Spending Quality Time With Memorable Wine at Raymond Vineyards
Tom and I recently learned about the innovative and modern Raymond Vineyards winery and tasting room in Napa Valley and got to partake in a blending experience for the day, which was one of the most fun activities I have ever done on a wine trip.
If you’re spending a day in Napa, visiting Raymond Vineyards should be on your list. .
To read about Tom’s and my experience being wine “mad scientists” at Raymond Winery, read my article about it on Dave’s Travel Corner – I am in fact drinking a glass from the vintage I created right now. And for those of you who want the end to the article now, yes…yes…it turns out I am quite a wine-blending genius. 😉
To hear more about Raymond Vineyards itself, read on.
The Wine of Raymond Vineyards
An important aspect of Raymond Vineyards is…the wine! Tom and I drank a lot of it while we were there…um, probably a bit too much. We liked it so much we joined their wine club.
One of Raymond Vineyards specialties is their Cabernet. I found it more acidic and smoky than other Cabernets which had a nice, palatable balance. They’re also known for their Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Extras of Raymond Vineyards
One fun aspect that set Raymond Winery apart from other wineries Tom and I visited during our weekend getaway was the Hallway of Senses. Down a long corridor, glass jars ran along the wall, perched on hands coming out of the wall. Each jar had a cord to squeeze which would push out a burst of air with that scent – of which ranged from vanilla to floral to smoke to strawberry.
I was still drinking my Icopinot wine (if you don’t know what that is that means you didn’t read about my glorious wine making story I mentioned and linked to earlier) as I walked through the Hall of Senses and I loved how smelling the smoke and then tasting my wine made it taste completely different and I could definitely sense the smoky undertones, making me think my wine blend would go well with steak. It tasted much better after smelling the smoke than after smelling the strawberry.
An educational experience that isn’t solely related to wine is the Theater of Nature on Raymond Vineyards’ property, which showcases how nature and the environment play an important part in the making of wine, which can greatly affect the outcome of the taste and body of the wine.
And of course, there’s the Winemaker for a Day experience.
The Tasting
Raymond Vineyards’ tasting room is light and airy with friendly bartenders. It pours both white and red varietals. An appointment is advisable.
In addition to the main tasting room, Raymond Vineyards also offers tasting s in the Cellar Room. This is a vibrant, dim room with a club atmosphere. Tastings in the Cellar Room are by appointment only and showcase how decanting can affect a wine.
Raymond Vineyards Quick Facts
Location: 849 Zinfandel Lane, St. Helena CA
Phone: 707-963-6929
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Experiences: Wine Tastings, Food Pairings, Blind Tastings, Winemaker for a Day
Appointments: To make an appointment to visit Raymond Vineyards, visit the Raymond Vineyards website and make an appointment via their online booking system.
