Our two weeks in Napa gave us the opportunity to spend more times than usual at a number of wineries. Some were new to us. Others, long-time favorites. The following posts on Napa Wine Experiences begins in Los Carneros, at the the southern tip of the valley, and ends in St Helena and Calistoga, in the north.

Los Carneros is the coolest part of the valley and the source of most of Napa’s Burgundy varietals. Our visits included:

• Acacia. Our favorite Carneros winery with a rapidly growing selection of single vineyard Carneros Chardonnays and our favorites, pinots. Although we do not favor Caneros pinots as much as we had in year’s past, a number, such as the Sangiacomo, Lone Tree, Redding Ranch and especially the Phendler (of which we bought a number of bottles) are more than worth a stop. And when you’re there, check out the temporarily half-priced Kick Ranch Syrah.
• Nicholson Ranch. Nice Pinots and Chards in a lovely setting. Check out the 2009 Estate Pinot.
• Bouchaine. The light whites (Chard, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris) and reds Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Syrah) are pleasant, the late harvest, botrytisized chardonnay particularly caught our fancy. Saturday, we returned to Bouchaine for one of the winery’s monthly member events. This, a fun, four-course wine dinner prepared by the chef of Washington D.C.”s Equinox and paired with a range of Bouchaine wines.