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.
Vasco Urbano Wine Company was created to showcase the exceptional Rhone style wines that are being grown and produced here in the Livermore Valley. Their mission is simple, produce exceptional Rhone style wines that best express finest vineyards in the Livermore Valley.
13 Appelations - Against this trend of vineyard-designated wines comes THIRTEEN — a wine made not from not just one vineyard, but from a baker’s dozen, each one more esteemed than the next. What distinguishes these vineyards is that they have been chosen as the best representatives of their respective sub-appellations: Howell Mountain, Rutherford, etc. Napa Valley has 13 of these sub-appellations or did when we picked the fruit.
Winemaker Biography
I had graduated from Cal Poly, and so, the wine produced that year was named appropriately, Le Retour. I find it essential to pay homage to those who allowed me to learn and work beside them. The predominant nationality of my mentors is French, thus the names of each release will be in French.
Buccella, under the guidance of well-known winemaking consultant Celia Masyczek has fashioned brilliant Cabernet Sauvignons in both 2006 and 2007 and the 2008 continues their success. The 2008s are slightly more powerful, backward wines but they have enough structure as well as sensational concentration and depth to support the tannins.
ROBERT PARKER RATING: 95
Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre moved to California for love. For Guillaume, it was his passion for winemaking and farming without limits that brought him to Paso Robles. This love led him to one of the most prestigious wineries in Paso Robles, L’Aventure, and eventually to start his winery, Clos Solène. Arnaud’s story is much more like that of a movie scene. His move to California was to follow the love of his life, Chloe. This is how the two brothers -Les Deux Frères Fabre- ended up in Paso Robles.
The story gets far more interesting, but you will have to come find out for yourself!
As a tribute to the six-generation family legacy in the Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux regions, BENOM harmoniously combines the freedom of winemaking in Paso Robles with the innate talent of the Fabre bloodline.
Just ten minutes up from Highway 29 and you have the view - of Napa Valley. Then, if you book a tasting tour, instead of standing at a bar, or a cold cellar, you will be seated in a room streaming with sunshine. From there a generous sampling of their current releases will be poured, alongside a nice place of cheese, nuts and chocolate. Time to consider the tasting...and what you will buy to have at home. I know that one of my Cabernet favorites.
Cantara Cellars is a tasting room producing a broad selection of award winning red and white wines located in the in the heart of Ventura County. Chris and Mike Brown’s winery specializes in producing wines from grapes they have selected from the Lodi Appellation in Northern California know for in Zinfandel and a host of other varietals. Each wine expresses both the passion for making fine wines, and enjoyment of the distinctive flavors found in Lodi grapes that this couple has a passion for. Cantara Cellars began in 2002 as a private winery at Mike and Chris Brown's Moorpark home. Beginning with just 250 pounds of Chardonnay hand harvested from Mike's parent's vineyards in Lodi California, they fermented their first 18 gallons of wine! Over the next few years they opened a public tasting room in October 2007.
Hours:
Mon Closed
Tues Closed
Wed 3:00pm to 9:00pm
Thur 3:00pm to 9:00pm
Fri 3:00pm to 10:00pm
Sat 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Sun 12:00pm to 7:00pm
The brilliant white stucco stands out dramatically against the rugged Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges that flank each side of Napa Valley. Mount Saint Helena makes a lovely distant backdrop. The tour is self guided so it's at your own pace and the gondola ride is unique for the area. It's also one of only wineries that's on a hill in the middle of Napa Valley so the views are to die for.
My only suggestion would be (if you enjoy wine clubs) to join the wine club before you go. You can get on the gondola for free for up to 4 people and the tour is included as well. That pays for one of your months of wine right there.
Then, you get access to the VIP tasting room which is fantastic.
This little hidden gem is very easy to miss while whizzing past on Silverado Trail. But don't overlook this one. You won't be disappointed. Some of the best zinfandel and very good cabernet sauvignon. It is a great value wine that will hold its own against some higher priced wines. This is a very small winery with limited production and only offers a few wines. You won't find this in too many stores so you will need to make a trip out there of go on-line. If you call in advance you can get a quick tour around the winery via golf-cart.
