Sipping a Napa Valley Wine

It is indeed an experience to sip wine on a sunny terrace in Napa valley. Napa Valley is famous for its wineries and wines. Visiting all the vineyards and tasting the different types of wines available is in itself a pleasurable experience. The conditions necessary for producing good wine are available in Napa Valley, as it has the right type of soil and climate for growing Bordeaux grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Saugivnon Blanc.

Many varieties of grapes are grown in Napa Valley. Some of the famous wines are Merlot, Zinfandel, Riesling, Petite Serah, Chenin Blanc, Gamay Beaujolais, Semillion, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Grignolio and Dolcetto.

There are many winery tours which offer the best of services. These tours have a pick up and drop service from the hotels in San Francisco. The tours take you in a limo to the famous vineyards. The time there can be spent reclining and sipping any type of wine you want. The chauffeurs of the limos will take you safely wherever you want and will also be able to give you many anecdotes about the vineyards and the wines.

Some of the famous wineries at Napa Valley are Beringer, Domain Chandon and Niebaum Coppola.

Some of the famous white wines are that are excellent for sipping are:

Chardonnay is variety of white wine grape and gives a medium to a full bodied wine. The taste is said to be apple, buttery, nutty with a tinge of a tropical fruit like melon. It should be served chilled but not cold.

Chenin Blanc is used for making dry to sweet wines. It should also be served chilled but not cold.

Pinot Blanc gives us wine that has a taste that is more like that of Chardonnay. It is used in sparkling wines and also in blended varieties. This should be served just above the refrigerator temperature. It is great for sipping and enjoying food along with it.

Riesling produces wines that are light to medium bodied. This has a fruit flavor with a honeyed taste. This type of wine gets better with age. Riesling, when this is harvested late, it gives a rich dessert wine. Dry Riesling goes well with Thai or Chinese cuisine. It should be served just above refrigerator temperature.

Semillion is a white grape which gives us a full bodied wine. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay can be blended with Semillion. This is great for sipping and it should be served chilled but not cold.

Some of the red wines are:

Cabernet Franc is a red wine that has a raspberry taste. It is mainly used in blending with other wines like Bordeaux but, it is also used alone. It should be served at cellar temperature.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most famous of the red grapes variety. It gives a full bodied, deep red, dry wine. It has the taste of all black fruits and the smell of cedar. It is used for blending with other wines. It is best served at temperature just above cellar temperature. It is a type of wine that goes well with big meals.

Merlot is a medium bodied red wine. It has a fruity flavor and a soft texture. It is generally blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. The taste depends on the ripeness of the grapes and the use of oak. It should be served just above cellar temperature and goes well with red meats.

Petite Sirah is a fruity flavored, dark colored red wine that is full bodied. It is a rich wine which goes well with spicy and heavy food. It should be served just above cellar temperature.

Zinfandel is a red wine with a spicy and complex taste. Light pink Zinfandel is called white wine. This is found in various types from dry claret type to thick red wine, high in alcohol content. It goes well with pizza and red meat. It should be served just above cellar temperature.

All these varieties are great to have. It is indeed a pleasure to enjoy so many different types of wines at Napa Valley. The best method would be take a tour and relish the experience sipping wine.