Robert Biale Vineyards: History in a Bottle
Recently I needed to work with a physical therapist after a knee surgery. (Getting older isn’t easy on a body.) At that time, I had a great therapist in Calistoga, CA; and we started talking about wine (imagine that). She stated that her preference was Zinfandel. I got excited to share and asked. “Have you ever tried Biale?” She looked at me calmly and said, “Yes, that is my last name. My father is Robert Biale.” Embarrassed, I realized I had never looked at her last name. I quickly recovered and shared about my wine blog, my love of Black Chicken, and how I had written about it on the blog. More importantly, though, I told her how I had shared the wine with many, many friends over the years and bought more.
This “small world” experience encouraged me to put a return visit to Biale on my to-do list.
Mayacamas Winery: Beauty Inside and Out
I will admit it, I first visited the Mayacamas Tasting Room in downtown Napa, CA because of the ratings the Cabernet Sauvignon received from credible reviewers. The wine is also a collaborative effort with one of my favorite winemakers, Andy Erickson. Of course, I had to see for myself. That day, what I found was a great Cabernet with wonderful texture and rich flavors. The wise thing to do was to capitalize on the great find and just buy!
Just recently during a visit to Napa Valley, it was time to visit the winery itself, high up on Mt. Veeder. To say the least, the setting was impressive as well as the wine. Our tasting started off with a ride to the top of the mountain via four-wheeler where we could look out over the valley and vineyards. To the south, the San Pablo Bay was quite visible. This body of water provides cool breezes that allow for longer hang times and retention of acidity. All this nurtures the grapes on the vine. It was a gorgeous setting in which to enjoy a taste of the winery’s luscious 2021 Chardonnay. It was a wonderfully crafted wine with flavors of lemon and nuts, refined and bright.
Hourglass Winery: Time Well Spent
Just recently I caught an article about the best caves in Napa Valley. The very first picture was of the cave at Hourglass Winery. “I’ve been there and have the same picture!” (That picture is below.) Yet that was not the purpose of the visit, it was for the wine. While the beauty of the valley is breathtaking, the wine, in my opinion, is a good part of the heart and soul of it. The winemaker of Hourglass is Tony Biagi, who continues to produce lovely, svelte wine of all varieties.
Access and arrival to the tasting is a bit scarred. The Glass Fire in 2020 had an impact on the production site, so the great beauty lies underground. Met by Marie outside, we had the pleasure to enter the cave and were seated in what you see below. It was a serene and quiet space where the wine itself spoke volumes. Our hostess took us through the wines, starting with the Sauvignon Blanc and progressing through the lovely reds. The standouts were the plush and velvety reds that make a bold statement of “Drink me!” Yes, each sip of the Cabernet called out for more; and this is a label I would highly recommend. The tasting included Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet as single varietal wines. Each was done with finesse and smoothness that is a calling card of the winemaker.
Wayfarer Pinot Noir — The Road to Take!
I recently opened a Pinot Noir that literally stopped me in my tracks. The sweet fruit aromas wafted from the glass and the flavors sailed on through the finish. The aromas and flavors were so compelling that it truly deserved my full attention. The finish sailed on for over a minute and left me really wanting more. It was truly beautiful. This Pinot Noir was a standout.
Wayfarer Vineyards is the baby of Jayson Pahlmeyer who truly has a passion for Burgundian wines. The vineyard itself was brought to Jayson’s attention by Helen Turley and planted by David Abreu. It is located in the Sonoma Coast hills less than five miles from the ocean and bears some gorgeous fruit. The proprietor of the winery now is Cleo Pahlmeyer, Jayson’s daughter.
Rivers-Marie: First Class Wine and Service
Located in the quaint town of Calistoga, Rivers-Marie is a must visit. That is a bold statement yet the wine, the tasting room and the staff are all worthy of that. First and foremost, this is the home of Thomas Rivers Brown’s personal label. He is one of the most highly regarded winemakers in the valley. His credits are wines such as Outpost, Schrader, Maybach, Mending Wall, Pulido-Walker, Hestan, and so on. He has twenty-five 100 point scores for the Cabernets he has crafted and, simply put, that is a record in the valley. All this alone should lead you to taste his personal label wines that do not disappoint.
Secondly, the staff that support this winery are top notch. They are professional, learned and talented. The space is open and expansive as you sit in a wide open space with glass doors at both ends of the tasting room. You can see out to the back which is a private farm (in process of updates). There is a live wall which brings nature in, and all is done in very comfortable seating.
Pride Mountain Vineyards: A Gem on Spring Mountain
Pride Mountain Vineyards is a beautiful winery that delivers on great flavor and texture in your glass. Pride is located at 2000 feet high in the Mayacamas Mountains which separate Napa from Sonoma. Uniquely, the winery and the vineyards are located in both counties – in fact the county line runs through the vines and the caves.
This is a gorgeous place to visit. The winery was established in 1991 and the property has evolved since then. Originally, it was solely the vineyards; and today you can enjoy a beautifully situated tasting room and patio with a wide expanse of vines in sight. The wine caves have been an integral part of the hospitality tours and have yet to reopen since COVID. Visits, of course, are by appointment and there are various options to choose from before you get there. Today, you may still even set up a virtual visit after purchasing some wine through the winery.
A Sparkling Entry into a New Decade
Yes, of course, I mean sparkling wine. As New Year’s Eve and Day approach, I can think of no better beverage to welcome in the new year than sparkling wine! It bubbles, it foams, and the effervescence is intoxicating. The simple pouring of a glass invites celebration.
The first question then is what type of glass should you use? There are many traditional and even historical vessels that have been used, such as the open goblets which eventually morphed into the flute. The flute itself has become quite prevalent today, even in restaurants and bars. My suggestion would be to use a traditional white wine glass. You will still see the stream of bubbles and also enjoy the fresh, toasty aromas of the wine. Reidel has introduced a new performance glass that, in my experience, enhances the beauty of a sparkling wine.
Stunning Reds from Blankiet
Sometimes it is just appropriate to enjoy world class red wine. Such is the case at Blankiet Estate (pronounced Blănk-ē-ā) in Yountville, California. This winery does things to extract the most flavor and deliver smooth texture in each bottle of wine. It starts with the management in the vineyard and extends through each step of the harvest to cellaring.
Our visit to Blankiet was impressive as the views are simply gorgeous. The winery sits on the western slope of the Mayacamas Mountains that create part of the western edge of the Napa Valley. The ride up from Highway 29 was a gentle slope up a gravel road. The approach to the winery was a bit deceptive as the winery itself is contained in a cave that is well carved from the mountain, not visible from the road. From the road, all you see are vineyards.
Having a Ball in Walla Walla!
Recently, I had the pleasure to explore the exciting wine region of Walla Walla, Washington. This is an area that is literally exploding with new wineries and delivering great wine to please all. In just three days, we visited and sampled the wines of 11 different wineries.
Walla Walla is located in the southeastern corner of Washington, east of the Cascades about 200 miles. The region is literally “high desert” (elevation about 1000 feet) as the Cascades form a rain shadow for the area. Rivers are the main source of water. Walla Walla has long been known as one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, producing such crops as wheat, asparagus, strawberries and the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onions. The growing, shining star today though is the wine business.
Bedrock Wine Company: Tasting on the Sonoma Square
Bedrock Wine Company is a relatively new winery (2007) yet with very deep roots in the business. Morgan Twain-Peterson is the owner/winemaker and began his journey being exposed to wine and wine tasting as a young boy. When he was five, he crafted his own Pinot Noir! He grew up with the wine business as his father is the founder of Ravenswood Winery. Morgan is distinct among winemakers in that he is a Master of Wine. This is an intense training program that requires several years of study. He is one of 45 MWs in the U.S. and is one of only two winemakers in California to carry that designation.
Bedrock is dedicated to preserving and rehabilitating old vineyards around California. This mission and vision contributes to the quality of the wine. Quality is what you will enjoy when you visit the tasting room located on the Sonoma Square. It is a peaceful, relaxing space to experience the well-made wines.