Word of Mouth: Napa Valley
Pairing wine tastings with a sense of adventure
With more that 400 wineries in California’s Napa Valley, planning an itinerary can be a challenge. Focusing on independent and family-owned wineries opens a window into boutique winemaking operations, inspiring architectural spaces, focused art collections and surprising vineyard experiences. Learning about their commitment to careful management of the land and living in harmony with animals, winemakers share a focus on water conservation, B Corp building design and natural abatement practices. In addition to offering tours of their vineyards and tasting rooms, the following wineries share their history and provide unique tastings with food pairings alongside a variety of activities that tell the story of the community.
Hollywood History at Frank Family Vineyards
Along Larkmead Lane, a name fit for a ’60s family sitcom, the Frank Family Vineyard brings some Hollywood history and glamor to the Napa Valley. Their newest tasting takes place in The Miller House, their modern farmhouse designed by the prolific architect Howard Backen, with versatile glass walls that reveal vineyard views. This experience highlights the depth and versatility of Frank Family estate wines—and includes a selection of their current release sparkling blanc de blancs, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, each paired with charcuterie and their favorite locally sourced cheese. Visitors can also opt for The Craftsman House Tasting, in their charming historic yellow house, for estate tastings held in two rooms with memorabilia dedicated to members of the Frank family. The Patriarch Room and The Patriarch Cabernet Sauvignon honor Rich Frank’s father, Hy Frank, and the family legacy of him landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day. The “Hollywood” room features images from Rich’s career as the former President of Disney and Leslie Frank’s work as an award-winning broadcast journalist.
Falconry in the Garden at Bouchaine Vineyards
On the site of the oldest continuously-family-owned property in the area, Bouchaine Vineyards sits along the southernmost region of the Carneros AVA closest to San Francisco, Marin and the East Bay. Over the years this winery has grown into a leading producer of sustainably farmed chardonnay. In 2015, Chris Kajani joined the company as president and lead winemaker and has been recognized for her sustainability practices and award-winning wines. On Friday mornings, a feathery surprise perches in anticipation of visitors during their “Falconry in the Garden” experience. During this time, Rebecca Rosen shares an overview of how her birds serve an integral purpose in the vineyards. Her Harris Hawk and Peregrine Falcon take on the job of scaring away the other species that would threaten the grapes by gobbling up fruit before they fully ripen and are ready for harvest. To be up close with hawks, owls and falcons offers a window into the life of these majestic birds, who—when prompted with a morsel of food—will fly to the leather falconry glove. Rosen’s owl will also sit patiently for a photo as glasses of wine are served there in the garden.
The Backstage Tasting Lounge at Cliff Lede Vineyards
A visit to Cliff Lede Vineyards is a feast for the senses. Opened in 2002, this Yountville winery, helmed by general manager Jason Lede, not only showcases founder Cliff Lede’s focus on both producing estate wines but celebrates the music and art created by his favorite rock icons. Lede’s love of rock music informs every aspect of their winery, a theme evident from the tasting rooms to the garden patio and even to the vineyard blocks. The label for their Rock Block Series evoked the look of an amp. Their Private Appellation Tour & Tasting features a selection of estate wine in their Backstage Tasting Lounge where guests will taste vineyard selection cabernet sauvignons surrounded by Grace Slick paintings, John Lennon drawings and Lede’s collection of guitars played by Fleetwood Mac, REO Speedwagon, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Muse. Wine tasting includes single vineyard, appellation series, platinum and library wines from their 60 acres of vines in Stags Leap District, 20 acres in Calistoga and 86 acres in Carneros. Their Napa Green-certified sustainable, Howard Backen-designed winery and tasting room are powered by a 300-kilowatt solar panel field with a three-tier sorting line, optical sorting machine and an extensive cave system to keep the wines cool.
Merlot Mastery Experience at Sullivan [Rutherford]:
The mention of merlot wine evokes opinions. For some it may conjure an immediate recollection of Paul Giamatti’s tirade in Alexander Payne’s film Sideways, after which one could feel the sales of merlot plummeting. Merlot, like any other wine grape, depends on the quality of the fruit and the talent and resources of the winemaker. At Sullivan they love Merlot and are deeply invested in growing the best grapes and crafting the most delicious wine. For anyone else who loves merlot or wants to learn why they should give this grape another chance, Sullivan offers a deep dive into the world. Here, merlot is king. The Merlot Mastery Experience showcases their love for the grape variety with a tour of their vineyard-to-bottle process and a tasting with winemaker Jeff Cole and owner Juan Pablo Torres Padilla. This immersive experience begins with one of their wines served side by side with European old-world producers of right bank Bordeaux and Italy’s Bolgheri to tell the story of the quality they aim for at Sullivan. It’s a bold move and an entertaining way to start the conversation. The tasting includes these three wines and a second flight showcases a vertical lineup of their flagship merlots with food pairings.
Time Travel with the Gamble Family Vineyards
Booking a tour and tasting at Gamble Family Vineyard feels like a time-travel machine from the early days of the Napa Valley to glimpses of winemaking operations of the future. Gamble offers by-appointment only tastings that focus on the rich history and continued stewardship of the land and how they helped preserve Napa winemaking for generations. The tours take place in their original 19th century homestead and feature horse barns and sweeping views of the valley floor. During the experience, visitors learn how the Gamble family was integral to establishing the Napa Valley Ag Preserve to protect agriculture in the area for future generations. Tom Gamble often hosts the tours, giving guests a unique look into the life and legacy of a Napa Valley farmer. Visitors may also get to see their newest vineyard vehicle, the fully electric Monarch MKV tractor. The tasting features a flight of four rare wines in their historic house. The childhood photo of Tom on the sauvignon blanc bottle offers another glimpse into what it was like growing up on the land where he continues the family legacy to this day.
The Seasonal Wine and Food Experience Ram’s Gate
Easily accessible on a drive in from or back to San Francisco through the Sonoma Valley, Ram’s Gate offers a not-to-be missed food and wine pairing experience. The magic here is conjured in the stunning setting on a hill overlooking 28 acres of organically farmed vines of the Carneros AVA. The winery, with many dramatically appointed tasting spaces, was created by architect Howard Backen. It is one of his most majestic structures built with reclaimed wood. The bold interior design choices of Orlando Diaz-Azcuy make this setting one of the most idyllic places to reserve a wine tasting. Beginning with a tour focused on their estate farming techniques and the winemaking process, guests will then be seated for a five-wine guided tastings with each wine hand-selected by winemaker Joe Nielsen. These are drawn from their Cellar Note Series, Single Vineyard Wines and Estate Collection, coupled with specifically paired food courses from executive chef Ruby Oliveros. The culinary program highlights ideal pairings with seasonal ingredients to help guests learn how to match their favorite wines to the foods that will complement each other. Ram’s Gate also features a caviar experience, which pairs a selection from Tsar Nicoulai with Reserve wine flights. This seasonal pairing is part of a larger commitment to sustainability. Recently, owner Jeff O’Neill announced that they have officially received certification from the CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers association) that their harvest this year will be the first certified organic vintage for Ram’s Gate.
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