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The Napa Valley is by far California’s most famous grape growing region. Our focus is on ultra quality small winery’s you would have a hard time finding on your own. See Napa through the eyes of a local that the tourists often miss. We will visit and learn about a minimum of six of Napa Valley’s best winery’s. |
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Tour Cost: $74.95 each for 2 people . |
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Some Napa Valley Winery’s charge a small tasting fee ($5 to $10 per person) which are not included. |
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A optional lunch is available. |
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Departures: 10 am (SF 8:30). |
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Returning: Around 4 to 5 pm |
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Additional Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, , Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Sangiovese History and Developmental Time-line Napa Valley. 1700’s: Populated by thousands of Wappo Indians. The word napa comes from the Wappo dialect and means plenty. 1740’s: Spanish explores move north from Mexico to secure a new territory know as Alta (Upper) California. The name California was used officially in Spanish documents as early as 1542. It is believed to have come from the description of a fabled island called California in the sixteenth century Spanish novel The Exploits of Esplandian. 1823: First mission grapes arrive brought from Mexico by Francisco fathers. 1830’s: First white settles arrive. 1836: General Mariano Vallejo grants 11,814 acres of land - Rancho Caymus to George Calvert Yount. 1838: George C. Yount plants vines taken from Vallejo’s estate in Sonoma.. 1841: Yount produces the first wine made from “mission grapes.” 1861: First commercial winery in Napa opens: Charles Krug. 1876: Beringer Bros. Vineyards is founded, now the oldest continuously operating winery in the USA. 1880: Over 10,00o acres planted in vines with 175 winery’s operating. 1890: Phylloxera (a pest that kills grapevines) outbreak and falling wine prices close many winery’s. 1900’s: It is discovered that American rootstock which is resistant to Phylloxera can be grafted to European vinerafera vines. The wine industry recovers growing to nearly 800 winery’s in California. 1920: Prohibition enacted, only two Alexander Valley winery’s survive making grape concentrate and sacramental wine. 1933: Prohibition ends, a few winery’s reopen. 1960’s: The wine industry starts to recover from Prohibition and World War II. 1964: Eight winery’s are operating. 1976: At a now legendary blind taste testing in Paris French judges are left reeling when two California wines are judged the best red and white in the world. Stag’s Leap’s Cabernet Sauvignon for the red and Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay for the white. 1990’s: Local winery’s are booming with over 300 established.
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Appellation Summary & Developmental Time-line: Napa Valley Wineries |
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Napa Valley was Designed an American Viticulture Area (AVA) in 1983. Total size: 300, 000 acres, 36,100 in vines. Total number of winery’s: 300+ - Vary in size from “mega-winery’s” to small family owned. Climate: Classified as a lower Region III in the warmer north and a Region II in the south. Premier Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay. . |
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San Francisco Departures to the Napa Valley Wineries are 9:00 am from the SF Ferry Building. We will pick you up at 10 am at the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. Return leaves Vallejo at either 5 pm or 5:30 pm. We also offer direct pickups and returns from your hotel in SF for an additional $29.95.
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We customize the Napa Valley winery’s we visit each tour to meet the expectations of our guests. Don’t see one you want to visit, just ask. |
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You will travel in a new Ford Mark III executive van with a 12” raised roof, big picture windows, individual bucket seats, and dual air. There will be no more than 10 passengers in your group (average is 4 to 6) to insure person attention, plenty of room and a fantastic day. |
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A in-depth tour of Cakebread Cellars is available at no additional charge. |
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We Go Where The Big Buses And Long Limos Can’t. |
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Wine-Country Tours Napa Valley & Sonoma, California, USA |
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Napa Valley Tours |
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ADVERTISING |
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Wine-Country Tours Email: service@wine-country-tours.com |