Robert Mondavi Winery
Napa, California
I must confess that I was hoping for a Sideways-type experience when we went to Napa. Driving through Sonoma County, with its rolling hillsides dotted with grape vines and its quaint downtown section, felt like the movie. But today, we were headed to Napa. THe Robert Mondavi winery was our first stop.
The winery is indeed pretty. As we entered, there was a nice profusion of rose bushes. Their front courtyard had a big fountain. The building itself was low-slung, whitewashed and looked like something from an old hacienda. It appeared that most of the building was off-limits to visitors.
Their tasting room was small (considering the large number of tourists) and only had three tasting stations. One was for their reserve wines, another for their regular wines, and the free tasting for their muscadet. The staff looked clearly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people walking in and out. The room had a very musty smell. These, and the $15 fee for tasting three wines (the tasting glass is yours to keep), were sufficient disincentives to partake.
Grape vines. Because it is already late in the season, the vines are already becoming dormant. Their "CS" vines (cab sauvignon) are forty years old.
Outdoor courtyard. Lots of picture-taking went on here.
The private function room. The place had a bit of a funereal feel to it.
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