(Napa East)
Number of wineries: 7
Average rating: 4.29
Wine Route Rating: Moderate (200)
Highlight of the day: Shafer (4.56). I was wary of the hefty tasting fee ($45) prior to the visit, but it was 100% worth it.
Notes: A lot of wineries (7 in about 5 hours) make this route not for the faint of heart. The one lone appointment -- Shafer -- turned out to be the highlight of the day. This stop combined with some higher-end focused wineries (PlumpJack, Cliff Lede, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars) make this a "200-level" route.
| Location | Start Time | Stop Time | Reservation? | Notes | |
 | PlumpJack (4.25) | 12:15 | 12:45 |  | A chance to sample both PlumpJack and CADE wines. Decent experience but not a must-stop. The view and room at CADE is superior |
| | Piña (4.19) | 12:50 | 1:10 | | Better Cabs than I was expecting in a rustic barrel room |
| | Cliff Lede (4.38) | 1:15 | 1:55 | | An experience I suspect varies quite a bit, but a stop that was great for me. 7 wines tried (there are 3 listed on the tasting menu) with a relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff |
 | Shafer (4.69) | 2:00 | 3:15 |  | I was nearly scared away by the $45 tasting fee but it was worth every penny. Classy seated tasting of some very good wines. |
 | Pine Ridge (4.00) | 3:20 | 3:45 | | Fairly standard bar tasting of some decent wines. Nothing spectacular. |
| | Stag's Leap Wine Cellars (4.31) | 3:55 | 4:30 | | Better than expected across the board. Flexible on the wines they tasted and some really good Cabernet in a nice setting. |
| | Clos Du Val (4.06) | 4:35 | 5:00 | | Friendly people and pretty good wine, but not amazing. |
 | Dinner at Oenotri (4.25) | 7:15 | 8:30 | | Homemade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and farm-to-table fresh ingredients. Gives Bottega a run for its money, and its food may be better… |
Route:
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Map:
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