Napa

Napa

Showket Vineyard

glass of red wine - Pixabay

The Showket Vineyard is situated on the Oakville Hillside overlooking the Silverado Trail and Oakville Crossroad. I would like nothing more than to write about the vineyard’s soils, but it is actually the propertys lack of soil that makes it so unique. The ground is a mix of red volcanic rock and limited amounts of clay loam. The conditions at Showket are so extreme that each plant receives up to ten gallons of water weekly, and yet a day after watering, there is no trace of it.

The other key factor is the vineyard’s virtually ideal orientation. It faces almost due west, so it receives sunlight from the dawns first light until the sun sets over the Mayacamas Mountains. From the Showket Vineyard we source Cabernet Sauvignon, clones 7 and 8, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, both of which predate individual numbered clones for their varietals.

The owner, Kal Showket, personally manages the vineyard. During the growing season he never leaves the property. Each day he rides through the vineyard and makes watering decisions based on what he sees, smells and tastes. The vineyard guides his choices, not a preset schedule..

Discover potential and create excellence at Bevan Cellars. Since its founding in 2005, the winery's philosophy has been consistent: the journey is as significant as the result. Each vintage is an opportunity to seek out hidden gem vineyards and craft wines that embody their unique origins with intensity and balance.

The team at Bevan Cellars embraces a sustainable approach both in the vineyards and the cellar. This meticulous, hands-on process fuels their passion to produce wines that are not only exciting to enjoy upon release but also worthy of aging for years. They are driven by the excitement of discovery and invite others to share in the experience.

Swanson Vineyards

glass of wine - Pixabay

Such a fun winery! The Swanson's were there when we paid a visit and took the time to come over and speak with us on a more personal level asking where we're from, and what we did to make small talk. A very lovely couple that made you feel at home. They also had a very nice gentleman playing music on a very special instrument (I can't remember the name) in the front garden/patio area.

Schramsberg Vineyards

grape clusters - Pixabay

Visitors are invited to explore one of Schramsberg's two winery locations during their next trip to Napa Valley. At Schramsberg, guests can enjoy tour and tasting experiences or tasting-only experiences, both available by appointment only. At Davies Vineyards, seated tastings are offered exclusively by appointment.

Hunnicutt Wines

Grape Cluster - Pixabay

Hunnicutt is a family-owned winery in Napa Valley that specializes in producing small lots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Established in 2002 by Justin Hunnicutt Stephens, the winery reflects his extensive experience in the wine industry, which he gained through part-time jobs in his youth as well as various roles in wine production, sales, and management early in his career. Situated on a hillside in the foothills of Napa’s eastern Vaca Range, Hunnicutt boasts an 18,000-foot network of caves carved into volcanic tuff. The winery's wines are crafted by Kirk Venge, a respected winemaker and close friend of Justin, and are sourced from distinctive estate vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma County.

Chasing Lions

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Chasing Lions Cabernet Sauvignon is a sleek and supple full-bodied wine that offers aromas of cassis and blueberries. The palate is richly textured with silky tannins and wonderful fruit density filled with flavors of ripe blackberries, chocolate, mocha and toasty oak. Chasing Lions is produced by Nine North Wines.

Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery

red wine pours into wine glass - Pixabay

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.

Juslyn Vineyards

wine and cheese - Pixabay

When British ex-patriots Perry and Carolyn Butler moved to California in 1982, they never dreamed they would own 42 acres of prime vineyard land in the heart of Napa Valley. They arrived in California as high-tech pioneers and founded their own computer company in the San Francisco Bay area. After routine 80-hour work weeks, the couple relaxed during weekend trips to Napa Valley, where they were bitten by the wine bug. Dreams of high-tech dominance soon turned to thoughts of returning to the land and grape growing. Our tasting included the 2006 Perry's Blend at $75, a blend that has more Merlot than Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2007 which has more Cabernet Sauvignon and sells for $80. The 2006 is 47% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, with only 665 cases produced. The 2007 is 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, with 672 cases produced. The 2007 was described by the winery as possessing a "tremendous aromas of flowers, blue, red and black fruits, graphite and forest floor" but both of us got an even better nose from the 2006. The 2006 was softer with cherry and chocolate on the palate and good but soft tannins. The 2007 was bigger with more tannin, but also very well balanced. Both wines were very drinkable now but should cellar well. I later shared a bottle of the 2006 with friends, and it was even better at home after being given some time to open up.

Trefethen Vineyards & Winery

wine by the fireplace - Pixabay

Trefethen Family Vineyards is a winery that should be on your short list of essential Napa Valley wineries to visit. They have a superior line up of wines that should appeal to many different palates. Prices are very reasonable for Napa Valley. It is also easy to reach and has plenty of parking. Shannon, our wine host, provided a great tasting experience thanks to her charm, humor and enthusiasm.

Random Ridge

red wine pouring into a wine glass - Pixabay

Random Ridge is a panoramic 42-acre ranch situated on the southernmost ridge of the Mayacamas Mountains, within Napa’s Mount Veeder appellation.

In the summer of 1979, Bill and Susan Hawley, both 27 years old with a one-year-old son named Emile, acquired this rugged and untamed property. The site was heavily forested and located at the end of a challenging dirt fire road that marked the boundary between Napa and Sonoma Counties.

Bill Hawley named the property Random Ridge on a poetic impulse, believing the name perfectly suited the land’s character. The terrain is steep and rugged, positioned on a 2,200-foot ridge at the edge of Mount Veeder. This area, an ancient uplifted seabed, features rock-strewn decomposed volcanic soils. The northern and eastern views offer vistas of pine-covered mountains with no visible homes, while the southern view provides a breathtaking panorama of the San Francisco Bay, Mount Tamalpais in Marin, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Occasionally, the sunset reveals a glimpse of the ocean, 30 miles to the west, through a gap in the coastal foothills.

Diamond Creek Vineyards

glass of wine - Pixabay

Founded in 1968, Diamond Creek is California's first exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard. Visionary pioneer Al Brounstein defied modern conventions and planted Bordeaux varietals on secluded Diamond Mountain. The three vineyards produce a small amount of long-lived wines that are elegant with great depth and richness, honored and cherished by connoisseurs the world over.

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