Second the recommendation for Gundlach-Bundschu.

"Midlife" > wrote in message
...
> in article , R&M at
> wrote on 7/21/04 8:49 PM:
>
> > Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
> > to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
> > help!
> >
> > R&M in San Diego
>
> "Must do's" have a lot to do with your level of wine experience. If you
are
> newbies to visiting the area, but experienced with wine, your list will be
> different, I would think. If you're new to wine, in general, start with
an
> area guide: The AAA has a pretty good guide book that's free to members;
> otherwise, the best we've found is "Wine Country - California's Napa and
> Sonoma Valleys", by John Doerper for Fodor's. The latest edition was
written
> in 2000, so some of the newer wineries won't be included, but the book is
> otherwise very thorough and useful.
>
> Assuming, again, that you're new to wine and wineries..... we've found the
> best public tour to be at Robert Mondavi, in Oakville (Napa). I have to
say,
> though, that the best experiences we've had have been at the smaller
> wineries, usually those that are by appointment only. There's something
> very magical about meeting, touring and tasting with the people who
actually
> run the operation on a daily basis - something you don't generally get to
do
> at the larger wineries.
>
> Our "must do" list would include: Napa - Mondavi, Sinskey, Caymus,
Chateau
> Montelena, Nickel & Nickel, Phelps, Shafer, Stony Hill, Schramsberg,
Jarvis;
> Sonoma - Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum, Ravenswood, Gundlach-Bundschu,
Rochioli,
> Arrowood, Jordan, Acorn, A. Rafanelli. I'm sure I'm leaving out some good
> ones, and that other posters will add or subtract....... but this list is
a
> pretty good start.
>
> Enjoy!
>