I'd love to see your itenerary.
This is the e-mail I sent my friend. It's tailored because I know her tastes (Cabs and Zins). It's less an itinerary than our notes on different places we've hit over the years. Interesting to see a few of my notes in light of your review. And I agree with your assessment of Darioush, too. Yes, this is very long..."I know you want to stop at places like Shaffer, Far Niente, Swanson, Phelps, etc. I'm not going to touch on those, as I think you already know you're going to get quality there. Most of these are the smaller, lesser-known places we've liked or notes on places I think you might be inclined to hit.
Artesa - They have some pretty good wines (Be sure to try their Alexander Valley Cab), but for the most part this is a place to go for the view and b/c it's a pretty cool building.
Luna - I think they advertise by-appointment tastings, but you're OK to just walk in. One of many wineries on the lesser-traveled Silverado Trail that are worth hitting. Do the reserve tasting and see if they'll just let you add the regular Sangiovese to it (That's the best wine from their regular tasting). Good wines, very friendly tasting room.
Peju - Usually VERY friendly people in the tasting room and good wines. A better place to go in non-peak hours (During the week if possible), as it can get packed and you might get them to let you try a few wines not on the tasting agenda. It can never hurt to ask here, as they're pretty free with the stuff they have open/in stock. The Cab and Zin are both good, but the Reserve Cab is incredible.
Sterling - Wines are worth tasting, but the view is probably better than any in the valley.
Summers - These people are fantastic and make some of the best unknown wines. Excellent Charbono and Cab and one of the few Chards I like. Used to make a Chevalier Noir that was great with chocolate, but I think they quit making it. Small-production family winery and a must-hit if you make it to Calistoga.
Zahtila - Also in Calistoga and along the Silverado Trail. We love their zins. They have a good Cab (Beckstoeffer), too. If you are looking for whites, don't bother. They just released their first one this year.
Niebaum-Coppola - Don't go there so much for the wines as for the Francis Ford Coppola memorabilia (The Godfather's desk, etc). If you're a fan, it's cool to see. Otherwise, you can skip it and not feel like you're missing much.
Cosentino - One of the few wine club discounts worth consideration (30% the day you join, 25% thereafter - as good as you'll find anywhere). You absolutely have to do the tasting that includes the Cab and "The Poet" - just outstanding wines. Wife loved the Cab Franc, which would be great with some kabobs. Also be sure to try any of their zins available (Ask and they'll pretty much let you try anything that is open). "TheZin" and "Cigarzin" are two of my favorites. I picked up 2 bottles of TheZin Reserve, but have yet to actually taste it, as they weren't pouring it.
Dutch Henry - They have some great whites and reds. I love their Meritage. Not much of a tasting room, but very cool and friendly people. Another one along the Silverado Trail.
Del Dotto deleted, as I think we've covered that.
Arger-Martucci - they're pretty new and have some good wines, along with a real family feel. They had a wine and cheese pairing when we went in. We were pleasantly surprised. Excellent Syrah (Or Petit, I can't recall which at present).
Hall - Arger-Martucci supplied us with a "Hall Pass" which provided a free tasting at Hall wineries across the street. They have a $38 Cabernet whose flavor FAR exceeds that price for a California Cab. '01 T Bar T Cab. Should be a 90 point wine.
Sullivan - One of the smallest production wineries in the valley, they have some great art by Katherine Sullivan (a daughter of the owners) and some excellent wines to boot. Plan on talking a lot, as family members wander in and out. By appointment only.
Dean and Delucca - A place we like to stop for lunch occasionally. We go to their deli, grab a sandwich, and sit there and eat. Good lunch on the go.
Some other wineries worth visiting: (Vincent) Arroyo, Rombauer, Silverado (More view than wine, but a good Sangio), Whitehall Lane (Do the vertical Cab tasting and ask to try the Reserve Cab), and the ones on our list to hit next time are Quintessa and Chappellett.
Sonoma (We've spent a LOT less time there, and don't have many notes from our first trip):
Loxton - Run by an Australian guy who was actually helping the workers during Crush when we were there last year. He climbed down off the machinery they were operating to offer us a taste of some of the Cab grapes they were crushing. He took the time to talk with us for half an hour or so during his busiest time of year and then proceeded to comp our tasting. Great guy and a friendly tasting room. We were a little disappointed in our trip there in July, though. They just sold out of their best zin, which was also their best wine by far.
Seghesio - We love their zins and we were even more impressed with them after visiting the winery. The tasting room itself is nothing overly impressive, but the 2 guys working behind the bar were great. We had a blast chatting with them, tried some really nice wines, and loved all of their zins (But don't buy the Sonoma zin on site, as you can get it cheaper in stores).
Ravenswood - Worth hitting just b/c I know you love zin. These guys make like 50 different ones, most of which have their merits.
J - We thought this place was the best winery we've visited in Sonoma, hands down. As I understand it, it's owned and operated entirely by women. They pair food with their wines for the tastings, and
all of their wines were tremendous, including a Chardonnay that I actually loved. Not too oaky, which you find a lot in CA."
hopefully, i'll be getting a 3 pack of 01 halo next month at $106/each.i'm also negotiating with a rep to buy some 05 bordeaux futures, first growths, as an investment. they're all sceaming from the hilltops about how freaking great 05 is going to be. i've never bought futures before & don't know the best way to go about it. if i get a break through the rep similar to what i get now it seems like a no brainer.
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Can you smuggle some of those out to friendly individuals happy to pay the restaurant for its time, trouble, and costs incurred.
I doubt they last through the next 4 weeks considering we have 2 weeks of Jazz Fest, Loyola & Tulane graduating, and Mothers day. If any are left, they will be in my car when we evacuate again this summer. Where y'at? 
