ZD Wines: A New Perspective!
Just the other day I was doing some “heavy” lifting, picking up some orders I had placed on line for wine at properties in Napa Valley. It was a tough day, yes; but someone has to do it! I drove up Spring Mountain to Pride and to Spottswoode in St. Helena. With all that work, I knew I needed a tasting. It was that time of the day!
ZD Wines came into sight as I came northbound on the Silverado Trail. As my memory served me, it was a winery that did not require an appointment; so I pulled right on in. Upon walking into the tasting room, it was clear a lot had changed since my last visit. The front tasting area was now expansive with an open glass wall to the barrel room. The entire area was modern with a bar to the side. Real renovation had taken hold.
Odette: Sophisticated and Relaxing
There are 550 wineries within the Napa Valley that are listed on the Napa Valley Vintners’ website. At 88 of those wineries, you can taste simply by walking into the winery’s tasting room. Another 292 are open by appointment only. Imagine how long it would take to personally visit all of these wineries! Don’t worry though; I am working on it for you.
Sophisticated and relaxing are two words that describe the setting at Odette Estate Winery. As I was driving by, on a whim, I stopped into the winery. They are open only by appointment. So I pulled out my phone, called the winery and asked to make an appointment. I let them know I was standing outside, and they said come on in.
Giving Thanks
Cheers to all of you on this Thanksgiving holiday. May your holiday season be spirited and sparkling. Thanks for your support and for following Diana’s Wine Blog!
Amici Cellars: A New Find!
A few friends who loved Napa Valley wine decided to make their own — and started Amici Cellars in 1991. With that quiet beginning, they named the winery Amici, which means “friend” in Italian. The winery itself is located in Calistoga just a couple of miles past the center of town on Old Lalley/Toll Road. It is a rural setting with gorgeous views of the Palisades Mountain Range and sitting directly under Mount St. Helena. Easy to get to, it’s only a five minute drive from town and a delightful wine experience.
The tasting we experienced was set up outside in front of the guesthouse on a pleasantly warm Sunday afternoon. With the mountains in the background, our host Shawn took us through seven wines.
Keplinger: A Favorite!
This is exciting news! For years, I have followed and loved the wines made by Helen Keplinger. My first taste of her wine was the 2006 Red Slope, a Grenache based wine that I can still recall. It was lush with mouth watering fruit – so much so that I needed to join the mailing list. It was a great decision!
I’ve written about Helen’s wines several times in the past out (check it here and here). The challenge has always been how to introduce the fine art of her winemaking to my friends. There was no tasting room, and the busy schedule of Helen and her husband/business partner, DJ, made it hard to schedule a tasting. The wait is over. This is the email they sent me! Read on, and…
Schramsberg Vineyards: A Sparkling Occasion
Many people reserve sparkling wine for special occasions, and others allow it to make any occasion special. However you approach it, there is a great experience waiting for you at Schramsberg Vineyards in Calistoga.
This property was one of the first wineries in the Napa Valley, second only to Charles Krug. With that, they have developed a rich history of producing fine sparkling wines that have been served at official State functions by every U.S. Presidential administration starting with President Nixon. Schramsberg produces excellent sparkling wines that are crafted with several of the old practices through a history that spans over 50 years.
Favia Wines: Worth Mentioning Again
I’ve posted about Favia Wines before, here and here; and this wine is worth mentioning again.
Winemaker Andy Erickson and viticulturist Annie Favia (a husband and wife team) bring together the art and science of winemaking to deliver a quality product that can be enjoyed on any occasion. Favia Wines holds a favorite spot in my collection, as it is a wide portfolio that can pair with many foods and be savored by themselves. These wines can brighten up any day or special event with great balance, aromas, flavors and mouthfeel.
Summer Sippers
Bright, crisp, and clean with floral and fruit notes that rise up from your glass and beckon you in for a sip. The wine hits your palate and washes over it with refreshing, bright, stone fruit notes and mouthwatering acidity. The wine speaks to you like a welcome friend of summer and leaves you with a cool respite from the heat.
We have rolled into summer with a rush of heat. The temperature is rising with record heat in some areas. Refreshing white wines are on the list of items to buy to help cool off and lighten the spirit.
Kutch Wines’ Pinot Noir and Chardonnay: A Good Discovery
Kutch Wines is a small production, artisan winery in Sonoma. I found their wines through reviews and wanted to check it out for myself. Again, I use the wine critics as resources, not as gospel. Given the number of wineries in Napa Valley (500+) and in Sonoma County (400+), it would be near impossible and costly to spend time visiting every winery, even if I could. Many do not welcome visitors. With that said, setting out on a Pinot Noir day with my good friend Eric, we journeyed to Kutch.
The address took us to an industrial area of warehouse style buildings with many small production sites. Our host this day was the associate winemaker, Joanna Wells. Kutch is a two-person production, and Joanna is a very capable associate in the enterprise. This is a small 1000-case total production. Joanna has worked with Jamie Kutch for over 6 years and clearly is very dedicated to the winery goals. Many times when visiting wineries, you rarely get someone as knowledgeable and involved with the wine to lead you through a visit. This was a rare treat.
Ashes & Diamonds: A New Napa Valley Sparkler
This was our first experience at Ashes & Diamonds, a new winery in Napa Valley. What we found was a very young, eclectic vibe. The setting was mid-century modern, which translated to it being very upbeat and open - beckoning in new tasters. We sat among a refreshingly diverse group in our tasting room. One group sat in the corner with a bottle of wine, playing cards. Another group sat, looking at their phones together, and clearly the only thing missing was a charging station! This property is 6 months young and marching to a different beat.
One of the most notable differences up front is the hours. The tasting room opens at 11 AM and closes at 7 PM. This, in itself, is not the norm in a valley where you are challenged to find many properties open past 5 PM. Additionally, the intent is to serve lunch paired with their wines. They currently serve a menu of small plates. Of course, it is by appointment only, yet I am unaware of any winery tasting room that is set up to serve a full meal with their wine. This is an interesting approach.