortable accommodations and upscale amenities. While my main focus for this trip was wine tasting, I was delighted with the range of other activities offered at Meadowood: croquet, tennis, golf, swimming, hiking, fitness classes and more. There are even golf and tennis pros onsite.

After checking in and getting settled, it was time for my first wine-oriented excursion of the trip: a sunset hayride, vineyard tour, tasting and excellent dinner at Gamble Family Vineyards.
Gamble Family Vineyards
During my trip to Gamble, I was lucky enough to taste wine and dine with Tom Gamble and winemaker Jim Close. Tom, a third-generation farmer, founded the winery in 2005, using 175 acres of prime Napa Valley vineyard land.

“I am the first member of my family to make wine, but I hope I am not the last to work the land. Gamble Family Vineyards is my legacy for future generations, inspired by the hard work of generations past,” said Tom Gamble. All of Gamble’s wines are produced in small quantities, with the careful attention to farming that has been passed down from generation to generation. Gamble Family Vineyards focuses on the production of single vineyard, appellation-driven Bordeaux varietal wines from estate vineyards throughout Napa.

The tasting room is open by referral, and visitors are often welcomed by Tom or Winemaker Jim Close, who has made every bottle of Gamble Family Vineyards wine since the winery was founded in 2005. Tasting experiences typically last about 90 minutes and range from $75 to $150 per person—waived with a six bottle purchase and/or membership sign up.

After a long and lovely wine tasting and dinner, I returned to Meadowood for a refreshing night’s rest. The next day would be full of Napa Valley moments I won’t soon forget. 
Poetry Inn, FEL Winery and Cliff Lede Vineyards
After waking up and enjoying a delicious breakfast at Meadowood, it was time to head off to Poetry Inn, FEL winery and Cliff Lede Vineyards for a tour, tasting and lunch.

Our visit started with a tour of Poetry Inn, Cliff Lede’s wonderfully secluded boutique hotel above Cliff Lede Winery and the estate Poetry Vineyard. With five guest rooms and an estate that can only be accessed by registered guests, the Inn gives privacy to wine tasters and guests eager to get away from it all, and offers personalized concierge services. The aesthetics were elegant. The room views were some of the most stunning I’ve seen. 


“Cliff Lede’s Poetry Inn is a hidden gem perched high above the valley floor and overlooking the Poetry Vineyard, and is the only hotel property in the Stags Leap District. All rooms are appointed with a king-sized bed, a wood-burning fireplace and luxury Italian linens. Rooms feature hand-hewn wood floors, original artwork and private balconies,” said GM Remi Cohen.

After a tour, it was time for lunch at Cliff Lede—and, of course, some wine tasting that included their Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Established in 2002, Cliff Lede Vineyards comprises 60 picturesque acres in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, and an additional 20 acres in Calistoga. As a writer, I’ve been invited to many vintner lunches at Cliff Lede – each visit, relaxing and delicious.

Cliff Lede’s state-of-the-art winery, designed by Howard Backen, combines time-tested techniques with innovative technology. It features a Pellenc optical sorting machine, which sorts grapes based upon quality settings established by the winemaker.

One of their most popular tasting experiences at Cliff Lede is their Veranda Table Tasting. Here you can reserve a table on their beautiful, outdoor Veranda and enjoy tableside service and views of the Stags Leap District palisades while tasting their current release wines from both Cliff Lede Vineyards and FEL Wines. (their second label focused on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris from the Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley) Veranda Table Tastings are $50 per person and prior reservation is required. 

In between lunch and our later evening plans, we returned to Meadowood Napa Valley for a quick breather. The peaceful surroundings made it the ideal venue for an afternoon recharge.
Inman Family Wines
After we refreshed, it was time for a “Meet the Maker” tasting with Kathleen Inman, the winemaker, general manager and owner of Inman Family Wines. We met at the newly opened Feast It Forward Studios, a hip cooperative tasting room in downtown Napa.

Hailing from the Russian River Valley, Inman specializes in small-lot Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. Kathleen is a multi-hyphenate, doing everything from growing the grapes and driving a forklift to handling sales and accounting for her passion project. 

Kathleen’s aim is to promote organic and sustainable farming in the Russian River Valley, and to produce wine that showcases the natural beauty of the land her grapes are grown on. 

“For the best Inman Family Wines tasting experience, people should seek out Inman wines at the source, at the eco-conscious winery and beautiful vineyard in the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. The tasting room at the winery is open Thursday through Monday by appointment.” However, if you’re not going to be in Sonoma County, The Studio by Feast it Forward is the perfect spot to sip two of Inman Family wines’ offerings – the 2016 OGV Estate Brut Rosé sparkling wine and the 2013 OGV Estate Pinot Noir. Feast, located next to Napa’s Oxbow Market is a fun place to grab a glass (or a bottle) of wine, listen to some music and meet up with friends to hang out.
Mi Sueño Winery
After a nice visit with Kathleen Inman, it was time for dinner. On the evening’s docket – a mouthwatering meal at Mi Sueño Winery (Spanish for ‘My Dream’) with friendly owners Rolando and Lorena Herrera.

Originally from Mexico, Rolando found success in the wine industry through a strong work ethic and a welcoming group of mentors. Lorena has family ties to Napa and Sonoma Counties and the wine business, making the pair the ideal winery owners. They started Mi Sueño in 1997—the same year they wed.

“The Spanish phrase, si se puede—yes, you can—signifies one’s ability to accomplish anything with passion, persistence and determination. We live this motto,” said Rolando Herrera.

The owners refer to Mi Sueño as a “working winery,” meaning there’s more rustic charm than fancy décor. This rustic quality is furthered by its location in the warehouse district of Southern Napa. We dined by candlelight surrounded by wine barrels. Our plates and glasses always full. It was a night to remember as Rolando and Lorena welcomed me like family.

Mi Sueño focuses on Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir from various vineyards throughout Napa and Sonoma counties. The winery is open to the public, and visitors often run into Rolando himself, who still comes to work each day. If you bump into him, be sure to ask about the “El Llano,” a dry red blend that translates to “the plain.”

The Herrera Tasting is $50 per person and guides guests through tastings of five current releases from the winery’s acclaimed Herrera portfolio

After an evening of wine, food and great conversation, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit my perfectly plump pillow at Meadowood Napa Valley.
Cain Vineyard and Winery
We got up early the next morning, (9am wine tasting anyone?) and hit Cain Vineyard and Winery. A visit to Cain begins with a trek up the long winding drive up Spring Mountain Road, so it is important to schedule an appointment in advance. Cain doesn’t have a tasting room, and doesn’t offer the typical tourism experiences found at other Napa Valley wineries, but wine lovers who visit Cain are rewarded with an intimate tasting experience which goes deeper. “The best way to experience Cain is to schedule a walk through Cain’s steep bowl-shaped vineyard for an inside look of where wine comes from. In the winery, we offer tastes of our current release wines, along with tastes of our older vintages,” said winemaker Chris Howell.

With a varied elevation between 1,400 and 2,100 feet, Cain Vineyard and Winery has breathtaking views of the Napa Valley from the crest of the Spring Mountain District. Chris has been making wine there since 1990, and owners Jim and Nancy Meadlock encouraged him to have a “vine to glass” approach to crafting their five main wine varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  

“After a visit at Cain, we hope guests remember the fragrant air of the mountain forest; walking across the meager soils of a steep, exposed hillside, embraced by vines; the shocking vista across the gorge to La Piedra, the dramatic rock outcropping that focuses the energy of the place. When you taste the wine, a single realization could be your epiphany:  a wine can taste of where it grew,” said Howell.
Ramey Wine Cellars 
We arrived midday at Ramey Wine Cellars’ Westside Farm Estate Vineyard for a tasting, tour and lunch among the oak trees. Located amidst the natural charm of Healdsburg, Ramey Wine Cellars offers small, intimate, seated tastings that are led by a family member or team member – giving each visit a very personal touch. 

“Since Ramey Wine Cellars was founded in 1996, we have been producing critically acclaimed, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. We specialize in producing hand-crafted wines, made in an Old-World tradition, coupled with New World innovation and California terroir,” said second generation Claire Ramey. 

Owner David Ramey spent two seasons working in France, combined with many visits, to bring old world techniques to California. “Our winery is located in Sonoma County, the space between Napa Valley and the Pacific Ocean. It’s every bit as beautiful as Tuscany or Provence. The genesis of our own brand started with just 260 cases of Chardonnay,” said David Ramey. 
 
David Ramey prides himself on his natural grape growing practices – using native yeast, native bacteria and they don’t own a filter. “With minimal intervention, our wines do express their sense of place, they just do because of where they’re growing,” said second generation Alan Ramey.  

Ramey’s tasting room in downtown Healdsburg is open by appointment Monday through Saturday at 10:00am or 2:00pm. 

Stony Hill Vineyard
Final stop, Stony Hill Vineyard, located on a mountain surrounded on all sides by forest. When visiting Stony Hill, visitors sometimes feel like they are stepping into another world. Tastings are intimate and take place on their back terrace, seated around a table, and overlooking the valley floor below. Recently Long Meadow Ranch Wine Estates acquired Stony Hill Vineyard bringing together two well-known Napa Valley multi-generational winemaking families – Peter, Willinda and Sarah McCrea of Stony Hill Vineyard, along with Ted, Laddie and Chris Hall of Long Meadow Ranch.

“Stony Hill Vineyard is a natural extension for Long Meadow Ranch, given our commitment to responsibly farmed vineyards that produce elegant, balanced wines that are genuine complements to food,” said Chris Hall, COO of Long Meadow Ranch. “We plan to continue to produce age-worthy Chardonnay, White Riesling, and Gewurztraminer from Stony Hill Vineyard, as well as expand upon the Cabernet Sauvignon program initiated by the McCrea family in 2009.” Hall says the Stony Hill Vineyard winemaking style will not change. The wines will continue to be made in a low-alcohol, acid-driven style, ensuring their long-term age-ability.

“We value the McCrea family’s mission to make wines, which reflect the vineyard above all else. Stony Hill’s Chardonnay, White Riesling, and Gewurztraminer will continue to be aged in neutral oak barrels, with no influence of malolactic fermentation”, said Hall.

Stony Hill Vineyard is open by appointment only. 

Til Next Time
It’s always difficult to leave Napa Valley, and this trip was no exception, given that I had the opportunity to taste wines from many eight incredible wineries: Gamble Family Vineyards, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Inman Family Wines, Mi Sueño Winery, Cain Vineyard and Winery, Ramey Wine Cellars, FEL and Stony Hill Vineyards. 

As I checked out of Meadowood the last morning, I made a promise to myself that I would visit all these wineries again—but also that I would always look forward to exploring new places in Napa Valley. This area only grows richer as time passes.