Q. How many wineries should I expect to visit on a tour?
A. Five is a good number, we group your tastings so you spend more time tasting wine and not traveling between the wineries.

Q. When is the best time to visit the Wine Country?
A. Anytime of year is wine country time. Each season has its charms, Spring, is bud-break, the new releases are out and no crowds. Summer, Bright Green as far as the eye see and it will be quite warm and the visitors are starting to build.
Fall colors in the Vineyards are spectacular, it's Harvest, the last new releases of the year are out, and everyone has decided to spend a couple of days in wine country before the Holiday Season and winter arrives, you should expect crowds every where you go. Now, Winter is my personal favorite. Wine tasting by an open fire? What could be better.

Q. How much wine is in a Barrel?
A. In a standard barrel, 25 cases.

Q. How many grapes to make one bottle of wine?
A. 600 to 800 depending on grape variety.

Q. How old do grape vines get?
A. Some Zinfandel vines are believed to be over 120 years old, most other vines are replaced between 25 and 30 years of age, fruit production and quality fall off around that age. With the Zinfandel the quantity falls off but the quality is increased.

Q. What is Dry Farming?
A. That is when there is no irrigation to the vines. The complete water source is from Mother Nature. This results in a smaller yield with an intense flavor.

Q. What are Wine Futures?
A. At a Barrel Tasting, you are tasting wine that not ready for the bottle yet, could be three to six months away, but if you like it and want to get the wine, you can purchase it now and have it shipped when the winemaker has given his blessing.

Q. How much are tasting Fees?
A. These vary a lot, very few wineries have NO Tasting fee. The rest will charge from $5.00 to $55.00. The lower prices are a simple tasting of several wines in a tasting room, the $25.00 and up will involve a tour of the cave or winery, a sit down tasting with cheeses and an in-depth discussion of the wines you are tasting which will last 11/2 to 2 hours.

A. Should I stay in Napa or Sonoma?
Q. If you want to tour in Napa, stay in Napa. If you want to tour Sonoma, stay in Sonoma. They look real close on a map I know, but are a good thirty minutes travel time between both Towns and there are very few wineries in Downtown Sonoma or Napa.

If you have a Question yourself do not hesitate to ask. If I do not know the answer, I can find someone who will.
bill@cristalbluecarriage.com