Merlot

Merlot

Ursa Vineyards

grapes - Pixabay

Ursa Vineyards is a collaborative effort between the husband and wife team - Greg Stokes and Deborah Elissagaray. Greg has 25 years of experience with vineyards and winemaking, and Deborah has 18 years in winemaking. Both were part of the winemaking team at David Bruce for years. This small foothill winery produces no more than 2500 cases annually, allowing exceptional attention to be paid in both the vineyard and the cellar. All fruit is fermented in small fermenters and worked by hand. A minimal amount of handling ensures the preservation of the fruit character of the varietal being made. Ursa Vineyard's focus is petite sirah from various vineyards in California, but they also produce merlot, syrah and a unique varietal from the Pyrenees, Tannat. 

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.

Waterstone Winery

wine glasses - pixabay

In this time of multimillion-dollar vineyard estates and celebrity winemaking consultants, when it seems that financial backing has replaced skill as the key to success in enology, it is rare that a simple idea can give birth to wines that stand out for flavor and balance, rather than pedigree alone. Waterstone Winery was formed in 2000 with the simple concept of creating luxury wines at affordable prices. Bringing together previously established relationships with Napa Valley growers and vintners, the winery set out to develop balanced wines of varietal character through intelligent sourcing. Preferring to focus on the wine itself rather than the accumulation of land and facilities, Waterstone owns no vineyards, nor does it own the facility where its wines are made. Dedicated winemaking, strong relationships with top growers and long-term grape contracts are the keys to Waterstone’s quality and success.

Twomey Cellars

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Enjoy the laid-back vibe at our Napa Valley tasting room, located just off Highway 29 a mile south of the charming main street of downtown Calistoga. Surrounded by ornately landscaped gardens, our modern farmhouse-style tasting room opens onto a sun-filled courtyard framed by lush vineyards and views of the Calistoga foothills.

Calistoga is a sublime place to taste our Napa Valley/Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc alongside our expressive Pinot Noirs. Fun fact: Some of the fruit selected for the white varietal is from the adjacent estate vineyard.

Hourglass Wines

small bites and wine tasting - Pixabay


Taste with Hourglass
Tastings are by appointment only and are complimentary for our active mailing list members. There is a $125 per person tasting fee for new guests. The fee is waived with a three bottle purchase per person within the group. 

Please continue to contact us at tnt@hourglasswine.com to schedule a tasting.

Robert Mondavi Winery

glasses of wine grapes -:Pixabay

As one of the oldest wineries in Napa Valley, Robert Mondavi Winery innovated many winery technologies that were later adopted by other wineries in the area. Our tour guide went in depth about the history of the winery and showed us different ways of twirling our classes and trying various wines. For me, I felt as if I attended a informative wine class and tasted several great wines.

Switchback Ridge

wine barrels neatly stacked and racked - Pixabay

In 1914, Eliza and Mads Peterson purchased a 100-acre property situated on the floor of Napa Valley at the mouth of Dutch Henry Canyon. Both Eliza and Mads had immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s—Eliza from Ireland and Mads from Denmark—and, like many others of that era, ventured westward in search of a place to call home.

The property, nestled just off the Silverado Trail between St. Helena and Calistoga, was home to a small Zinfandel vineyard. However, with the onset of Prohibition in 1920, prunes quickly became the dominant cash crop in Napa Valley. In response, the Petersons planted a plum orchard to help support their large family. Caring for the orchard, along with a large vegetable garden and numerous farm animals, became a full-time job for the entire family, including their six sons and three daughters.

When the time came to pass the property on, it was the daughters—not the sons—who took on the responsibility. Vera, Carrie, and Mae worked diligently to preserve the family legacy, maintaining the buildings, plum orchard, vegetable garden, and livestock. Vera tended to the land, Carrie managed the books, and Mae returned each summer to assist with the harvest.

Westerly Vineyards

rows of wine barrels - Pixabay

Committed to progressive winegrowing and inspired by artful winemaking, we specialize in limited-production wines that express the unique imprint of the vineyards and region. in Happy Canyon, on the eastern perimeter of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley, the ancient, stony soils, warm afternoons and reliable Pacific breezes are particularly suited to classic Bordeaux and Rhône varietals. From these varietals, our mission is to craft wines of uncommon depth, distinction and elegance.

Terra Savia

Glass of wine being poured - Pixabay

A fun winery to visit during Hopland's Passport event (once in spring and once in fall each year) when it opens up and gives space to local craftspeople. They also make olive oil and process it for others. Fourth generation Mendocino wine family - these people know what they are doing.

Kapcsandy Family Winery

wine corks and a glass - Pixabay

A Labor of Love Across Two Generations

The Kapcsándy story is a unique blend of old-world values and American ingenuity, merging classic European grand cru-style with cutting-edge technology. At its heart, it is the tale of a family deeply passionate about wine.

Lou Kapcsándy emigrated from Hungary to the U.S. in 1956, embarking on a successful career in chemical engineering and manufacturing, first in the San Francisco Bay Area and later in Seattle. Through connections in the wine industry, he began sourcing exceptional European wines for his collection, while also mentoring a group of emerging entrepreneurs who would become early pioneers in Washington State’s wine scene.

In 1998, a visit by Lou and his wife, Bobbie, to the historic Bordeaux estate of Leoville-Las Cases sparked a new ambition: to establish a wine business in partnership with their son, Louis, Jr., and to retire in California’s Napa Valley. The family started exploring available properties and, within three months, found a unique 20-acre parcel in Yountville, which was once part of Beringer Estates’ Private Reserve Cabernet program. In May 2000, they closed escrow on the property and initiated a meticulous plan to replant the vineyard, which included two years of soil nutrient restoration.

By 2002, the Kapcsándys had completely replanted their vineyard with 15 distinct blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Construction of a state-of-the-art winery was completed in September 2005. The family then began to bring their vision to life: to produce wines of “First Growth” quality that could compete with the finest in the world. Since 2004, the family has lived and worked on-site, overseeing every facet of vineyard management and winemaking.

Visitors are invited to experience Kapcsándy Family Winery, a multi-generational labor of love that infuses the finesse and elegance of European grand cru wines into the Napa Valley.

Sorry people, this place is private. As it should be. The Kapcsandy's have effortlessly created some of the greatest wine my lips and palate have ever tasted. After taking a tour of the spotless grounds which used to be Beringer Estates, we adjourned ourselves to the tasting room where I, along with close friends and cohorts divided our time among the vast amount of premier wines the Kapcsandy Family Winery has to offer. The Kapcsandy Family Winery is well on its way to make its permanent mark on the wine world. Using the best resources, well thought out methods, and grade "A" ingredients make these wines a challenger to all who dare to face them. They are truly a winery who reside at the top of their game. 

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