I’ve lived in Northern Virginia for a little over 10 years, and being a wine lover, I find that I get “way” too excited when I see a new wine store. I’m definitely a lurker when it comes to the wine shop. Some people like to go in and just grab the first thing. Others like to go in and get advice from the shop owner. I’m part of the third type who like to walk around and check out everything in the store before I can buy something. I can’t help it. I like to scope out all of the different types and brand, looking for labels I recognize and of course just trying to get a sense on the store’s pricing. I’ll usually try to find the Napa section and see how overpriced their Silver Oak is (everyone seems to always have a bottle of that). So I’ve shopped around a various stores and I’m always on the look for new ones. Here’s a few comments on some of the good and bad:

Arrowine - This Arlington establishment, located in a small section of shops on Lee Highway, offers a mid-sized selection of wine, good section for beer, and probably one of the better selections of imported cheeses in the area. Their wine section hits all of the major wine regions, with I think a little bigger focus on France and Italy. While they do tend to be a little higher priced compared with the discount placed, they also carry more unique wines from small distributors. Overall, they are a good wine merchant with friendly staff and a high quality selection.

MacArthur Beverage – Located in DC, this Washington institution is a high quality store offering relatively good prices even in comparison to the discount places. Their store is a little crammed with all the different wines and spirits. Additional, the organization makes it a little tough to find which section your in. Not as much an issue for a lurker like me, but I could it see it bugging alot of people. The other issue with the place is there aren’t nearly as many wines under $20 as there should be. They seem to have their price point higher to $30 for most wines. Now in terms of selection and quality, they are very good. They tend to have the harder to find wines which makes it worth the trip.

Wine Cabinet – Located in Reston, this wine store tends to focus on smaller producers and looks to bring in different varietals. The store is relatively well organized, though they decided to go for the arranged by style versus region, so sometimes its a matter of digging if you’re specifically looking for a Aussie red or Cali white. They tend to be big on the customer service/help select a wine for you focus which can be good or bad depending on your type as I mentioned above. Price wise they tend to be a little higher being a smaller store. Overall, its a nice looking store. They also offer sale of cheese and bread, along with a decent beer selection.

Wine Seller – This Herndon shop was one of the first I’d started shopping at when i moved back into the area. They kind of helped open my eyes to wines outside the grocery store aisle. Its a small shop with a decent selection. They tend to keep just as many $10-15 wines as they do the higher end stuff. They also have a good focus on West Coast wines, and particularly Pinot Noir from Oregon. They also put together very nice wine-related gift baskets. The staff has always been courteous and helpful in past visits. Overall, its worth a stop in to see what they have.

Best Cellars – With Multiple locations in the DC area, their Clarendon location is a clean, sleek store where they offer wines grouped by style. Around the store, wines are arranged from light bodied whites all the way around to the robust reds. The other thing to note is that they keep all of the prices at $15 or under. The idea here is to keep it simple for the wine newbie. They usually offer just a couple of wines in each category so that selecting a wine doesn’t have to be too difficult. You can also try any of the wines at the counter if you’re not quiet sure you’ll like them. Overall, the concept is good, and I’ve seen it be successful with other wine chains in other parts of the country. For the wine beginners, its a great option for getting to know your likes and dislikes, and exploring the wine world.

It should be a simple question and a straightforward answer, but it always comes down to a few key variables. I’ve been learning about and growing with wine for the past 10 years or so, and as my tastes and experience have changed, so to, have the elements that make a wine special.

One thing that always helps that case however is place. Where you have that glass of champagne or the big Napa red can really set that wine apart from just another drink. I know some of the best glasses of wine were had sitting at the winery, soaking in the atmosphere. I also know that all those special occasions, when a good wine was called for, that wine just tasted and meant a little bit more.

How about cost? I remember just getting into wine in my early 20s and at that point a bottle of wine over $20 was a extreme buy. So maybe at that stage a wine could “wow” me just because it was more expensive. I remember my first big bordeaux, a 1999 Chateau Cantermerle, for which at the time I paid a whopping $35. It was bigger and bolder than anything I’d tasted to that point and I can remember really falling in love with wine. Did cost have a factor there? Probably somewhat, but so did that quality factor.

Are we going to be more excited by the $15 wine that tastes like the $40 or the $75 wine that tastes like a $75 wine. Sometimes is the bargain that makes it special. No probably more than anything, its the company that makes it special. You want to drink a good wine with someone special. You want to be able to enjoy the company, maybe a good meal, to talk about probably less the wine, and rather enjoy the moment.

I’d say that all of these answers good be right, just depends on the mood. Just as much as the wine has to be good, and the company has to be special, the wine itself, just has to fit. I’m a strong believer that a wine is particular to a mood. Lazy sunday afternoons are good for a riesling or shiraz. Fall and Winter nights just call for a good rhone or earthy Italian. I think you get the idea.

Anyway, what does make a wine special – let me hear from you.

So, I’ve decided that I have had enough of the 100 pt rating system, as I’m sure alot of you have, and want to try something new. I think the swell of anger towards Parker and WS is starting to really show out on the blogosphere, and with rise of sites like Cellartracker, most of us are taking a broader look at ratings and starting to wonder more about what they all mean. Don’t get me wrong, I have been and will still probably continue to be drawn in by rating numbers. They are hard to dismiss. But as you start to learn what style a certain reviewer likes, it becomes apparent that the best scoring wines all sort of start to taste the same.

So now when I review a wine, I’ll try to give a little history, a little more in depth review of the wine taste and then something that explains what I really thought of the wine. Sometimes a wine is good because it is unique or different. Other times a wine is right cause it was the perfect reflection of mood. So either way, my reviews should capture a bit of the mood and the feel of the wine, rather than just flavor and complexities. New rating scale – forget the pts, Parker can have them. Lets go for something more down to earth.

World Class – In the Parker world, 96-100

Outstanding – In the Parker world, 93-95

Borderline Outstanding – In the Parker world, 91-92

Brick Solid – In the parker world – 89-90

Drinkable – 85-88

Grapeplonk – 85 and below

Alright, I’m still playing with this idea, but I’ll work out the details soon enough. Look for new reviews to start soon.

Wine making for everyone?

So what’s a wine nut to do when wine collecting isn’t enough and they need to feel like they own a piece of the product and its production? Well for the super-wealthy, they just buy or invest in a winery. But what about the rest of us who do not have the million-dollars an acre to sink into the top-notch real estate in Napa or don’t have the time or know-how to invest in farming their own land and building their estate from the ground up?

Well the answer came a few months ago, when my wife stumbled on an article about a new service out of San Francisco called Crushpad. Crushpad is a winery where you are the winemaker. They buy the grapes, and house the facilities. They crush the grapes and perform all of the fermenting. However, you are in control of the process from the very first step. You pick where the grapes are sourced from. You make the decisions regarding fermentation and aging. You even have the option to design your own label and packaging.

Started by Michael Brill in San Francisco, the company’s goal was to make the wine making process more accessible to everyone. For the city-bound wine lovers, they wanted to bring the process to them. You can now be part of the action using the internet and web cams to watch the crushing of the grapes, and even get interactive with entire winemaking process.

At each step, with the help of the Crushpad associates, you go through a decision process of how to make your wine. You start from picking the grapes. They source grapes from a number of well-known farms and vineyards in California, Oregon, and Washington, including Wentzel, Sleepy Hollow, and To Kalon vineyards. You have the option of buying a single barrel of wine, which works out to about 25 cases of wine (300 bottles). Costs for these barrels range from around $4000 to $15000 at the top end. This works out to be around $50-60 dollars a bottle for wines from some of the top end Cabernet and Pinot Noir grapes in the US.  Comparable bottles retail for around $100.

The customer then moves on to the crush and the fermentation. They will also decide on aging, fining and blending. Crushpad will then help you with bottling. They have designers that will assist you with the production of labels and marketing and as well as selling your wine. They already have a number of in-house wineries from other customers who have chosen to sell their wines through their online store. Additionally. Crushpad will help you navigate the federal regulations of selling wine and make the whole process nice and easy.

Overall I was in love with the concept from day one, already dreaming about buying my own barrel of wine. I’ve checked in with Crushpad since to find that they are expanding their offering and really trying to bring the art of winemaking to everyone. So I look forward to seeing what the next steps will be in their offering. Now if I can just convince my wife that I should try it as part of research. For now, I’ll just have to try a bottle from one of the customer’s already making their own.

Here’s a listing of Wineries in Napa and Sonoma that we’ve visited, including contact information and a quick snapshot on the highlights of the winery.

Napa Wineries:

Barnett Vineyards

4070 Spring Mountain Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
707-963-7075
www.barnettvineyards.com

Appointment Necessary – No Tasting Fee

Go here for both great, hard to find wines and one amazing view. Tours and tasting are given by winemaker or assistant. Winery sits at the top of Spring Mountain with views over all of Napa Valley.

Rating:
Wines – Average/Above Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average (Amazing Views)

Cakebread Cellars

8300 St.Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
800.588.0298

Appointment Necessary – Tour and Tasting: $10

A very good tour incorporates a selection of six of their wines including a couple of nice chardonnays, a pinot and their cab. Knowledgeable staff and enormous facility make this a must-visit in the valley.

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average
Ambiance – Above Average (For the tour)

Domaine Chandon

1 California Dr
Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 944-2892
www.chandon.com

Tour and Tasting Fees – $20/$30

Nice winery attached to an enormous facility including a top-flight restaurant. Skip the tour and just take in a glass of bubbly on their patio area, or visit after 6pm when they open their wine lounge.

Rating:
Wines – Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average

Grgich Hills

1829 St. Helena Hwy.
Rutherford, CA 94573
(800) 532-3057
www.grgich.com

Tasting Fee: $10

Friendly staff pour wine and tell stories at this Napa winery that makes great Cabs and Chardonnay as well as a great dessert wine. A no-frills kind of place that hangs its success on the product.

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average (Very Friendly)
Ambiance – Below Average (Basically a barn)

Markham

2812 Saint Helena Hwy N
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-5292
www.markhamvineyards.com

Tasting Fees: $10/$15/$20

Overall not very interesting wines, the tasting room is fairly basic with local art displayed. An unremarkable winery in general.

Rating:
Wines – Below Average
Staff – Below Average
Ambiance – Below Average

Neyers Vineyards

2153 Sage Canyon Rd
Saint Helena, CA 94574
www.neyersvineyards.com

Appointment Necessary – No Tasting Fee

Amazing winery with a very gracious staff and a wonderful facility. Sit outside if the weather’s nice and enjoy their variations on Chardonnay and Syrah, both at which they excel.

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average
Ambiance – Average

Pride Vineyards

4026 Spring Mountain Rd
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-4949
www.pridewines.com

Appointment Necessary – No Tasting Fee

Beautiful winery and tasting room where you’ll taste great Cab, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Call ahead to find out what they are pouring as their wine change often based on availability. Also make sure to bring a picnic lunch and take advantage of their beautiful vineyard views

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average
Ambiance – Above Average (Amazing Views)

PlumpJack Winery

620 Oakville Cross Road
Oakville, CA 94562
707 945-1220
www.plumpjack.com

Tasting Fee: $10

Available wines change often and the staff is only so-so, but they do make a very good Chardonnay and Cabernet. Worth the stop for the wines.

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Below Average
Ambiance – Below Average

Silver Oak

915 Oakville Crossroad
Oakville, California 94562
800.273.8809
www.silveroak.com

Tasting Fees: $10 (Complimentary Glass)

Pretty nice setting though the new tasting room is still under construction. You’ll taste two wines, their cabernets (Napa and Sonoma) and if you’re a Silver Oak fan, you won’t be disappointed.

Rating:
Wines – Average/Above Average
Staff – N/A (Too Busy to Rate)
Ambiance – Average (Original tasting room burned down in 2006)

St. Supery

8440 St. Helena Highway (29)
Rutherford, CA 94573
707.963.4533
www.stsupery.com

Tasting Fees: $15/$20

Friendly, knowledgeable staff helps guide you through rather good wines from start to finish. They are usually tasting some of their more reserve Cabs, plus a good mix of other red and white wines. Self-guided tour is also one of the best in the valley.

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average (Very Friendly)
Ambiance – Above Average

Silverado

6121 Silverado TRL
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 257-1770
www.silveradovineyards.com

Tasting Fees: $10/$20

This is a beautiful winery, with a tasting room perched on a ridge overlooking Stag’s Leap area. Wines are consistently good, and the staff recommends enjoying their wines on the patio area.

Rating:
Wines – Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average (Great Porch area overlooking Stags Leap)

Sterling

1111 Dunaweal Ln
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-3300
www.sterlingvineyards.com

Tasting Fees: $20/$45 Reserve

Besides a nice view and an interesting tour, the wines leave little to make the trip for. Plus the increased tasting fees make this a tough sell.

Rating:
Wines – Below Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average

Whitehall Lane

1563 Saint Helena Hwy S
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-9454
www.whitehalllane.com

Tasting Fees: $10

A no-frills winery that makes a decent Sauvignon Blanc and a Dessert wine. They make decent Cab and Merlot but the most recent vintage (2004) was a bit of a miss. Average tasting room help.

Rating:
Wines – Average
Staff – Average (Very Friendly)
Ambiance – Below Average

Sonoma Wineries:

Ferrari-Carano Winery

8761 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-6700
www.ferrari-carano.com

Tasting Fees: $5/$15

Over-the-top wine chateau complete with fountains and Italian-style artwork, they have two levels of tastings where you choose the wines. Reserve wines are worth the extra cost with wonderful Chardonnay and Cabs. Worth a trip for their extravagant tasting room.

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average

Gary Farrell Wines

10701 Westside Rd
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 473-2900
garyfarrellwines.com

Tasting Fee: $10

Perched high in the Russian River valley, this winery specializes in Pinot Noir, and wonderful views. Helpful staff guides you through their selection of wines, focus mainly on Chardonnay and Pinot. Very good wines make the trip up the mountain well worth it.

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average

Ridge Vineyards / Lytton Springs

650 Lytton Springs Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-7721
www.ridgewine.com

Tasting Fees: $5 (Donated to Local Charity)

A charming tasting room situated directly up against the vines. This location pours mainly zinfandel and Bordeaux blends. Friendly staff adds to the relaxed atmosphere at this solid wine producer.

Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average