We were given the opportunity to check this place out through the wine tour we scheduled. Their operation is also one of the most intimate experiences you will have in terms of a winery visit. You literally taste their wine on some super comfy patio furniture in the middle of a field/clearing right next to their vineyard! The owner, Donny, is very knowledgable and guides you through his wines.
Kevin Carriker, together with long-time friend and winemaker, Mark Herold, makes a knock-out Cab which mostly comes from Coombsville, the coolest micro-climate in Napa, and since inception has remained fantastic and nearly impossible to acquire. As an answer to demand that surpasses all production, and to produce an approachable wine at a more achievable price point, they create a red wine blend called Window Pane.
It was a long and eventful journey, but today, eight years after buying the property in the shadow of Napa Valley's Mount St. Jean, the Witts have transformed the 6.8-acre abandoned dairy into their retirement dream and more. They planted vines and established a winery, Witt Estate, and also offer estate-grown olive oil and lavender in their spare time.
The Nine North Wine Company is located in the prestigious Stags Leap District. Owned and operated by Jim Gill and James Harder, two long time friends from Canada who have fulfilled their dreams by moving to the Napa Valley to produce wine. Working closely with Gill and Harder, is fellow vintner Jim Regusci. The three have developed a unique portfolio of small handcrafted wines.
The cave's ambiance is really neat... it's fun to explore the vineyard above the cave before or after your tasting and see where some of the grapes are grown and if you're an adventurous type, it's fun to take pictures by the giant Grape crusher statue on top of the vineyard. This is truly Napa's hidden gem! It's located at the Meritage Resort at the south end of Napa, and the tasting room is in a cave UNDER THE GRAPES. It's such a unique place to visit in Napa. The wines are excellent. The Mysterium is one of my favorite reds, and I love the Sauvingnon Blanc. The chardonnay is also very nice. The service in the wine cave is impeccable, and the employees are really knowledgable about the wine. They will also stay and have a friendly conversation with you if it's not too busy.
We went to this winery without reservations to do a quick tasting if possible. They were totally accomodating and both people we talked to their were really sweet. IThe winery has great feel to it, with the old houses in front of the newer barrel room the tasting area is located in the middle of their vineyard.
Their wines were definately not inexpensive, but you do get what you pay for with their wines. They are solid, even robust in character with a long finish.
The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon would be a great wine for someone special at $60 a bottle. This one can easily cellar for ten years. Only 1000 cases are made of this one. It's smooth and mellow, and good for Merlot and Pinot Noir afficiandos as well as lovers of the Cabernet Savignon wines.
The Nine North Wine Company is a unique portfolio of small handcrafted wines from Napa Valley as well as California's North Coast appellation that specialize in offering exceptional quality, worth and value. The portfolio can usually be found in fine wine shops and restaurants around the country. Twenty Bench Cabinet is one of the wines in The Nine North Wine Company portfolio.
Definitely one of those places we would miss if it wasn't for recommendations from others we meet along the way. We entered the small tasting room and walked up to the tasting counter. There were wine barrels all around and two guys manning the counter. The one who helped us out was very welcoming and gave us some nice history on Pina. They are known/applauded for their cabs.We got to taste about 5 cabs, a port and a late harvest chard.. Wow, what an experience!. Where else can you sample 90+ rated cabs for no extra "reserve" fee? Left with a bottle of the Howell Mountaian cab and the intrguing late harvest chard.
Wonderful, relaxing experience in a very unpretentious setting.
Since 1988, Jade Mountain has been a pioneer in the production of Rhône-style California wines. The winery was founded with the belief that carefully chosen California vineyard sites planted to Rhône grape varieties can achieve quality on a par with the best from France and Australia.
Paras Vineyard, Jade Mountain's flagship vineyard, rests on the upper slopes of Mount Veeder, overlooking the Napa Valley. With rocky vine terraces and eastern exposures reminiscent of the finest Northern Rhône vineyards, Paras Vineyard grows Syrah and other Rhône grapes of truly exciting quality. From this and other select vineyards, Jade Mountain creates Syrah, Mourvèdre, Viognier and a proprietary southern Rhône-style blend called La Provençale
Tulocay was one of the "new" wineries to start up in the early 1970's, and the owner, Bill Cadman, is still at it and still making great Napa wines, in the traditional style. This means that his wines are very well-balanced and play well with food - they don't dominate, they enhance and compliment, good meals. They also age very well.
Another plus is that the Tulocay wines are generally very well-priced compared with your average Napa wine - many if not most of his wines are in the 20 to 30 dollar range.
