By David Landis, the Gay Gourmet—
Remember back in the day when Napa wine tastings were free? The idea was that you’d traipse up to Napa, try some tasty wines, and then be encouraged to buy. Not so anymore. These days, Napa wine tastings typically start at $75/person for several small pours, and can run as high as $180 or more per person. Forget the old idea that tastings were part of the marketing push; nowadays, it seems as if they are a cost center for wineries.
According to NBC News, “Global and U.S. wine consumption is dropping due to shifts in demographics, health awareness, and market competition. World consumption has hit multi-decade lows, driven by younger generations drinking less alcohol, inflation, and a massive market oversupply.”
So, why hasn’t the wine industry taken notice? At the newly-reopened Robert Mondavi Winery, they are launching new “luxury” wine tastings that start at $180/person. Granted, these are special wines and often include small bites, but still, really?!
Well, the Gay Gourmet has your back. Several wineries have actually looked at the trends, and some are offering wine tastings for free. SFGate remarked that, “Freemark Abbey offers a complimentary 30-minute bar tasting of current releases on Thursdays and Sundays. The stand-up experience accommodates up to four guests and requires advance booking. Raymond also provides a complimentary welcome flight featuring three signature estate wines underneath its peaceful grove canopy. Vincent Arroyo Winery, located just outside Calistoga, is a working family farm that completely waives tasting fees for groups of four or less … and V. Sattui now offers free tastings Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in honor of its 50th anniversary.”
But, in my humble opinion, one winery that offers free tastings stands alone, and is the best: namely, Nemerever Vineyards in Oakville.
This is not your typical corporate large-scale operation. In fact, you have to book in advance because it’s so small. The proprietor, Bill Nemerever, conducts many of the tastings himself. The tours are tailored to your group and are intimate, with a maximum of 6 people at one time. Plus, they’re dog friendly! What could be better?
Bill is an affable guy who delights in showing off his small-scale enterprise to tourists from around the world. How did it begin? He and his wife were looking to buy some property in Oakville (through a classified ad, no less!), and found this estate with a built-in vineyard (now approximately 10 acres). They reconstructed the house and added a wine cave, along with an entire winemaking operation. Then, it was off to the veritable viniculture races.
The Gay Gourmet had a lovely, personalized tour with Bill, my husband, and our poodle mix Gaston—who clearly loved the many vino aromas while exploring the wine cave.
I asked Bill why he doesn’t charge for tastings. “I figure,” he commented, “it’s marketing. If people like our wines, they buy them. The market is fractured, and boomers buy wine, but their wine cellars are full.” He further explains, “There is an oversupply, prices are high, and the government says wine is not good for you.” So, trying to entice new buyers, he decided to switch things up.
What a refreshing approach!
The winemaker at Nemerever Vineyards is Jeff Ames. He took over as chief winemaker in 2015. He partners closely on the estate wines with colleague and associate winemaker Dave Grega. As part of the process, Jeff’s approach is not to intervene. He avoids filtering the wines to feature the distinct and tasty terroir of the eastern Oakville hillsides. Under Ames’ direction, Nemerever maintains a highly exclusive, single-vineyard production of a few hundred cases—exclusively of cabernet sauvignon—per year.
Are the tastings chintzy? Absolutely not! For your free tasting, you get a healthy pour of 10 different wines. How are they? In a word, exquisite. The vineyard is down the road from Silver Oak, Screaming Eagle is next door, and Plump Jack is across the street. Needless to say, they’re in good regional company, with superb soil influence.
I’ve abandoned some of the California cabernet sauvignon wines in recent years because they’re just too much: too much fruit, too many tannins, and too much alcohol. Nemerever wines are the exact opposite. They retain the positive aspects of Napa’s big reds, but without the astringent punch. Many have more of a European, Bordeaux style that is like velvet to the tongue.
Here are my Nemerever favorites:
– the 2021 Cabernet, priced at $125 per bottle, which was rated 98 points by The Wine Illuminati. It has an alcohol content of 14.5%, and reflects a mellow style that pairs well with food;
– the 2014 Block 4 select Cabernet, also priced at $125/bottle, has an alcohol content of 13.7%, and is another selection that is pleasing to the palate;
– plus, the 2007 Nemerever, a more exclusive offering at $225/bottle, has a bigger alcohol content of 14.6%, but is smooth as silk.
Besides buying directly from the winery, where can you find these fine wines? For one, La Toque restaurant at the Westin in Napa serves them, along with the Vintner’s Collective tasting room in downtown Napa. So, when you’re planning your next wine country excursion, why pay the high prices? Book a free tour at Nemerever, and you’ll be happy you did.
Bits and Bites
I just revisited San Francisco’s iconic Redwood Room at the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, which now has live music. It’s like our local version of the classic Bemelmans Bar at the Café Carlyle in New York. The room, with its replica Klimt paintings, is elegant, modern deco, sophisticated, and quiet enough that you can talk. The food is scrumptious: We sampled a satisfying, succulent smashburger; an ahi tuna tartare on a crunchy blue corn tortilla; crispy thicker-style fries; and a juicy, but crusty, fried chicken sandwich. Classic drinks (think terrific martinis with a heavy pour) complement some crafty new-style cocktails like Mr. Clift, which consists of Jack Daniels, Carpano Antica, bitters, and cherry. The singer, Grammy nominated vocalist Sacha Boutros, and her marvelous band, set the right mood with jazz standards, bossa nova, and French classics. The Redwood Room has always been one of San Francisco’s treasures. With live performances, there’s now even more reason to return.
Indulge Sonoma, Sonoma County’s premier culinary and beverage festival, will return on Saturday, September 12, 2026, bringing together the region’s finest restaurants, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and artisan food producers for an afternoon of exceptional flavors and community connection. This year’s event will be led by Culinary Ambassador Chef Dustin Valette and Wine Ambassadors Clay and Carrie Mauritson. Held from 1–4 pm, with VIP access beginning at noon, Indulge Sonoma will offer guests the opportunity to sample offerings from more than 50 local culinary and beverage partners, while enjoying live entertainment and the vibrant atmosphere that will celebrate Sonoma County’s renowned wine and food wine culture. Proceeds from Indulge Sonoma will benefit Becoming Independent, a Sonoma County nonprofit that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through programs that promote independence, employment, and community inclusion.
SusieCakes is marking National Dog Day (August 26) with a month-long Dog Days of Summer promotion, running through August at its seven Bay Area bakeries. For every Dog Frosted Sugar Cookie and Susie’s PupCake sold, $1 goes directly to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. The lineup also includes Susie’s PupCakes (sold in boxes of four, for dog consumption), and a custom dog decorated cake.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the famed and historic Julius’ Castle restaurant on the city’s panoramic Telegraph Hill (a Gay Gourmet “blast from the past” favorite) will reopen its doors in September, says owner Paul Scott. “Wanting to rescue a place beloved by generations of San Franciscans,” the Chronicle explained, “he faced red tape, legal battles, sliding hillsides, and even a small fire along the way.” Now, the majority of building permits have been issued, a chef has been hired, and the iconic, if aging, building has been refurbished. “I didn’t realize this was going to figure so large in my life,” Scott commented. “But it’s been for the good, because it’s such a big part of San Francisco history.” Let’s all make plans to visit when reservations open.
Nemerever Vineyards: https://www.nemerever.com/
Redwood Room at the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel: https://www.redwoodroomsf.com/
Indulge Sonoma: https://tinyurl.com/42x469t7|
Becoming Independent: https://becomingindependent.org/
SusieCakes: https://susiecakes.com/
Julius’ Castle: https://www.juliuscastle.com/
David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. You can email him at: davidlandissf@gmail.comOr visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com
The Gay Gourmet
Published on August 13, 2026
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