Stopped by in the Fall to do a little tasting on our way up to the hot springs. I first went to this winery about 13 years ago and was a member for years. They have excellent red wines and fun harvest parties - complete with grape stomping! It's a quaint winery away from the crowds in Napa and couple of my favorites were the 2003 Cabernet Bosche and Zinfandel.
Spelletich Family Winery . started with the 1994 harvest in Napa Valley. The first wines produced by winemaker Barb Spelletich, were Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Bodog Red, a blend. With minimal intervention, the Spelletich family – Barb, Timothy, and Kristen -- rely upon its secret weapon: Barb's palate.In 2012, The Spelletich Family Wine Company is united by four brands – Spelletich Cellars, SPELLwine, 3 SPELLS, and Crush 94. Spelletich Cellars produces about 3,000 cases per year made from grapes sourced from some of the finest Napa Valley vineyards. Kristen and Vanessa are so accommodating and helpful that it is impossible not to like what Spelletich Cellars has to offer. For a slice of the Napa Valley without any of the pretense you are likely to find in many of the Valley's high-end tasting rooms, you really couldn't do any better. Great value, great service and a personal touch drawn from years of hard work.
Located on the eastern edge of the Napa Valley in the hills above Lake Hennessey and the town of Rutherford, this extraordinary mountaintop estate features 82 individual vineyard blocks, three distinctive soil types, and a range of elevations and exposures. From this rich and diverse palette of fruit, Kuleto Estate produces a small portfolio of exceptional estate grown wines.
Kuleto Estate wines are 100% estate-grown, produced and bottled. With 82.9 acres of vines planted between 800 and 1,450 feet, each of the 100+ micro-blocks must receive individualized treatment to maximize their potential. Winemaker Giovanni Verdejo has been working at Kuleto since 2002 and has mastered the art of cultivating the unique personalities of each block into some of the finest mountain estate wines in the Napa Valley.
Smith Madrone makes only three wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling. In each case, the wine's mountain roots shine through. The chardonnay is leaner and tighter than most examples from the area, despite full ML and all new oak. This tightly structured wine needs time, and is built for it. The current release Cabernet is the 2006...how's that for integrity? The Smith brothers hold back their Cabs until they feel they're ready. While not a tannic monster, this wine has strong bones, to be sure, and needs time as well, though it wouldn't be out of place with a hearty red meat dish right now.
Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon were initially planted in 1972. Cabernet Franc and Merlot were added in 1998. Petite Verdot was added in 2007. Pinot Noir was planted in 1972 but grafted over to Chardonnay in 1986.
Jaffe Estate Wines is a family-owned winery. The estate produces rich and medium-bodied Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Customers can order online or make an appointment to have a tasting.
Just ten minutes up from Highway 29 and you have the view - of Napa Valley. Then, if you book a tasting tour, instead of standing at a bar, or a cold cellar, you will be seated in a room streaming with sunshine. From there a generous sampling of their current releases will be poured, alongside a nice place of cheese, nuts and chocolate. Time to consider the tasting...and what you will buy to have at home. I know that one of my Cabernet favorites.
This is an appointment only winery, and it has a quiet, more laid back feel than other places in Napa. The tasting room is really cute, with artwork and photography lining the walls. The wine maker's son, Julius even sells some of his beautiful photos at the winery. Our server was the wine maker's daughter, Sam, and she was great. We tried several different wines, including a Chardonnay, Malbec, and my personal favorite, the Cab-Franc. Everything was super well done. The Chardonnay was sweet, and not overly buttery, the cab-franc was smooth and the Malbec full of flavor. Sam was even kind enough to let us try one of their Napa Jazz wines. Very good, with a fancifully designed label. The best part? The wines are moderately priced. Most bottles cost around $30-40. The scenic rolling hills of grapevines, and large, earthy smelling wine cellars are great for photo opportunities. When we visited, the vineyard was in bloom with wild flowers. Super pretty. If you're in the Valley looking for great wines and an affordable price and gorgeous vistas without all the crowd, definitely give this place a try.
Cornerstone/Stepping Stone didn't disappoint and ended up with a fantastic wine tasting experience from start to finish. Its small, but tasteful wine room makes you feel as if you are being welcomed to the vinter's home. Its cozy tables and bar tables offer some fantastic pours with a plethora of wines whether it is syrah, sauvignon blanc, or syrah. However, it is their cabernet that truly shines. Yet everyone's taste is different and while your experience might be different, I certainly think it is worth the experience. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. They aren't pushy, however they explain the nuances between each wine they have crafted and what sets it apart from other wineries in the area. Prices are rather reasonable with a its higher price Cornerstone wines and its "price friendly" Stepping Stone series. Certainly a great wine room when you are on a tour of Napa!
It was established in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley in 1983 as a Chardonnay estate and was known as Crichton Hall Vineyard. The estate was acquired it is totality in 2002 and the 14 acres of original Chardonnay vines were replaced by the Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. In 2005, the first estate grown Darms Lane Cabernet Sauvignon was produced. Today, Darms Lane produces around 500 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon, 400 cases of Chardonnay and 250 cases of Pinot Noir every year.
Michael Pozzan Winery is owned and operated by Michael and Mary Ann Pozzan, both natives of California. Michael was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but spent his summer months with his grandparents on their 35 acre vineyard estate in Sonoma County. Michael's grandfather purchased the land after WWII and planted Zinfandel grapes, which he sold to local wineries. He always made sure that he retained a portion of the grapes to make his own wine. With roots extending to Piedmont, Italy, Michael's family has been in the wine business since the mid 1800s, and still owns the original property that Michael's great grandfather planted over100 years ago.
