Napa and Sonoma Wine Tasting: Prager Port Works (4.69)

http://www.pragerport.com/

Open 10:00 to 5:00

Appt required? Generally no, but best to call on the weekends, especially if you have more than 2-4 people

Last barlinwine.com visit: 2011

Directions:

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Tasting:

On Hwy 29 but seemingly off the beaten path, Prager Port Works has been successful with a fairly simple model: make port and make it really well. To get to the tasting, patrons walk through the dark barrel room as Prager's "dollar bill wallpaper" extends out to greet you. Once inside, there is no tasting bar, chairs, or other paraphernalia -- just simply a dark 10x10 room covered in dollar bills and award ribbons, with a sink that doubles as a dump bucket, a cash register in the corner and one of the Pragers (usually John or his brother Peter, the winemaker) waiting to pour you some wine.

$15 gets you the best tasting glass in the Valley plus a taste of Prager’s Petite Sirah, 3 Ports, and a dessert wine. Prager makes 5 ports in all: a white port branded "Aria"; their flagship, the Royal Escort Port; a traditional Portuguese style port called Tomás; a delicious and affordable Petite Sirah Port; and a tawny port called the Noble Companion. Prager's facility is one of the more unique in Napa Valley as well. Situated in an old house, the tasting room is papered with dollar bills stapled to the walls and their semi-famous "web window", a natural spidery creation that's pretty impressive. To call the Prager tasting casual would be overstating its elegance. On a recent visit, it took us around 15 minutes to taste through the offerings. Peter simply explains what he's pouring and will happily answer any questions, but he's a winemaker first and a salesman second. However, the mood just feels right and fits perfectly with the port. If you like port, stopping here is a must. If you don't like port, the non-port wines they make are just okay, but this is probably not the place for you.

Recommended wine: The ports are really excellent, and a great value (priced comparably to other port, but in 750ml format instead of the more common 375ml at most US wineries). Make sure you ask about the Petite Sirah port -- this is a "drink now" port that isn't always offered on the tasting menu, but a fantastic value at $32.50/bottle.

Ratings (out of 5):