Napa

Napa

Silver Stag Winery

wine dancing in the glass - Pixabay

Silver Stag Winery sits on a prime piece of Tulocay acreage in the heart of Napa Valley, just east of the town of Napa and about three miles from the Bay. Planted in plums back at the end of the nineteenth century, the soil is rich enough—and distinct enough—to have earned it consideration as an official viticultural appellation. The vineyard is defined by a gentle swale that sits at the foot of Mount George. Its microclimate, comparable to "cool Bordeaux", is a bit warmer than Carneros, but it still feels the marine intrusions flowing up the path of the Napa River. The effect is to extend the time on the vine, yielding smaller berries with less tannin and far more concentration than the Napa average. Silver Stag has planted the majority of its land in Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. Visits by appointment.

Philip Togni Vineyards

wine corks and wine glass - Pixabay

Most of the 2000 case annual production is sold to a mailing list on a first-come basis. Part of each offering is a very limited amount of the Cabernet made ten years earlier, as an illustration of the ageworthiness of our wine. The balance is split between a broad but thin presence in many of the well known wine stores in the U.S., and a definite presence in almost all European countries together with the principle Asian markets.

Jaeger Vineyards

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Jaeger Vineyards are grape growers who sell their fruit to local wineries. Its first objective is to keep business in Napa with sustainability and good farming at the forefront, protecting the soil's terroir and following sound practices in order to do so. The family owned vineyard began back in the early 70s when Bill Jaeger came to Napa and bought some land in the district of Oak Knoll, a now renowned area for wine that is recognized worldwide. Varietals include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Jaeger Vineyards is partnered with Alpha Omega Wines and Amour Prive Winery.

Screaming Eagle Winery & Vineyards

bottle of wine, glasses of wine with a chateau in the background - Pixabay

The most sought after California CultWine in the World! This small operation is located just below the Dalla Valle vineyard near the Oakville Cross. Screaming Eagle's Cabernet Sauvignons are going to create quite a stir among lovers of that varietal - if they are able to latch onto a bottle or two. The estate is owned by Tony Bowden and Jean Phillips, one of Napa Valley's leading real estate agents. With the help of Heidi Barrett and Gustav Dalla Valle, this operation's debut vintage is the extraordinary 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the greatest young Cabernets I have ever tasted. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, and aged in 60% new oak.

Richard Partridge Wines

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Richard Partridge Wines is a small, family-owned winery located in the Napa Valley, producing approximately 500 cases of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay each year. This limited production and intimate operation preclude mass marketing approaches, but it ensures a compelling story—and fortunately, they have one to tell!

Richard Partridge's journey began far from the vineyards of Napa Valley. Raised on soybean and wheat farms in Indiana, he initially pursued a career as an electrical engineer in Illinois. There, he met his wife, Cris. The couple eventually relocated to Southern California to establish their own company, R.F. Partridge & Associates, Inc., specializing in large electrical generators and backup power solutions for data centers, hospitals, military bases, and other significant facilities. Richard’s expertise in delivering reliable power set the stage for his next venture.

Despite their home in Orange County, Cris and Richard had a deep passion for Napa Valley. They decided to invest in property there, leading to the creation of their winery. A fortuitous introduction to winemaker Bob Egelhoff sparked a fruitful partnership focused on crafting exceptional wine from the Valley's finest grapes. Under Bob’s skilled winemaking, their inaugural 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon earned the second-highest rating for a ’98 Napa Valley Cab from James Laube of Wine Spectator, affirming that Richard had once again delivered exceptional results.

Since 2005, winemaker Jeff Fontanella has overseen the creation of their wines with expert precision. The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon vintage marked their first estate wine, and their goal remains to consistently produce a limited quantity of the finest wine from their St. Helena vineyard.

As a boutique winery, Richard Partridge Wines aims to maintain its focus on quality over quantity. By keeping production small, they ensure meticulous attention to every aspect of the winemaking process, from grape cultivation to the final bottle on the shelf.

Igneous Wines

Wine and cheese - Pixabay

Igneous Winery is the teamwork of the Huckfeldt family who own Huckfeldt Ranch Vineyard and legendary vineyard consultant David Abreu, arguably one of the most important figures in the Napa cult wine movement. Working with famous properties such as Harlan Estate, Colgin, Bryant Family, Sloan Estate and Spottswoode, David has helped to create some of the most sought after wines in world. Don and Ann Huckfeldt, longtime Napa Valley residents, created Igneous Wines in 2002.

Robert Biale Winery

bottle and glasses of wine with chateau in background - Pixabay

Perfecting the old California classics, Robert Biale Vineyards has become a revered standard of heritage vineyard Zinfandel and Petite Sirah in the Napa Valley. From the winery’s inception, the Biale founders have cherished the tradition of historic old vines, some dating back to the 1880s, and they prize the small quantity of concentrated and intense fruit that these vines produce. Diligent farming, expressive terroir, and superb elegance define the winery’s hallmarks. Among the winery’s portfolio of 20 wines crafted by Winemaker David Natali, Black Chicken Zinfandel stands out as the flagship and has become a benchmark for the varietal.

The story began in the 1940s when 14-year-old Aldo Biale helped his mother make ends meet by selling homemade Zinfandel, along with eggs and produce, to insider Napans. Over the old “party line” phone system, the code words “a Black Chicken” signified a jug of bootleg wine, keeping nosy neighbors and the authorities from discovering Aldo’s underground Zinfandel operation.

Paoletti Vineyards

wine and cheese - Pixabay

The vineyard is quite incredible and impressive. We tasted 9 different wines in their cave which was filled with millions of dollars worth of marble statues. The cave was nice and cool and the aroma of the wines in the barrels hit you as soon as you entered. There was Italian music being pumped into the cave which helped set the mood for the tasting. Afterwards we wandered around their property and enjoyed quite the view from their patio area.

Twenty Bench

glass of wine - Pixabay

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.

Hagafen Cellars

two friends and wine by Artist Agata Zaborowski

Nice, quaint winery. Has outdoor tables/seating and even cornhole (bean bag toss) game if you wanted to play. And a cute little picnic table for the kids. Our wine guide was friendly and super helpful. Mom enjoyed this spot because it had a nice selection of sweeter wines, e.g. Riesling. Very laid back environment. Bought some sandwiches from the deli just down the street recommended by Hagafen and ate at Hagafen outdoors while enjoying some Riesling. Art work by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski -Agata a Art Gallery 

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