Handsome and I took a few days after my blogging conference to travel up to Napa Valley and go visit a few wineries. For the next few weeks I will be highlighting a winery every wednesday.
Winery Wednesday.
So here is the first winery…
Our first stop in Napa Valley, Chateau Montelena Winery, a stone castle overlooking a Chinese garden located at the base of Mount Saint Helena.
We pulled into the parking lot that had a view of Jade Lake, such incredible grounds. It doesn’t get more picturesque than this.
This is a perfect spot for a picnic.
On the way up to the wine tasting room we passed the Chateau Montelena Barrels which were located in front of the castle.
I would love to turn one of those barrels right side up, add a glass top and make a adorable wine tasting table for my backyard.
I could not wait to get starting tasting Chateau Montelena wines. After all, this was the winery that put Napa Valley on the map! Oh, they were good, I knew we were in trouble from that first sip, we would be going home with many bottles of wine from here!
After our tasting, we took a tour of the facility. I love the stone walls through out this castle.
It sure makes a average bottle seem small when it is compared to the Imperial size!
I loved seeing this bottle of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1973 in person! The 1976 grand tasting was held at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Paris, France. 4 white burgundies where tasted against six California Chardonnays. This bottle of Chateau Montelena rated above all other wines.
Have you ever seen the movie Bottle Shock? If you haven’t, you should.
It is a film {comedy-drama} from 2008 based on the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” blind taste test wine competition held in Paris, France. And you guessed it…Chateau Montelena Winery won that competition with their 1973 Chardonnay. You need to see the movie to see what happens in between. The 1976 win forever changed the way California wineries are thought of, especially those in Napa Valley. The win also changed the global wine industry.
There is a bottle of Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay 1973 on display at the Smithsonian Institution.
The movie was filmed at Chateau Montelena and other wineries around California’s Napa Valley/Sonoma wine country.
1429 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga, CA 94515
707 942-5105
Lois Alter Mark
I love the idea of Winery Wednesday! The photos are absolutely gorgeous!
Its All About The Yummy
Lois, Thank you.
Carol Cassara
Your photos really capture the mood of the wine country, one of my favorite of our Bay area places.
Its All About The Yummy
Thank you, Carol.
kim tackett
Wow, I live so close, and have never been there. On my list for sure, thanks for the recommendation! Can’t wait to see where you go next.
Its All About The Yummy
Kim, you must visit, the grounds alone are magnificent.
Lisa @ Grandma's Briefs
This is a fabulous post, with SO much inside! The winery tour looks incredible (I’ve never toured a winery… though my neighbor across the street is creating a winery and his grapevines are incredible!). I love your idea for the barrel patio table, and I’m now off to add “Bottleshock” to my Netflix queue. Cheers!
Its All About The Yummy
Lisa, Let me know what you think of “Bottleshock”. How convenient your neighbor is creating a winery, I would love to have neighbors like that!
Doreen McGettigan
What a beautiful place. I seriously need to revisit California!
I love your idea for the patio table. It would be adorable.
Its All About The Yummy
Thanks, Doreen
WendysHat
What a beautiful place! I don’t drink wine but have long wanted to visit Napa Valley. Thanks!
Its All About The Yummy
Wendy, Napa Valley is a charming place with beautiful scenery. You will love it. The wine is just a bonus.
Tammy
It is ALL so stunning! The pictures are beautiful and the wine, oh, the wine! I can taste it from here. So happy you shared!
Its All About The Yummy
Tammy, Thank you.
Cathy Chester
Ah, Napa. I love it there – been twice. Now I want to go back. I love this photo tour you gave us. I never saw this movie. Now I’ll look for it!
Its All About The Yummy
Cathy, I think you will really enjoy the movie. Let me know, once you watch it.
Christine
Beautiful pictures! We will have to stop there the next time we are in Calistoga! Thanks for sharing!
Its All About The Yummy
Christine, it is such a picturesque place, you are going to love it! And the wine…
Lana
Beautiful pictures! We love Napa and spent part of our honeymoon there. Looking forward to seeing more wineries!
Its All About The Yummy
Lana, what a beautifully romantic place to honeymoon. More wineries and pictures to come every Wednesday. Thank you.