Carneros Creek Winery

Just down the road from the fake hill of Artesa is the more modest Carneros Creek Winery, which was founded in 1972 and claims to be the oldest continually owned and operated winery in Carneros (Bouchaine claims title of oldest winery site but has had a few breaks in its wine-producing history). One of the founders of Carneros Creek, Francis Mahoney, was a pioneer in researching and planting many of the pinot noir clones grown in Carneros today, and the winery offers tasting of both blended pinots together with those made from specific clones grown on its 148 acres of Carneros vineyards.

Six pinot noir wines are usually available, ranging from the light and fruity Gamay Beaujolais clone up to the earthier Carneros blends. The winery also makes a chardonnay, syrah, and merlot from its Carneros vineyards, together with a zinfandel using grapes from the hot foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Prices range from $16 up to $26 a bottle, and most can be tasted in one of three different tasting flights (1285 Dealy Ln., Napa, 707/253-9463, www.carneroscreek.com, open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, tasting $5–10).