(Howell Mountain)
Number of wineries: 6
Average rating: 4.52
Wine Route Rating: Expert (400)
Highlight of the day: Lamborn (4.88)
Notes: After years of loving Howell Mountain wines at Napa Valley locations, this was our first day devoted specifically to wineries on the mountain. Outstanding stops at Dunn, O'Shaugnessy, and Lamborn made it well worth the journey. Rated "400" (Expert) due to the almost 100% reservation-required schedule, the remote location (the Howell Mountain wineries can be tough to find...no signs, plus GPS is spotty at best!) and the big pricey wines that will make the trip only worthwhile for someone with a good understanding and appreciation of wine.
| Location | Start Time | Stop Time | Reservation? | Notes | |
 | Pick up lunch from Soda Canyon Store (4.38) | 9:00 | 9:30 |  | A stop on the way north to pick up sandwiches for lunch |
 | Dunn (4.50) | 10:00 | 10:55 |  | An intimate look at a pioneering winery on Howell Mountain with the winemaker's daughter, Kristina Dunn |
 | O'Shaughnessy (4.69) | 11:00 | 12:15 | | Delicious wine at a beautiful facility. Famous for their Mt. Veeder Cab, the Howell Mountain Cabernet here was my favorite wine of the day. |
 | Outpost (4.00) | 12:30 | 1:25 | | Great view, but wines didn't stand up to their neighbors' or to the price tag |
| | Lamborn (4.88) | 1:30 | 3:15 | | A sitdown tasting of two amazing Heidi Barrett wines with the nicest people in Napa Valley |
| | Bremer (4.94) | 3:30 | 4:10 | | A quick visit to the tasting room prior to our dinner later that night with Richard (a.k.a. "Grandpa"), our friend from Bremer |
| | Black Stallion (4.00) | 4:20 | 5:00 | | Ruuuurrruhuh! An unscheduled stop on the way home for vertical tastings of their Cab and red blend, the Bucephalus |
 | Dinner at Bistro Jeanty (4.44) | 6:30 | | Our first trip to Bistro Jeanty in Yountville, with Richard Hedrick |
Route:
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Map:
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