wine tasting

Does the Priority Wine Pass Save You Money? Yes, it really does!

July 29, 2018 Steve Howe Leave a Comment

The Priority Wine Pass does save you lots of money. The more you taste, the more you save. Start saving today with deals in California, Oregon, and Washington. After all, nothing pairs better with wine than saving money!

Why We Love this Wine Pass

It’s the easiest way to save money on wine tasting fees. Simply show your card to receive “2 for 1” or even complimentary wine tasting.
Only one wine pass is needed per couple.

Friends of Cheers-2-Wine receive a discounted price on the pass.
Receive exclusive tasting experience such as VIP tours, food pairings, or additional pours.
Get discounts on some of the hotels, restaurants, and car services.
The folks at Priority Wine Pass offer free planning services. They will set up a personalized itinerary based on your likes.
The pass is good at over 250 wineries throughout California as well as wineries in Oregon and Washington.
Once you purchase a pass, you can start accessing the benefits immediately.

Wineries That Have Winery Pass Deals

Browse this list of wineries that offer deals on tasting fees. The Priority Wine Pass will also save you money on hotels, restaurants, wine purchases, and tour companies.
Wineries are constantly being added; so, check back often!

Napa Valley Deals

Beringer (2 for 1)
Boeschen Vineyards (Free)
Silverado Vineyards (2 for 1)
Avinodos (2 for 1)
Sonar (Free)
Andretti Winery (2 for 1)
Cancan Winery (2 for 1)
Girard (Special Tasting)
Napa Cellars (Special Tasting)
Pine Ridge Vineyards (2 for 1)
Gustavo Wine (2 for 1)
Maxville Estate Wines (2 for 1)
Picayune Cellars (2 for 1)
Black Stallion (2 for 1)
Saddleback Cellars (2 for 1)
Landmark Vineyard (Special Tasting)
Jessup Cellars (2 for 1)
Envy Wines (2 for 1)
Cosentino Winery (2 for 1)
V Wine Cellars (2 for 1)
Brian Arden Winery (2 for 1)
Ty Caton (2 for 1)
Rutherford Ranch (2 for 1)
Madera Vineyards (Special Tasting)
August Briggs (2 for 1)

Grich Hills Estate (2 for 1)
Whitehall Lane Winery (2 for 1)
Cornerstone Cellars (Special Tasting)
Vezer Family Vineyard (Free)
Conn Valley Vineyard (Special Tasting)
Miner Family Winery (2 for 1)
Trenchero Napa Valley (2 for 1)
V. Sattui Winery (2 for 1)
Rutherford Hill(Special Tasting)
Amici Cellars (Free)
Outland Wines (2 for 1)
Delectus Winery (2 for 1)
Conn Creek (2 for 1)
Auburn James (2 for 1)
Hill Family Estate (2 for 1)
Pope Valley (Free)
Bennett Lane (Special Tasting)
Hagafen (2 for 1)
Dutch Henry (2 for 1)
Clos Pegase (2 for 1)
Twenty Rows Winery (2 for 1)
Mayo Family (2 for 1)
Mark Herold Wines (2 for 1)
Castello di Amorosa (Special Tasting)
Bourassa Vineyards (2 for 1)

Sonoma County Deals

Cline Cellars (2 for 1)
Acaibo (Free)
G&C Lurton (Free)
St. Francis Winery (2 for 1)
Canihan Winery (Free)
Schug (2 for 1)
Adobe Winery (2 for 1)
Viana (2 for 1)
Spain Vineyards (Free)
Viszlay Vineyards (2 for 1)
Sbragia Family (2 for 1)
Muscardini Cellars (2 for 1)
Manzanita Creek (2 for 1)
Hudson Street Wineries (Free)
Kivelstadt Cellars (2 for 1)
Greedy Wines (Free)
Ektimo (2 for 1)
B Wise Vineyards (2 for 1)

Alexander Valley (2 for 1)
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards(Free)
Rodney Strong Vineyards (2 for 1)
Wine Guerrilla (2 for 1)
Spicey Wines (2 for 1)
Winery Sixteen (2 for 1)
White Oak Winery (Free)
VJB Vineyard (2 for 1)
Trecini (2 for 1)
Ty Caton (2 for 1)
Six Sigma (2 for 1)
Merriam Vineyards (2 for 1)
McEvoy Ranch (2 for 1)
Mayo Family Winery (2 for 1)
Leaf & Vine (Free)
Fritz Underground (2 for 1)
Deerfield (2 for 1)
Balletto Vineyards (Free)

Deals in Other Wine Regions

There are many more deals throughout California that will save you money wine tasting. Discover the savings waiting for you in Livermore, Lodi, the Central Coast, Southern California, Mendocino, Lake County, the Sierra Foothills, and in the Central Valley. You’ll even find lots of deals in neighboring Oregon and Washington. The Winery Pass save you money as you discover many fabulous new wines.

If you have a Priority Wine Pass, please comment below regarding your experiences using the pass.

Go Wine Tasting on San Francisco’s Treasure Island

April 17, 2018 Steve Howe Leave a Comment

San Francisco’s Treasure Island is a short drive from downtown San Francisco via the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge. It’s a fun excursion . . . especially if you enjoy wine tasting!

Experience uncrowded streets, lots of free parking, and fabulous wines with stunning views of the San Francisco Bay. Bring a picnic lunch and spend a fun day on the island!

There are six wine tasting rooms for you to visit and all are within a short distance from each other.

Suggested Itinerary

Four of the wineries are located near each other with a view of the San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge. Park your car and go wine tasting at all four. Bring a picnic. Dine outdoors, play bocce and sip wine; all while enjoying scenic bay views. Park in the lot at 448 Clipper Cove. Sottomarino, Sol Rouge, and Vie are located all in a row next to the bocce courts. Walk across the parking lot to visit the largest winery on the island, The Winery SF.

Half a mile away is Treasure Island Wines. This is a wine collective that pours wine from five different wineries all at one location. This was Treasure Island’s first winery. Wine is produced on the island using grapes from Mendocino, Sonoma, the Sierra Foothills, and California’s Central Coast. This is the place to sample wines from Baker Family Wines, Kohler & Frohling, Heartfelt Wines, Umbriaso, and Treasure Island Wines.

Fat Grape Winery is located in a former U.S. Navy prison less than a half mile away. Owner and winemaker, Patrick Bowen specializes in producing premier wines with no added sulfites. There is no charging for tasting his wines. As part of the redevelopment plans for Treasure Island, this historic building will be demolished in Summer 2018 to make room for new construction. After that, give them a telephone call to see where Fat Grape Winery has moved.

History of Treasure Island

Treasure Island is a man-made Island that finished construction in 1939 in time for the Golden Gate International Exposition. This “World Fair” closed in 1940. The 400 acre Island was built by sand and gravel dredged from the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento River Delta.

During World War II the island became a naval station and was known as “The Gateway to the Pacific”. The naval base has since closed; though much of the remnants remain. The city and county of San Francisco is currently working to redevelop the island.

The Wineries on San Francisco’s Treasure Island

Fat Grape Winery
Address: 1080 Avenue M Building 670 (at 13th Street)
Telephone: (415) 613-8925
Call ahead to check their hours.
Fat Grape Winery is located in the old Navy Brig on San Francisco’s historic Treasure Island. Patrick Bowen specializes in producing premier wines with no added sulfites. There is no charge for wine tasting here!

Sol Rouge Winery
Address: Clipper Cove Way, Building 141
Telephone: (415) 756-2254
Open weekends noon – 5PM.
This is a friendly, fun place to stop and try their wines. Bring a picnic. There’s picnic tables just outside the door.

Sottomarino Winery
Address: 400 California Avenue, Building 2 Annex
Telephone: (415) 756-4200
Open daily noon – 5PM.
This tasting room is located in an old World War II submarine training facility. Enjoy both indoor and outdoor seating with great views of the Bay. The focus here is on Italian varietals. Delicious wines!

Treasure Island Wines
Address: 995 9th Street, Building 201
Telephone: (415) 394-9463
Open weekends 1PM – 5PM and weekdays 1PM – 3PM.
Treasure Island Wines was the first winery to open on Treasure Island. All phases of their wine production takes place on the island with grapes brought in from Mendocino, Sonoma, the Sierra Foothills, and California’s Central Coast.

Vie Winery
Address: Clipper Cove Way, Building 448
Telephone: (415) 756-1791
Open weekends noon – 5PM.
Great wine with a unique urban vibe. Very casual. Karen, the tasting room hostess, was knowledgable and friendly. The tasting fee is $15, but it’s waived if you purchase a bottle of wine.

The Winery San Francisco
Address: 30 Avenue G
Telephone: (415) 735-8423
Open weekends noon – 5 PM.
The Winery San Francisco produces a variety of award winning wines. Our favorites were the Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Be sure to taste their popular sparkling wine, Glitter. This is a spacious wine tasting room that offers both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s dog friendly with great views of the San Francisco Bay. Plan a wedding or other private event at their venue on San Francisco’s Treasure Island.

Have you gone wine tasting on San Francisco’s Treasure Island? If you have, please take a minute leave a comment below. We’d love to hear about your experiences.

Napa Valley Vacations – Top 10 Things to Do in Napa

July 15, 2017 Steve Howe Leave a Comment

As the premier wine region of the United States, the Napa Valley is a popular tourist destination. Visitors find that Napa Valley vacations offer many choices for fun. Wine tasting is undoubtedly the main reason people visit the Valley, but there are lots of other fun things happening here.

Plan a wine tasting tour of the Napa Valley, but also check out the other exciting things to do!

Top 10 Things to Do in the Napa Valley

#1 – Go Wine Tasting at World Class Wineries
The valley is 30 miles long and consists of six unique towns. Wineries are scattered throughout the valley. Some are small family owned wineries while others are large wineries with luxurious tasting rooms. Some have wine caves to explore. Others have art collections to browse. You can hike around a vineyard, ride an outdoor tram up to a hilltop tasting room, or tour an Italian castle. Plan to visit the wineries that appeal to you.
Learn More About Napa Valley Wineries

#2 – Explore Art in the Valley
Many of the wineries display fabulous works of art. There are galleries scattered throughout the valley. Take a look at the outdoor art on display in downtown Napa and Yountville. Enjoy both art and nature at the highly acclaimed di Rosa Preserve. There’s over 200 acres of art displayed both indoors and outside featuring the art of Northern California artists.

Art exhibits in the valley include paintings, drawings, sculpture, and photographs. Some are permanent collection while others are resolving exhibitions.
Find Art throughout the Valley

#3 – Soar Over the Valley in a Hot Air Balloon
A hot air balloon offers the very best view of Napa. Glide over vineyards 500 to 1500 feet above the ground. It’s a unique experience that is both exciting and relaxing at the same time. On a clear day you can even see the Pacific Ocean and buildings in San Francisco.

Book a flight soon and create memories you will never forget. Businesses offer a variety of packages to fit your needs. Many will pick you up and your hotel and transport you to the launching site. Exciting fun for Napa Valley Vacations!
More Information

#4 – Hike Through the Redwoods
Bothe Napa Valley State Park has over 10 miles of hiking trails. It’s the perfect place for a break from wine tasting. Hike along a creek through the majestic redwoods. Picnic and camping facilities are available. Choose a campsite close to the creek so you can listen to the sound of the water as you sleep.

This state park is a very short drive off of Highway 29 near Calistoga. Yet, most people don’t seem to know about this park. It truly is a hidden gem worth exploring.
Learn More

#5 – Take a Cooking Class
The Napa Valley has an abundance of world class restaurants and top chefs. It’s the place to go for a cooking class. Whether you are an experienced cook or a novice, there are classes that will meet your needs. Classes range from a few hours to week long workshops. Some are demonstrations while others are “hands on”.
Find the Best Cooking School

#6 – Play a Round of Golf
Head to the links to play golf at one of the many courses in the valley. There are courses for all ability levels. Learn about upcoming golf specials and reserve a tee time soon.
More Information

# 7 – Pamper Yourself With a Massage
Napa Valley Vacations are not complete without a spa treatment. This is the place to indulge yourself in a mud bath, couple’s massage, mineral bath, facial, or other spa treatment. Discover a unique spa where you relax and get re-energized.
Guide to Spas

#8 – Dine at a World Class Restaurant
Napa has far more than its share of outstanding restaurants. Enjoy fabulous food at both casual and fine dining at the best Napa Valley restaurants. The choices can be overwhelming. This guide will help you find those unique restaurants you do not want to miss on your visit to the valley.
More Information

#9 – Ride the Napa Wine Train
Board the wine train for a thirty-six mile round trip excursion from Napa to Yountville. While the train does not actually stop at wineries, there’s a large selection of wine available on the train. Enjoy a gourmet meal as you pass through the beautiful Napa Valley.

Make plans to attend one of the exciting special events such as Murder Dinners, Santa Trains, New Year’s Party, and Valentine Rides. If you’re looking for something unique and fun, the wine train is a great choice.
More Information

#10 – Get Married in the Napa Valley
The natural beauty of the valley makes it a popular choice to get married. Find both large elegant venues and small intimate settings for a romantic wedding. You are sure to find the perfect wedding location. And your guests will be thrilled to attend a destination wedding in the Napa Valley!
More Information on Napa Weddings

Have you been to the Napa Valley? If so, please share your Napa Valley Vacations experiences with us below. If we’ve left out something that’s fun to do, please let us know.

Throw A Wine Tasting Party That Everyone is Talking About

June 18, 2016 Steve Howe Leave a Comment

Have fun. . . throw a wine tasting party! This step by step guide on how to plan a tasting will guarantee everyone has a fabulous time. You don’t need to be a wine expert. The idea is to relax with friends. Assign each person or couple to bring a bottle of wine. Have them cover the bottle with paper or foil for a blind tasting. Blind tastings add intrigue to the evening. Make the wine tasting a pot luck. Friends will be happy to provide an appetizer, entree, or dessert.

1. Select a theme.

A theme will set the mood for conversation. The tasting could focus on sampling one particular varietal of wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, or whatever you decide. If you sample wines from a specific region or country such as Italy or France, the appetizers can also be from that region. Since everyone is always searching for a great everyday wine, you might consider tasting wines under a certain price. There are great wines to be found under $20, $15, or whatever amount you choose.

An interesting take on this idea is to buy both bargain wines and more expensive wines. Guests can be challenged to guess which wines are the bargain and which are the more expensive. If your guests are familiar with wine, you could provide different varieties of wine and have them guess which wine is which. Descriptions of each varietal could be provided to assist them.

2. Things You Will Need to Throw a Wine Tasting Party

One bottle of wine will serve a 2 ounce taste for up to 12 people. Plan on tasting a total of five or six different wines during the event. It’s overwhelming to sample too many. Serve the wine in clear wine glasses with stems. People should be able to see the wine. Guests should hold the glasses by the stem so that they do not affect the temperature of the wine.

Provide pitchers of water and dump buckets. These can be used to rinse the glasses between wines and some guests may have leftover wine they want to dump. Plain crackers should be available so tasters can cleanse their palate between wines. Print off Wine Scoring Sheets and provide pens for each guests to evaluate the wines.

3. Feed Your Guests

It’s a good idea to feed your guests when they first arrive. You don’t want them drinking wine on an empty stomach. Avoid strong flavored foods that will interfere with the flavors of the wine. This means no spicy foods, strong-flavored cheeses, or salty dishes (although they can be served after the tasting of the wines is concluded).

4. Wine Tasting Details

White wines should be chilled two to three hours in the refrigerator before serving. Red wines can be served at room temperature, but you could put them in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator an hour before serving to open and let them decant.

Number wines in the order you want to taste them. White wines should be tasted before red wines. Light wines go before heavy wines and dry wines before sweet wines. However, don’t stress over this. Everyone will be having fun and won’t even notice if the order isn’t perfect.

Take time to discuss the wines. Ask each guests to share their thoughts. Serve dessert, beverages, or even additional wine for your friends to enjoy after the tasting is over. If your guests don’t all know each other you might want to plan some fun icebreakers to get the party started. Actually, these activities are great even if everyone does know each other.

Click Here for Fun Ice Breakers for Your Wine Tasting Party

Your friends will be eager for you to throw a wine tasting party again!

5 Steps to Wine Tasting

September 4, 2015 Steve Howe Leave a Comment

New to wine? Five Steps to Wine Tasting. Some newbies feel a little intimidated by the process of tasting. Knowing the basic steps can make you feel confident about what you are doing. Learn these steps and you can relax and just enjoy yourself.

These tips will walk you through tasting step by step. Watch the short video to see how it’s done. Then scroll down to read the guide for more information.

Click on the play button in the middle of the screen to watch this informative video:
5 Easy Steps for Wine Tasting

1.When tasting the first step is to take time to look at the vino, especially around the edges. Look for the color and the clarity. This is why clear glasses should be used for tasting.

Whites become darker as they age while reds begin to lose their color, turning more brownish.

2. Swirl the liquid in your glass. This is done to mix oxygen in, which will soften the tannins of young vino. It also opens up the flavors and aromas. The smells should be enjoyable to you.

3. Sniff. Initially you should hold the glass a few inches from your nose. Then let your nose go into the glass. What do you smell? Take time to think about the smells.

4. Take a sip , but do not swallow yet. Roll the liquid around in your mouth exposing it to all of your taste buds. Do this for at least a few seconds while thinking about the taste. What flavors do you notice before you even swallow?

5. Swallow. How long does the “finish” last?(How long can you taste the flavors after you swallow?) Do you like the tastes?

Tasting is suppose to be fun. Don’t stress about doing everything exactly right. Don’t worry if your tastes are different than people around you. Everyone has their own tastes and enjoy different varietals or brands. This is normal. You are the person who will judge their likes and dislikes.

You will probably find that your preferences will change over time. Keep exploring and trying new finds. Go tasting at wineries when you can. Join a class. It really is lots of fun!

The exciting thing about sampling different wines is discovering exactly what your own tastes are. There are many things that you can learn by reading the labels. As you select and sample, discover what you can learn from the labels.