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Napa Valley Is the Place to Learn About Wine
Up the ante at your next get-together by serving a multi-course meal perfectly paired with wine. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what to serve. All you need to do is take a trip to Napa Valley where there are a plethora of wonderful places you can learn about wine!
The Tasting Room at Bell Wine Cellars is open 7 days a week, which allows guests of Churchill Manor to experience this artisanal winery no matter when they are visiting. Among the wonderful tours available at Bell Wine Cellars are three that stand out as perfect for those wanting to expand their knowledge of wine.
Grape to Glass – During this tour, learn the process of winemaking from grape to glass. A tour of the vineyard begins this experience where you’ll learn about the farming relationship with terroir and climate. Then take part of a tank and barrel discussion, and a barrel tasting and then wrap up this 1 ½-hour tour with a seasonal selection of five wines paired with artisan cheeses.
Blending Seminar – This tour takes wine tasting to a whole different level as you get to “be a winemaker” for a day! From studying and comparing varietals and exploring clonal variation, to blending and creating your own private reserve, the Blending Seminar will not only be an educational experience, it will also be a great topic of conversation at your next supper club! You’ll go home with a 750ml bottle of your blend and then choose to have a magnum bottle or two 750ml bottles of your special blend shipped home!
Other wonderful courses to enjoy at Bell Wine Cellars include the Wine & Cheese Tasting, where you’ll try a seasonal selection of five wines paired with artisan cheeses, and the Sensory Tasting class, where you’ll learn how experts detect the different aromas in a wine’s bouquet!
Churchill Manor guests rave about Judd Hill’s Bottle Blending Day Camp. This camp is the ultimate in wine education courses in that you can experience a personal tasting and education session, followed by blending your own wine using four different varietals and the opportunity to hand bottle and label your wine! Several options are available, depending on whether you would like to take home 3, 6 or 12 bottles of your own wine!
Another great experience at Judd’s Hill Winery is the Wine & Food in Balance Seminar, where you’ll walk away with all the skills you need to confidently pair wine with many of your favorite foods!
Fun fact: Judd’s Hill Winery makes Churchill Manor’s micro-crush Cabernet!
Napa Valley Wine Academy is another great place to deepen your knowledge about wine. Called “America’s premier wine school,” the Academy in Downtown Napa offers wine, spirit and Sommelier courses at its Napa-based school. If you’re a novice, you may want to start with a tasting or workshop where you’ll learn to swirl, taste and sip, as well as pair wines with food. If you’re a bit more advanced, you may want to take a wine certification class and really impress your friends!
Churchill Manor
Each evening, Churchill Manor hosts a two-hour Wine and Appetizer Reception featuring Napa Valley and other specialty wines along with appetizers including domestic and imported cheeses, toast points and crackers, seasonal fruits and vegetables, assorted tapenades, and dipping sauces. Mingle with other guests and share your new knowledge about wine!
If you’re looking for more ideas of things to do while in town, download this free Napa Valley Vacation Guide!
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