Napa Valley For RVers

Above, vineyards along California Highway 29 in Napa Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the 1980s, I would go to Napa Valley ever so often the hit the wineries.

I would take tours of the wineries which would end in their tasting rooms. I would sample some wines and buy the ones that I liked. I would camp at Bothe-Napa State Park. 

This was all when I lived in California. As I now live in New Mexico, I doubt that I will go to Napa Valley again unless the state's ridiculously high gasoline prices come drastically down. 

Still, I would recommend a visit to Napa Valley. Perhaps an article in RV Travel may be enticing.

They begin it with:

California’s Napa Valley is known for its award-winning vineyards and wineries. You may be surprised to know that many other wonderful activities draw visitors to the valley, as well.

Napa’s gentle scenery, small-town charm, and cultural spots make it a great place for slower, more relaxed sightseeing. Of course, you can definitely plan to tour some wineries, but don’t limit yourself to only that. Check out these other visit-worthy things to do, too!

To read more, go here.

Wayne Family Estate Napa Valley Wines Launched

John Wayne was usually associated with bourbon, but now the Wayne Family is introducing Wayne Family Estate Napa Valley Wines.

From their press release:

NAPA, Calif., (Dec. 7, 2023) - When John Wayne’s youngest son Ethan became manager of his father’s estate, he discovered about 30 wooden vaults that had been sealed by executors after his father’s 1979 passing. In one was a collection of wines the Oscar-winning actor had collected.

Now that collection has inspired a new line of Napa Valley reserve wines, arriving just in time for holiday gifting. Wayne Family Estate is dedicated to making wines that inspire like the life of The Duke, who pursued the American dream through hard work and determination. These unique traits can be found in each bottle of Wayne Family Estate’s handcrafted wines produced at the historic Fairwinds Estate Winery on the Silverado Trail in Calistoga, located in California’s Napa Valley.

A portion of proceeds from the sale of each bottle of Wayne Family Estate wine will benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, which the actor’s family created to fulfill his wish of fighting cancer with courage, strength and grit.

Three premium Napa Valley wines make up the Wayne Family Estate inaugural collection: The Duke, a 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve; 26 Bar, a 2019 Chardonnay Reserve; and The Duke, a Sparkling Blanc de Noirs Reserve – Méthode Champenoise.

The Duke 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – Napa Valley: The flagship Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of black cherry, blackberry and plum complemented by hits of toasted oak, dried currant and baking spice. Fine-grained tannins and ample brightness on the palate give way to a polished mouthfeel and exceptionally long finish. It is available for $95 ($75 for members).

26 Bar 2019 Chardonnay Reserve – Napa Valley: This wine is named for the 26 Bar Ranch, John Wayne’s 14,000-acre working purebred Hereford cattle ranch in Arizona. From the chalky soil of the Carneros region in southern Napa Valley, this beauty exhibits balanced fruit with tarte acidity making this wine a classic example of Premium Napa Valley Chardonnay. It is available for $56 ($45 for members). 

The Duke Sparkling Blanc de Noirs Reserve -- Méthode Champenoise – Napa Valley: This premium sparkling wine – meticulously and artfully made in the traditional Champagne method – rivals anything from the best Champagne houses in Épernay and Reims. It is available for $85 ($65 for members).

Membership in The Duke Wine Club begins with a one-time $50 nonrefundable deposit that secures your club seniority and is applied to your first shipment of wines. Biannual club shipments are available in either three or six bottle formats, with the cost varying based on your selections. Benefits of club membership include customized wine selections, discounts on estate wine and gift sets, free wine tastings in Napa Valley, wine events and wine delivered in a handmade and collectible fire-branded wooden Duke wine crate. Become a member at waynefamilyestate.com/join.

For the holidays, the Wayne Family Estate is offering three packages featuring its premium Sparkling Napa Valley wine. Make your gift extra special by including a personalized message with our wooden holiday card.  Each offering is expertly curated and beautifully packaged. The three packages available are Sparkling Special ($119, $95.20 member), Sparkling Lover ($189, $151.20 member), and A Sparkling Toast (pictured above; $299, $239.20 member).

To see package details and additional seasonal discount codes or purchase a package, visit waynefamilyestate.com/holiday-gifting.

Creating a partnership with a California winemaker has long been a goal of the Wayne family.

“These are great wines, and my father would enjoy them whether his name was on the bottle or not,” said Ethan Wayne, the actor’s son and head of John Wayne Enterprises.

“I am honored to make these wines with Ethan in celebration of all that is John Wayne in the hearts of all Americans,” said Brandon Chaney, proprietor and CEO of Wayne Family Estate and Fairwinds in Napa Valley.

For more information, go here. 

California Wine Country Without Crowds

Above, a Napa Valley vineyard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the late 1970s and 1980s, I would try to get up to California's Wine Country (Napa and Sonoma Valleys) whenever I could.

I enjoyed sampling each years' vintages in the tasting rooms of several wineries and bring home boxes of different wines. During my college years, my mom and I would pop open a bottle two at home on weekends while my dad was out bowling. Good times!

I generally would go in the autumn months when there are less people crowding the tasting rooms. 

Speaking of avoiding crowds in Wine Country, that is the subject of a new article by Travel + Leisure.

They begin it with:

If you love sipping a perfect pinot on a sunny, 75-degree August day in California's wine country, you're far from alone. Literally. Because one unwelcome addition that idyllic day is practically guaranteed to come along with? Hundreds of other people — all vying for the same wine-tasting seats, the same coveted hotel rooms, and all waiting in the same endless lines for brunch at Bouchon. Over-touristed travel is rarely fun, and in the middle of a pandemic, it can feel downright dangerous. The good news: There is a way to do wine country without the crowds.

According to the Napa Valley tourism bureau, the area welcomes about 3.85 million visitors per year, the majority of whom come through during the area's busiest (and sunniest) months, from summer to early fall. Luckily, as wise travelers will tell you, high season isn't the only season — in wine country or elsewhere. 

One tip from me. If you have an RV, stay at Bothe Napa State Park in Napa Valley. I've stayed there a few times, even during rainstorms which can be frequent during autumn. The park has a nice campground.

Above, Bothe-Napa State Park campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the full article, go here.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Above, the December 2021 issue of Wine Enthusiast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Count Dracula never drinks...wine! But I do.

For over 40 years, I have been a fan of wines. I got started in the late 1970s with trips up to Napa Valley in California to visit and tour wineries, and that includes sampling wines at each.

Usually, I would bring home 2-4 boxes of wines from different wineries. As I was going to college at the time and living at home with my parents, my mom and I would indulge in some of the wines I brought home. My dad was usually out bowling.

New Mexico, the state where I live, has its own wine region. I hope to hit the road in the motorhome and check out New Mexico wineries. I was going to do so last summer, but restrictions and mandates related to the pandemic nixed those plans. 

These days, I keep a set of RV wine glasses. Glass wine glasses are too prone to breakage and the RV wine glasses are plastic and can withstand rough roads.

Since I have been a wine fan, when an offer for a subscription to Wine Enthusiast magazine came my way, I jumped on it.

Along with their reviews of different wines and articles on various wineries around the world and the people who run them, my favorite feature are the food recipes and what wines go best with them.

If one reading this is a wine fan (or enthusiast), I recommend Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Wine Country Camping

Above, Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the early 1980s, I headed north to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys of California for a little autumn vacation in wine country.

At the time, I only had a 1980 Toyota pick-up truck with a camper shell and carpet kit. I was quite comfortable as the carpet kit was nicely padded. Since the truck bed was a long bed, I had plenty of room for sleeping, extra clothes, cook gear and for my winery purchases. I stayed at one of the places listed in an article by Wine Enthusiast on camping in wine country.

They begin with:

Why settle for four-star accommodations when you could have the whole night sky? Forget the hotels, resorts and bed-and-breakfasts the next time you visit one of your favorite wine regions. Good old-fashioned camping, or newfangled glamping, lets you nestle right into nature. So, pitch your tent and build a campfire—it’s time to open a bottle and dream of the next day’s tastings. 

Here are some coast-to-coast suggestions for a summer’s worth of camping adventures.

To read more, go here. 

New Mexico Wine Country

There's an old (a very old) saying: "You learn something new everyday!"

Such is the case of what occurred today.

I was browsing through the literature racks at the Manuelito Visitor Center near the New Mexico/Arizona border this morning and I saw a brochure about New Mexico's Wine Country (pictured above). This came as a surprise to me as I am somewhat a wine fan (or some might say, wine snob) as I had made several trips up to California's Napa and Sonoma Valleys and I never heard of wine production in the state of New Mexico.

I started thumbing through the brochure and found that wine production in New Mexico predates any in California.

Above, the Manuelito Visitor Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to NMWine.com (it used to be NMWine.org):

Welcome to New Mexico wine country and the beginning of an incredible journey. Nearly 400 years ago, in 1629, the very first grapes were planted along the banks of the Rio Grande and American viticulture was born. These original vines were smuggled from Spain and planted by monks to produce wines for ceremony and sacrament. What began as a sacred tradition eventually grew into a thriving industry, and by the late 1800’s New Mexico was producing over a million gallons of wine annually. 

New Mexico’s modern day wine industry continues to evolve from traditional European roots, with over 50 wineries and tasting rooms throughout the state. It is not difficult to trace the influence of old Spain in our contemporary wines, but one can also taste the traditions of France, Italy, Germany and Central America in our present day vintages. We invite you to explore Americas most unique and independent winemaking region in the heart of the Southwest. Viva Vino!

The wineries appear to be concentrated in the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Las Cruces, Los Alamos, Alamogordo, Ruidoso and...Roswell.

I am curious how New Mexico wines compare to those of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys of California. I did read that the grape growing season is of shorter duration in New Mexico due to the climate. This causes New Mexico wines to have less alcohol content (like European wines) than California's.

Looks like I'll have to go on a winery road trip! It would be an easier drive (a lot closer) than Napa and Sonoma Valley are in California.

There Goes Those Plans

Above, the Wine Country fires. Map by Cal Fire and Google Maps.

One of the things I was planning to do this fall was to go up to Northern California to visit Redwood National Park and the Wine Country of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

Well, since several wildfires broke out in and around the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, with much destruction and deaths, those plans of mine are up in smoke.

It has been about 30 years since I last was in Wine Country and was looking forward to going up there in November.

Maybe next year.

RV Camping In Napa Valley: Refreshing, Relaxing and Great Scenery

Above, a vineyard near Calistoga in the Napa Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the 1980s, I used to head north to the Napa Valley wine country region of Northern California for relaxation and to hit the wineries to re-stock my wine supply fairly frequently.

My favorites in Napa Valley were the Robert Mondavi and Beringer wineries. They had great tours that ended with a tasting session in the wine tasting room.

Above, the campground at Bothe-Napa State Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While there, I camped in the Bothe-Napa State Park. It is a nice state park with a great campground. And, it was right smack in the middle of the winery area, which made it handy.

The Daily Press has an article on RVing in wine country.

They begin with:

This is shaping up to be a fantastic summer to visit many places in California that had great benefit from our rainy season. Russ and Lori frequently travel up U.S Highway 395 over to Interstate 80 in the Truckee area. 

Recent years saw the drive with lakes and rivers that were eerily low during the drought. The West Walker River is raging in many areas. Topaz Lake looks like it is refreshed. The Sierras even got a June dusting of snow. The record-breaking rainy season also benefited California’s wine country. With this summer shaping up to be a hot one, why not take an RV trip to California’s Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley? 

RV camping in wine country is quite easy if you just plan a little ahead. Many wineries are up north, but we also have some fantastic wineries fairly near to us in the Temecula area. An RV trip to the Sonoma or Napa Valley would be comfortable as a 7 day trip or longer. 

Above, the grapevines following the harvest. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.