Friday, August 24, 2012

Newton Vineyards: Spring Mountain's Unfiltered Special Selection

Fine wines, gorgeous views, small private tastings, amazing bites to pair, and great company...what more could you ask for? Newton Vineyards knows how to execute a top-notch experience for their guests! This winery has an incredible view of the valley, several wine caves, and gorgeous, lush gardens all around. We began our tour and tasting with a little history of the winery, and then took a walk around the property. After returning to the tasting room, we sat down and began to enjoy our tasting. Newton Vineyards pairs their wines with delicious small bites from Etoile restaurant (located in their sister winery Domaine Chandon). Don, our tasting host, guided us through all of the amazing wines and provided us tips for tasting the wines. The Unfiltered Chardonnay, in particular, tasted quite differently later on when we were to revisit the wine. He made us all feel very relaxed and comfortable. His open personality welcomed all of our questions, and he made this an enjoyable experience for us. Our tasting group was even lucky enough to try some left over library wines from the winery event the evening before!


My personal favorite was the 2009 Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon. It was an amazing cabernet, and the first unfiltered one that I have every tried. For $60, it was definitely a well made wine, worthy of the Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon price tag. This is a great winery to add to your next Napa itinerary for a special tasting of a style of wine making that is pretty difficult to find (unfiltered).










A fun fact for my fashionistas...this winery is owned by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), who owns Veuve Clicquot as well. If you are looking for a wine with the same quality standards as your favorite handbag, this is your next favorite winery!


Tips - Newton Vineyards:
  • There are 2 tasting experiences offered at this winery: Seated tasting only $30/person, Tour & Tasting (with pairing) $40/person. Our experience was the tour and tasting with the food pairing, please allow up to 1.5 hours for this experience.
  • If you're going to plan a tour or tasting here, make this your first or second stop. You won't regret it!
  • This winery is by appointment only and they do get booked up on the weekend. The group size is limited to 12 people.
  • Express any food allergies during your booking, to ensure that you can enjoy your paired bites.
  • Plan at least 15 minutes more for your drive than your GPS calls for, because you will be driving up a mountain!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Mark Your Calendars: 5 Napa Harvest 2012 Events Not to Miss!

After an awesome weekend in Napa for my birthday, I was inspired to look ahead for a few fun events over the next couple of months. We had such a great time at Nickel & Nickel's Cabernet Release Party and Far Niente's Chardonnay Celebration. We tried their delicious wines, ate great food, and met new friends (the picture above is from Richard Dominguez who we met at N&N). Then I realized that this was just the beginning of the festivities in Napa this year...the BIG events are still to come!

  The upcoming harvest events are a great opportunity to taste a selection of special and library wines as well as the new releases at most wineries, and usually with some great food and/or entertainment to make it more-than-your average-tasting. I really enjoy trying new wineries at these types of events, because it is always a fun and different experience. Here are several to mark down on your calendars, and all of the information currently available for them:

September 15, 2012
Merryvale Barrel Tasting & Pick Up Party featuring Profile (1-4pm)
Your invited for an afternoon of wine, food, and fun...with a french twist! The 2009 Profile will be released and served, along with 2011 Profile barrel samples, and delicious french croissants and mini croque monsieurs. The event will be held on the Veranda and in the Crush Pad area depending on Harvest. The fee is $25 per person, free for Profile Club Members.
To RSVP, Call: (877) 887-7763, or click here to email Merryvale.  

October 6, 2012
Groth Reserve Cab Release Party (10am-3pm)
Join us to celebrate the release of our 2009 Reserve Cabernet. This event is open to the public by prior reservation. We will enjoy this new vintage along with great food and musical entertainment, barrel tastings of our 2011 Reserve Cabernet, vineyard tours with Winemaker Michael Weis, and a food & wine pairing class* with Chef Kimball Jones. The fee is $25 per person, free for wine club members.
To RSVP, Call: (707) 754-4254

Elizabeth Spencer Annual Harvest Celebration (6-8pm)
Please join Elizabeth and Spencer for an enjoyable evening in The Courtyard of our Tasting Room in Rutherford. Elizabeth Spencer wines will be paired with delicious hors d’oeuvres served at individual food and wine stations.
To RSVP, Call: (707) 963-4762

October 13
Nickel & Nickel Harvest Party: Join us in the Gleason Barn at the height of the harvest season as we raise a glass to the new vintage.
For information, please call the winery - By appointment: (707) 967-9600

Jarvis Winery Harvest Tasting (1-4pm): Join us for an afternoon of fun at this year's harvest tasting with music, and food pairings matched to our wines. Barrel tasting with Winemaker Ted Henry, current releases and library wines poured for your enjoyment. Inner Circle wine club members receive 2 complimentary tickets, additional tickets at a special rate of $50/person. General admission tickets are $80/person. 
For information, please call the winery - By appointment: (800) 255-5280 ext. 155






Sunday, August 5, 2012

Cornerstone Cellars: A New Kind of Wine Tasting in Yountville


Our experience at Cornerstone Cellars was quite unique for a tasting in wine country. Their tasting room was bright, open, and had a variety of different seating arrangements. I felt like I was in a bright hotel lounge, instead of a tasting room, which is something rare to experience in Napa. Alex and I had booked their boxed lunch pairing for two, and we enjoyed a delicious lunch from Bouchon, along with a variety of Cornerstone's wines to compliment.


The food was plentiful, and the wines were very nice. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They were there to answer questions and guide our tasting, without being pushy or overbearing. Our time at Cornerstone felt relaxed, and very much at our own pace. We especially enjoyed the 2009 Cornerstone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and could not shake it out of our minds all day! This delicious Oregon Pinot has inspired us to plan a trip later this year to Willamette Valley to taste more of the pinots that they have to offer. After trying the amazing pinot, along with their other great cabs, we knew that we would definitely bring friends back here to taste! If you are planning a Napa trip and would like to enjoy a lunch during your afternoon tasting, this is a perfect place to go without planning for the additional time required for a vineyard tour (as most places with lunch offerings include). If you are planning for just a tasting, there is no appointment required and their tasting fees start at $15.