Tour Vin Features Tudal Winery

Published on: October 9th, 2013

This month, Napa Valley concierge Tour Vin features one of the finest wineries in Napa Valley – the Tudal Winery, established in 1972. Famous for their Cabernets, Joe DiMaggio’s frequent visits, and holding the honor of being served in the White House three times, this winery is a staple of Napa Valley. Let Tour Vin plan your custom Napa Valley tour to include this world class winery.

About the Tudal Winery:
This Winery draws upon four generations of growing and winemaking experience to create a portfolio of limited-production fine wines. Now in their fifth decade of operation, the iconic Tudal Winery grows and produces their signature (and world-class) wine Tudal Estate Cabernet Sauvignon on site from their estate vineyard planted in 1972. Look to their Vineyard Series for other limited-production, world-class wines including single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Clift Vineyard in Oak Knoll District, Maldonado Vineyard, Napa Valley Chardonnay, and Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir.

The world-famous Tractor Shed Red Proprietary Red Blend, produced annually since the 1997 vintage, symbolizes the Winery-Icons Series. This crowd-pleasing brand carries the important icon of their 1947 Massey-Harris Red Tractor that Baci Cerruti purchased new in 1947, and which still stands proudly at the winery outside the historic tractor shed.

This winery has won numerous awards. In June 2013, Wine Enthusiast rated them 88 and 85 on two Tudal Sauvignon Blancs, the Napa Valley and the Honker Blanc. Typically, it difficult to find Sauvignon Blanc’s rated over 89.

Your Napa Valley vacation experience should be a memorable one. Tour Vin will guide you to the best wineries, finest restaurants and most romantic accommodations the valley has to offer. Since our concierge service is our only business, we take pride in customizing your trip through the wine country to your individual preference.

Let us include the Tudal Winery in the itinerary for your next Napa Valley vacation!

Tour Vin Explores Venues in Napa Valley

Published on: September 25th, 2013

We at Tour Vin prides ourselves in making sure we have visited all venues prior to recommending them to our clients. What does that mean? Basically, we check out all restaurants, wineries, hotels and other fun Napa activities to ensure we can accurately explain the venue, including location, ambience, service, hospitality, quality and level of fun!

During the week of October 7 we will visit and research many popular Napa Valley venues, taking notes and adding them to our database as potential options for our future clients. Below is a sample of exciting places we will visit.

Wineries
* Ceja Vineyards in downtown Napa (offering many wine varietals as well as wine flights)
* Bennet Lane in Calistoga (producers of  Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay)
* Bremer Family Winery (built in 1891 and located on the slopes of Howell Mountain)
* Conn Creek Winery (offering a signature Cabernet Sauvignon varietal)
* Sherwin Winery (located atop Spring Mountain and emphasizing Cabernet Sauvignon)
* Knights Bridge Winery in St. Helena (producer of wines harvested from Beckstoffer To Kalon vineyard)

Accommodations
* The River Terrace Inn (located in downtown Napa and overlooking the Napa River)

Restaurants
* Press (a modern steak house offering more than 500 different Cabs)
* Angele (offering French cuisine in a wine country casual setting)
* Fish Story (located along Napa River Walk and offering sustainable seafood faire)
* 1313 Main (a return visit to this notable wine bar to check out their new kitchen)

Tour Vin invites you to contact us about our experiences, in addition to any other questions you may have about general Napa information and venues — we’re just a phone call or email away!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Attention USC Trojans: Tour Vin’s First Class Napa Valley Vacations

Published on: September 13th, 2013

Are you considering a trip to Napa Valley to enjoy great wine, food and luxurious accommodations? As a USC Alum or part of the USC Family, Tour Vin will help you plan a First Class Napa Valley Vacation based on your individual or group preference. And, because we at Tour Vin are Trojans, we will reduce our Concierge Fee by 10%!

Here is what you will experience:
* Classic and boutique wineries and wine tasting and /or cave tours
* Cuisine at world renowned restaurants – Italian, French, California cuisine and more
* Luxurious accommodations – hotels, inns and B&Bs
* Executive car service
* A luxurious massage or hot air balloon ride

We will work with you to ensure your trip will be memorable. All venues will be based on your preference and approved by you. USC Family – contact us to guide you through the many choices Napa Valley has to offer!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin, Summer Is Over But Napa Valley Vacations Heat Up

Published on: September 2nd, 2013

Napa Valley vacations are made easy with the Tour Vin.  We’ve explored the Napa Valley from top to bottom, and now it’s time we share our experience and our expertise with you. Even if you only have an idea of what you’d like to see and do while in the Napa Valley, we will help customize your tour to your particular tastes.

Napa Valley claims more than 45,000 acres of vineyards, making it the most densely planted winegrowing region in the United States. With more than 300 wineries tucked into the nooks and crannies surrounding Hwy. 29 and the Silverado Trail it’s worthwhile to let us research which wineries you’d like to visit before you hit the wine trails.  Conveniently, most of the large wineries — as well as most of the hotels, shops, and restaurants — are along a single road, Hwy. 29.  Napa Valley Starts at the mouth of the Napa River, near the north end of San Francisco Bay, and continues north to Calistoga and the northern limits of the grape-growing region. While we plan your Napa Valley Vacations, keep in mind that most wineries are closed on major holidays.

Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley offer pleasant countryside drives, where you’ll see green vines, wildflower meadows, animal herds, pastel skies and fruitful trees. During the peak season, California wine country grapes are in full production, which piques the curiosity of any professed wine lover. According to the California Wine Institute, 20 million people visit California’s 2,843 bonded wineries for tastings and tours each year. Therefore, it’s essential that you know the best time to avoid congestion.

June through October offers the warmest, sunniest and driest California weather, so it’s no surprise this is “high season” for California Napa Valley Vacations. While cool spring and autumn mornings get down to the 40s, expect soaring temperatures well into the 80s by midday and into the 90s during summer. During the winter months from December through February, monsoon rains take place on almost a daily basis and temperatures hover between 37 and 50 degrees. Now is the perfect time to let us start planning your Napa Valley Tour.

Now that Summer has ended set your sights on the beauty of Napa Valley for your next vacation experience.  After all, Summer isn’t the only time you should take time off and enjoy yourself.  Call us today or visit our website for more details.

Tour Vin Recommends Napa Valley Events!

Published on: August 26th, 2013

Are you thinking about a trip to Napa Valley but would prefer to avoid the crowds? There are many exciting events planned for November you don’t want to miss!

“The Crush” is usually over by the middle to end of October, which means the high season is ending and crowds abate. Hotel rooms are not only more readily available during this time, they are also usually less expensive. In addition, reservations at wine tasting rooms and restaurants are easier to book—which means you have a better chance of dining at that restaurant you’ve always wanted to try.

Here is a sampling of events scheduled for November 2013:

Celebrate the Silverado Trail, November 8-11. Join more than 40 wineries and businesses along the Silverado Trail who will be showcasing fine wines, exceptional hospitality and great experiences.

Napa Valley Film Festival, November 13-17. If you enjoy food, wine and film, don’t miss the third annual Napa Valley Film Festival. Participating towns include: Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. You will enjoy more than 100 new independent films, screening in 12 different venues, and, of course, great food and wine. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended.

Flavor! Napa Valley, November 20-24. Experience a celebration of food, wine and fun featuring well-known food and wine talents of Napa Valley. Venues include the Silverado Resort & Spa, the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, and local wineries, restaurants, farms and vineyards. Advanced reservations are recommended.

Whether you prefer a hotel, b&b or inn; Italian, French or California cuisine; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir or Zin’s, Tour Vin can help you plan your perfect Napa Valley vacation!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin’s October Trip to Napa Valley

Published on: August 13th, 2013

With six wine loving, foodie guests (three couples) in tow, my wife and I are hosting a Napa Valley vacation trip to visit wineries and famous restaurants that  have something for everyone. We created this trip based on the wishes and desires of our guests, and to assure there would be amazing memories to talk about upon returning home.

Here is a sampling of the itinerary:

Wine Tasting –

* Atop Pritchard Hill, our guests will enjoy a single vineyard wine tasting overlooking the valley. If it’s a clear day, we will be able to see all the way to the San Francisco Bay.

* Three boutique wineries not known to many (we at Tour Vin have personally experienced these wines) will be toured so our guests can also boast sampling these awesome wines.

* A wine tasting/picnic is set up at a well-known winery in St. Helena, which overlooks a water pond surrounded by a beautiful garden.

Did I mention the cave tour, which includes a 5×5 wine and food tasting (five wines from five different AVA’s, paired with chef-prepared appetizers)?

Dining –
Our guests indicated they enjoy many different cuisines, so here is what we’ve lined up:

* A French bistro for dinner

* A Wine Spectator award-winning restaurant known for California cuisine

* A farm to table restaurant located in a famous resort in Carneros for lunch

* An Italian bistro

Hotel –
Our guests indicated they want to stay somewhere “hip and new,” so we will be staying in Yountville. Can you guess where?

Other Activities –
We’ve put together a few other activities to round out the trip:

* After dinner, we will be visiting a well-known wine bar in downtown Napa. The bar is known for their wines, of course, as well as their hospitality and creative nightly events.

* We will take time to go shopping in Yountville and St. Helena, as well as to explore the Ox Bow Marketplace, known for their food, wine, and high-quality produce and meats.

Check back with us after October and read what our guests thought of their Napa Valley vacation! It’s not too late to participate in the Napa Valley activities during The Crush, so don’t wait!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Napa Valley Concierge Tour Vin Releases Mobile Website

Published on: August 7th, 2013

Tour Vin’s new mobile website is here! 

On the go, in a hurry or just have time to kill? Perhaps you’re wondering — who can help plan my next trip to Napa Valley?

Tour Vin has now made it easier to browse our website on your smartphone, inquire about Napa Valley tour options or actually book your Napa Valley vacation while you’re on the go. Our Web team created a mobile version of the Tour Vin website that makes it easy to select vacation options, customize a tour and even make a deposit to confirm your trip!

The Tour Vin app icon can be downloaded and conveniently placed on any smartphone home screen so you can easily communicate with us any time through a phone call or email. Read our blog or watch our videos on YouTube, too, all on your phone.

We have special instructions tailored to each type of phone, so whether you have an iPhone, Android or Blackberry, downloading our app is a snap! Download our mobile Web application today and let us know what you think.

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin likes Flavor! Napa Valley 2013

Published on: July 29th, 2013

It’s closer than you think! Flavor! Napa Valley 2013 is November 20-24 and tickets are on sale now.

At the event, you will enjoy wines from more than 100 wineries, including Caymus, Cakebread Cellars, Ceja, Charles Krug, Cliff Lede, Frank Family, Grgich Hills, Jarvis Estate, Joseph Phelps,Quintessa, Robert Mondavi, Rombauer, Silver Oak and Tor, just to name a few. Can you imagine – a Napa Valley event that affords guests a sampling of all these wonderful wines?

Michael Chiarello, Roy Choi, Larry Forgione, Mike Grgich, Cindy Pawlcyn, Margrit Mondavi, Shannon Staglin, Masaharu Morimoto and Brandon Sharp are just a sampling of the culinary and wine experts who will assist you in pairing the fabulous food and wine of Flavor! Napa Valley 2013. These folks will be putting their best foot forward to assure your culinary and wine experience will be memorable.

Where should you stay during Flavor! Napa Valley? Tour Vin has stayed in many of the fine hotels and B&Bs that offer packages to their guests. Give us a call so we may recommend accommodations that fit your Napa Valley vacation needs.

It may seem that November is a long way off – it’s not, especially since this event sells out very quickly. Tour Vin will help plan your vacation activities and accommodations to assure your Napa Valley Vacation will be enjoyable and fun!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Plan your next vacation with Tour Vin, Summertime activities in Napa

Published on: July 11th, 2013

So you’re considering a trip to wine country this summer, better known as the Napa Valley. Unless you’re a certified oenophile (the hardcore fans among us) and have a regular route you haven’t veered from since the first Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1981, you’ll spend a lot of time trying to decide even where to start.

After all, with more than 400 world-class wineries at last count, scores of must-visit restaurants and plenty of the quaintest B&Bs you’ve ever set foot in, it’s no wonder people keep coming back year after year.

Customized Napa Valley Tours help make sense of all of the choices by helping you create an ideal itinerary for food, lodging and wine appreciation.

Maybe you’re someone who loves hitting the taste rooms. Maybe you enjoy wandering through a vineyard to see the grapes for yourself, or checking out the barrel rooms at every stop. Perhaps you’re fond of food-wine pairings, and enjoy seeking out the restaurants first and then see what’s in their cellars. You could even be an endurance taster who sets personal goals to hit as many wineries as possible during your stay.

All of these interests can be accommodated on Napa Valley Tours, which is a much easier way to enjoy this scenic community rather than doing it solo with only a map. A customized tour can help you plan a route for the day or your whole visit, working with you to plan as many – or as few – stops as you wish.

Of course, even though wineries are a significant part of Northern California living, there’s even more than wine that can capture your attention. Napa Valley Tours can let you know about other memorable activities you can be part of, from sight-seeing adventures to concerts to community festivals.

Tour Vin’s Inside Look Into Napa Valley

Published on: July 8th, 2013

When people think of Napa Valley, wine tastings, great food and luxurious hotels and B&Bs usually come to mind. However, visitors are not usually aware of the “valley secrets.” Tour Vin has the inside scoop and can recommend these to you on your next trip!

Here is a short list of some unique activities you don’t want to miss:
• Did you know that some of the most famous wineries in the valley offer multi-course dinners, paired with their wines, prepared by their own chefs and enjoyed in the vineyard?
• Does lunch, including exquisite appetizers and wine pairings overlooking a vineyard, interest you?
• Would you enjoy a sunrise balloon ride followed by a wonderful champagne brunch with the owner of the company?
• Many wineries offer cave tours. But have you considered an 11am cave tour followed by a five-course appetizer presentation served with the wineries signature wines?
• For all of the foodies out there, have you thought about enjoying a cooking class, followed by dining on the food you prepared, which is paired with great wines produced in the Napa Valley?
• Did you know that during the spring and early summer months many wineries host movie events that include food and wine pairings?

Tour Vin is one of the few concierge services that goes out of the way to offer “out of the box” activities to Napa Valley vacationers. Our mission is to assure your Napa Valley Vacation is memorable – call us to help plan your trip!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge