Visiting wine country and want to kick up your heels like Cinderalla? Try Domaine Carneros in the Napa Valley.
This handsome property is elegantly styled in the fashion of an 18th-century French chateau. It sits on a slight prominence overlooking the gently rolling vineyards of the Carneros vineyards at the southern tip of the valley. From the front, the chateau has a staircase worthy of a dropped slipper or two _ this is a great spot for photos.
And the wines are as classy as the surroundings. Domaine Carneros, founded by the famous French Champagne house Taittinger, is known for its sparkling wines. A favorite is the brut rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour, named after Madame Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV and a sophisticated woman said to have introduced Champagne to the court. Domaine Carneros also makes pinot noir, producing balanced and refined wines from grapes grown in the Carneros region, which is not far from the San Pablo Bay and has the long, cool growing season that pinot favors.
This is one of the few wineries where table service is available. Sip a glass of bubbly on the sunny terrace while nibbling on cheese and charcuterie and imagine yourself master or mistress of all you survey.
- Address: 1240 Duhig Road, Napa
- Phone: 800.716 BRUT(2788) Reservations accepted.
- Website: www.domainecarneros.com
- Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily
- Price: Tastings start at $30
- Don’t miss: Sipping sparkling wine on the terrace