Napa

Napa

Conundrum

wine and cheese - Pixabay

It all began at the dinner table. Charlie Wagner Sr., who co-founded Caymus Vineyards in 1972 with his wife, Lorna, and their son, Chuck, would experiment with blending wines to find the ideal pairing for his meals. At that time, blending wines was unconventional, making his experiments quite revolutionary.

In 1989, this experimentation led to the creation of Conundrum White, which quickly gained popularity with its enigmatic tropical notes and remarkable versatility. Conundrum Red, which is both serious and approachable, was introduced in 2011. Today, it is Charlie’s grandson, Charlie Wagner II, who continues to maintain the original essence of Conundrum.

Du Vigne Winery

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Since its inception in 2001, Due Vigne Winery has pioneered the production of hand-crafted Italian varietals, cultivated in carefully selected wine regions across California. The winery is committed to sourcing grapes from vineyards with distinct terroir, each suited to enhancing the characteristics of these varietals. From the high-elevation Sierra Foothills to the coastal and forest influences of Monterey County, every bottle of Due Vigne reflects the unique flavors of its terroir. The winery is centrally located in these renowned regions, situated at the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg, California, with a mission to create world-class Italian varietals nurtured in Californian soil.

Winemaker Ken Musso can often be found among the vineyards, tending to the rows, stirring the soil, and caring for the vines. His passion for Italian wines is driven by the terroir, or “sense of place,” and his meticulous attention to detail ensures that every bottle of Due Vigne is exceptional.

Ken Musso’s lifelong passion for winemaking began in his youth, inspired by observing his father and grandfather making wine in the basement of a historic San Francisco building. The sight and aroma of fermenting grapes left a lasting impression, strengthening his dedication to winemaking. This passion was further fueled when Ken and his cousin discovered several bottles of their grandfather’s last vintage, a 1937 Zinfandel, igniting his determination to uphold the family tradition.

In 1973, Ken embarked on a thirty-year career in firefighting, temporarily setting aside his winemaking aspirations until the establishment of Due Vigne in 2004. As a relatively new firefighter in 1975, Ken brought his first ton of Zinfandel home from Sonoma in his father’s car and fermented it in the garage, emulating his father and grandfather’s methods. The success of this wine among family and friends inspired him to seek out more grapes, ideally those he could grow himself.

Ken continued to produce wines for family and friends over thirty vintages while refining his winemaking skills through classes and seminars at UC Davis and other educational institutions. In 1995, Ken and his wife Ann realized their dream of establishing a vineyard by purchasing a five-acre parcel in Garden Valley, California, where they planted their acclaimed Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Sagrantino.

By 2004, Ken released his inaugural vintage of Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, and Cabernet Sauvignon under the Due Vigne label. Since then, Due Vigne has expanded to produce over 3,000 cases annually and offers more than 15 different varietals, many of which are rooted in the Sierra Foothills. Alongside his business partner, Nina Fadelli, Ken Musso has developed a portfolio of well-balanced, richly complex, and distinctive Italian varietals, all cultivated and grown in California’s fertile soil.

Alpha Omega

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

The service was outstanding! Our host Ashley was so friendly and made our wine tasting experience a great one! The tasting room is beautiful and the grounds are gorgeous. We went on a chilly day, so we didn't get to sit in the beautiful outdoor area.

Luna Vineyards

small bites and wine tasting - Pixabay

Gorgeous building, three stories including a tower overlooking the vineyard. Comfortable couches, both inside and out. Nicely decorated. Definitely a winery kind of feel. Since it was stop one, I split the classic tasting with two others. Our server was friendly and super informative, pulling out a map every so often to tell us where the grapes of each wine came from.

Cockerel Family Wine Estates

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It began as a dream to produce a superb Sauvignon Blanc in the Napa Valley modeled on the best traditions of the incredible Bordeaux blancs of France. In 2005 we were fortunate to locate a beautiful estate vineyard in Calistoga which was planted over 50 years ago on St. George rootstock. Back dropped by the Palisades, the old vines thrive in this dry-farmed vineyard which has deep soil that is well suited to growing Sauvignon Blanc. The result -- our first estate grown wine Terroir Coquerel, followed by Le Petit Coquerel, and in 2008 Cockerel Family estate grown late harvest Sauvignon Blanc, La Douce Revanche. Each wine is distinctive and delicious, reflecting individually the terroir of their original Calistoga vineyard and of the elegant flavors unique to Sauvignon Blanc.

The Cockerel Family's vineyards and winemaking operations are centered around their estate vineyard, "Walnut Wash," located in the afternoon shadows of the Mayacamas Mountains at the northern end of Napa Valley, within the Calistoga AVA. This site benefits from a warm and protected environment, with a mix of deep clay and stony soils. The vineyard currently encompasses seven acres planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Petite Sirah, and Tempranillo. In 2014, four additional acres were planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. Under the stewardship of winemaker Christine Barbe, the vineyard is meticulously managed to achieve low yields and high quality, resulting in exceptional fruit each vintage due to the unique conditions and favorable terroir.

In the realm of winemaking, Christine Barbe has significantly influenced the quality and style of Coquerel wines. Each bottling is crafted by hand in small lots to ensure character and authenticity. The white wines are noted for their brightness, crispness, elegance, and structure, while the reds are characterized by their intensity, aroma, harmony, and lushness. Complexity, concentration, balance, and minerality are the defining features of their wines.

Schweiger Vineyards

2500 ft up the mountain from the "flatlands" of St. Helena. Very different feel from the wineries down on the valley floor. Small family owned and operated winery. We did not get a tour but had a very pleasant tasting.

Continuum Estate

grape cluster - Pixabay

Continuum Wine was founded in 2005 and is located on Pritchard Hill in the Vaca Mountains, the mountain range that forms the Eastern boundary above Napa Valley. This location was purchased in mid summer 2008 and there are plans to build a new winery on site. The winery is about 3 miles in from Sage Canyon Road, on a windy narrow steep road about 25-30 minutes from the town of St. Helena. While not an officially recognized sub appellation of Napa this area has long produced excellent wine. In fact, vines have been planted in the vicinity of Pritchard Hill since the late 1880's by Italian American Vintners. Two of Napa's typically 7 recognized cult wineries are here: Bryant Family and Colgin. Other nearby premium wineries include Chappellet, Ovid and David Arthur.

Opus One Winery

glass of red wine - Pixabay

Beautiful property with elegant tasting rooms and a lovely upper balcony for you to enjoy your "tasting" on. They don't do the typical 1oz tasting that most wineries offer. Opus One's tastings are full glasses of their two wines being offered that season. Opus One, unlike many other wineries, offers intimiate tours just to your group. There's no feeling of being herded along with 15 other strangers, straining to hear what the winemaker or guide is trying to say. Caleb, our guide, was perfect. He spent just the right amount of time on relevant topics and in each area of the winery. We saw the barrel room, the vines, all the sorting processes, the vats, the winemaking room, even some executive offices! This was service at its best. We were given the Overture (2009, I think), Opus One 2009, and Opus One 2006 to taste throughout our two-hour tour. I wouldn't recommend this winery if you are with 15 friends on a party bus, looking to get drunk. Or if you're just looking to "check out" Napa for the first time. Or if you couldn't tell the difference between red wine or white wine with red food coloring . The money and the prestige are not worth it. It's a special treat to learn and experience Opus On

Hendry Winery

pouring a glass of wine - Pixabay

Reservations are a must! Call a couple of weeks ahead of time, so you get the day and time slot you want. They only have two time slots, either 10am or 2pm. The wine tour and tasting runs about three hours (half tour, half tasting), but it's totally worth it! The winery grounds are gorgeous. Great scenic views. The tour and tasting combo is $40, but it's waived if you buy an equivalent amount of wine. Sweet! Their bottles range from about $25 to $50 depending on what you get.

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