Really enjoyed it...it cost $25, but that includes sampling 4 of their sparkling wines. Great location too.

Yes, Schramsberg requires appointments as a good half of wineries in Napa do. Yes, Schramsberg is expensive at $25 a person but well worth it. Schramsberg is best known for its sparkling wine served at the White House and other State functions since Nixon's adminstration. This unique hillside winery is also known for its very interesting network of underground caves dug by Chinese laborers back in the late 1800's.

Todd was our guide, he was a mature and charming fellow - really funny with his stories, too! (Ask him about his 48-hour trip to Tokyo) He led the three couples past the old pictures in the entryway, telling us a bit about each. We then entered the network of caves surrounded by literally millions of bottles of wine. After another twenty minutes of walking about and learning more about the development of the winery during the Schram and Davies families as well as the numerous variations of sparkling wine, we exited into an elegant (and toasty warm) tasting room with a fireplace. A table for six was set and due to the construction outside the visitor center, we were treated to five wines, not four.

The Blanc de Blanc and J. Schram were our favorite sparkling wines, at $35 and $90 respectively. We were blown away by the excellent J. Davies Cabernet Sav. at $70. Since we could find the Blanc de Blanc in PA we opted to buy only the J. Davies (low production). During the tasting Todd asked us to first taste each sparkling then lightly roll the flutes between our palms - then try a second sip. What a difference. Some tasted completely different. It was little tips like this that make a wine-tasting experience stand out from others.

We would like to join the wine club but Schramsberg does not ship to either our PA or CT addresses! They charge just under $100 a shipment but you most likely get wine that is valued at much more than that amount - truly a good deal for any wine lover.

Any new best friends in NJ?

Six of us (three couples) spent two days in the Napa Valley. Schramsberg was on the list of things to see because one of the couples served Schramsberg to toast their commitment ceremony the year before. Our tour guide--perhaps a better term "our host--was Richard Gambatese. After a brief introduction to the success and history of the Schramsberg Winery and the Davies family, he walked us back into the large caves that have been carved out of the hillside. Large? Space enough to store 2 million bottles of aging sparkling wines. It was facinating. Richard was engaging, charming and very knowledgeable. While the staff has considerable pride in their products, they were all understated, casual and very approachable. We felt welcomed and cared for. The tasting consisted of six of their sparkling wines--ranging in price, quality, and of course taste. We learned so much. The tour is $25. Well worth the price. We joined their wine club--which entitles us to free tours in the future.

First - you must have an appointment - this is not a public tasting vineyard. However, once you arrive, it is clear that you in for a treat - excellent products, knowledgable and helpful staff, and a beautiful vineyard retreat along the mountainside. Highly recommended.