Oakville

Plumpjack is an iteresting winery located in Oakville. (620 Oakville Cross Road, Oakville, CA 94562). The fanciful theater-set style of the complex is a clue that this is a winery that flaunts tradition—as an example, they have got rid of the cork in some of their reserve Cabernets and replaced it with a screw cap. Plumpjack derives its name from Shakespeare’s portly character Jack Falstaff. Open for tasting 10 am to 4 pm, $5 per person. 707-945-1220, www.plumpjack.com. As you visit the little town of Oakville you will see Oakville Grocery. If you plan to picnic, stop here for supplies and gourmet treats to accompany your winery purchases. Opus One is definetly a place see when you are visiting Oakville. (7900 Saint Helena Hwy, Hwy 29, Oakville, CA 94562) The winery is an exquisite showplace for the California Robert Mondavi family and the French Rothschild family. The gleaming white, circular structure looks a bit like a luxurious, futuristic coliseum. It certainly makes an impressive statement. As you enter this remarkable building, it is immediately obvious that no expense was spared. Visitors are treated as honored guests and wait in an elegant lounge before the tour begins (complimentary—you must sign up two to four weeks in advance). The optional tasting of their current vintage is $25, and the tasting room is open from 10 am to 4 pm. 707-944-9442, www.opusonewinery.com. Almost opposite Opus One you find the Robert Mondavi winery (7801 Saint Helena Hwy, Hwy 29, Oakville, CA 94562). This modern winery, with a statue of Saint Francis at its entrance, was styled after the Franciscan missions, with an open-arched entry framing an idyllic view of vineyards. Nine different tours are offered, varying in length and cost. The hour-and-a-half vineyard and winery tour is extremely informative and provides a good general introduction to the essentials of winemaking. By special arrangement, you can also make reservations for the three- to four-hour advanced winegrowing tour ($30 per person), offered Wednesdays at 10 am, touring the fields and studying the grapes as well as the winery. After each tour guests are invited into the tasting room to sample the wines. The spacious lawn at the back is the site of popular summer concerts. Reservations are recommended. Open 9 am to 5 pm. 707-968-2000 or 888-766-6328, www.robertmondaviwinery.com.