For many years the city of Napa was just a place you passed as you entered the Napa Valley - the city center is not on the main highway (Highway 29) and it was lacking in restaurants, hotels and tasting rooms. When you told people you were visiting the Napa Valley, the city of Napa was not mentioned as your final destination, rather you would have been … [Read more...]
Napa Valley Mexican-American Vintners Association Tasting
The first ever tasting of the Napa Valley Mexican-American Vintners Association was held Saturday July 30, 2011 at Maldonado Vineyards in the far northern reaches of the Napa Valley. This association is fairly new (2010). It was formed after a number of vintners poured their wines in Mexico at the Michoacan State Fair and collaboratively recognized the need … [Read more...]
Hunnicutt Winery Grand Opening Party, St. Helena
Living near the Napa Valley certainly has its advantages including world class wineries, scenic vistas and great parties. We are invited to a number of wine related events and parties in the valley and it gets to the point where one has to be fairly selective on which ones to attend. When we heard Hunnicutt Winery was holding a party to celebrate the … [Read more...]
Sense Yountville
Another successful Sense Yountville was held on a beautifully sunny warm Saturday May 7th under the "big white tent" at V Marketplace 1870 in downtown Yountville. This, only the third annual "Sense Yountville" has already become the appellation's premiere wine & food event. Thirty wineries were represented offering their pre-release wines and large format … [Read more...]
Napa Valley Winemaking Seasons
Spring There are a number of factors that determine when a grapevine starts to break dormancy (bud break) which is when new green shoots start forming. Elevation, location, and the variety of the grape are some of the biggest factors that indicate when a vine will start bud break. During March and April temperatures at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below will … [Read more...]
First Taste Yountville, Yountville CA
The First Taste of Yountville was held during the Premier Napa Valley week to capitalize on a number of trade who are in town. This annual event is held by the Napa Valley Vintners' and is their Annual Mid-Winter Barrel Auction for the Trade - www.napavintners.com/trade/tm_1_premiere.aspx This premiere tasting featured some of Yountville's finest … [Read more...]
Taste of Oakville, Oakville CA
There are few Napa tastings that can top the Taste of Oakville for premium wines. This annual invitation only event is usually held at the end of April and showcases some of the appellation's finest wines. If there was a ground zero for Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley, Oakville fits that bill. The owners and winemakers are often present at this … [Read more...]
Wine Entre Femme Tasting, San Francisco
The Wine Entre Femme ("an international think tank of women in wine") was formed in January 2008 by Sharon Harris of Napa's Amici Cellars in order to provide a network of women in wine creating networks to help each other. Initially it was formed between Napa and Bordeaux vintners but has since grown to include women from wineries in France, Japan, South … [Read more...]
Historical Napa Wineries
OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING NAPA WINERIES Napa wineries with *first vintages* dating from various decades (still operating) - all had first vintages in each listed decade, some may not have yet had a physical bonded winery, and others may have resurrected ghost wineries under new names - or started producing wine again after not making wine for a period … [Read more...]