Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc

Baily WInery

people sharing wine

Decor at Baily Winery is fun with an amusing assortment of gargoyle and medieval statuary scattered about the very pleasant grounds. We ate on the lovely patio (Carols) with refreshing breezes and the sounds of wind chimes. It was a spectacularly sparkling day and the patio was just delightful.

All of the wines are crafted from grapes grown in the estate vineyards by Winemaker Phil Baily at a state-of-the-art production facility. Specializing in Bordeaux varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon—Baily's red wines are renowned for their smoothness and expressive varietal character. This is achieved by aging the wines in barrels for 24 to 30 months, significantly longer than the typical industry standard of 12 to 18 months. Baily's white wines are celebrated for their crisp, clean freshness and distinctive aromas. The consistency of the wines, honed over more than twenty years of production from the same vineyards, is a quality that few wineries in the region can match.

Additionally, all of Baily's wines are sealed with Nomacorc®, a synthetic cork that offers the benefits of natural cork while eliminating the risk of tainted wines or bottle-to-bottle variation.

Blankiet Estate Winery

wine barrel room - PIxabay

Blankiet Estate is nestled high on the western foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains above Yountville. The vineyard, named Paradise Hills, is planted on one of the most acclaimed viticultural areas of the Napa Valley. The Estate was created in 1996 by Claude & Katherine Blankiet with the single vision of producing wines in the tradition of the great Bordeaux First Growth.

Brice Station Vintners

grape cluster - Pixabay

During the late 1800s Brice Station was a popular stage stop on the way to Calaveras Big Trees. In 1993 the first vines were planted at Brice Station on the family ranch by Stuart Mast, a fifth generation California farmer and Dolores Quyle Mast. Guided by sustainable agricultural methods, the highest vineyard in the Sierra Nevada thrives in the mountain air and sunshine at an altitude of 3,300 ft. visit to the ranch today finds a tribute to the creativity of the Quyle family, featuring the rustic Brice Station Vintners tasting room, the Quyle pottery shop, the carefully tended Dolores Quyle Mast vineyards, and an assortment of sheep, geese, horses, and llamas. If you look around you will also discover several antique printing presses, as well as a blacksmith shop where Paul Quyle teaches one Saturday a month.

Croze Wines

pouring a glass of wine - Pixaby

Croze Wines is operated by Gary Wooten, a long time resident in the Napa Valley. He has worked as winemaker with several smaller area wineries during their formative stages and helped them become established. He currently runs two labels; Croze wines which includes a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc and the second label, Smith Wooten featuring a 100% Cabernet Franc (he originally made a barrel of Cabernet Franc to use for blending purposes but after tasting, found this wine to be excellent as a stand along varietal and ended up bottling it) and a Syrah. Croze ages their wines longer than many area wineries and as a result the current vintages are typically several years older than what you usually find on the market. The barrel aging program usually runs up to 40+ months and all the wines are tasted during this time and are removed from barrel when they are ready, in other words the barrel aging program is not locked into a certain amount of time like you may find with some of the larger wineries.

Vinoce Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

Vinoce was founded by Brian and Lori Nuss in 1996, perched high above the valley floor on Mt. Veeder. Over the past three decades, they have gained a deep understanding of cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc on the rugged hillside slopes. Vinoce is dedicated to crafting wines that capture the true essence of Mount Veeder, showcasing balance, power, and uniqueness.

The estate, located on the northern end of Mt. Veeder, comprises four blocks divided between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The dramatic topography and south-facing exposures provide an ideal growing environment for the grapes, along with one of the most stunning mountain skylines in Napa Valley.

In addition to their estate wines, Vinoce produces Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosado, and a St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from vineyards owned by close family friends. Given that many of their wines originate from remote locations, they chose a more centrally located tasting oasis just outside downtown Napa, situated in the historic Tannery building on the Napa River. Their funky, chic tasting room offers an educational and entertaining experience with an authentic "Wine Nut" twist. Tim and Ray, both members of the Vinoce family, are often found there, ready to guide guests through a tasting of their exceptional wines.

Pear Valley Estate Wine

wine splashing in the glass

It started with 20 acres in 1999 and now Tom and Kathleen own 113 acres where they dedicate their energy and resources to providing the best environment for growing premium grapes. The vineyards are operated with sustainable farming practices to ensure that the best fruit possible will still be grown there when their grandchildren operate the farm. The next phase of the dream began in the Spring of 2008 when they broke ground on a 14,000 winery and 5,000 square foot tasting room. Continuing the dedication to providing the best environment possible, the winery and tasting room were designed in partnership with PG&E through their “Savings By Design” program to design buildings that are energy efficient and environmentally sound. In August 2012 Pear Valley officially achieved Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Vineyard Certification. Attaining SIP Certification demonstrates dedication to vineyard practices that are environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically-viable Exceeded expectations are the best words to begin this review. The east side of Paso Robles is a place that at times does not receive the credit due or publicity that the west side has basked in for many years. Despite what some public opinion states there are a growing number of incredible attractively priced wines and well run establishments creating unique experiences all over the east and my recent trip to Pear Valley Winery was something that far and beyond exceeded my expectations. Serving both Rhone and Boudreaux varietals, various blends, and well balanced wines all around they have something for the varying discerning tastes. Throw in some complimentary warm meatballs, a nice cheese spread, various cracker selections, and a friendly staff how could you not enjoy yourself.

Larkmead Vineyards

glass of wine - Pixabay

Larkmead puts out some of the finest Cabs and Sauv Blancs in the valley. The vineyard itself is beautiful, located right on the valley floor. Sonny treated us great, explaining the winemaking process and the unique history behind Larkmead. Not to be missed if you are in Napa. The Larkmead Vineyards tasting room is open from 10am to 3pm, by appointment.

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