OVID Napa Valley: A Remarkable Experience
Early in the 2000s, I discovered OVID. It was and still is a remarkable winery that crafts beautiful red wines that are plush and deep while being truly expressive of place. While that is something that can be said accurately for many wineries, there is a distinction at OVID that can simply put you in awe. The location is on Pritchard Hill in Napa Valley. The views from the winery are simply beautiful and match the expression in the bottle.
The winery was sold in 2017 to the owner of Silver Oak, and nothing was lost in the transition. The winemaker remains the same, and the vineyards are in place. The land is biodynamically farmed, and the wine is fermented at the winery. The tanks are all situated in the lower level of the winery and allow proper fermentation before being placed in barrel to age.
The views from the winery are truly gorgeous. On the eastern slopes of the Vaca Range, at an elevation of approximately 1200 feet off the valley floor, you can see the north end of the San Francisco Bay as you look south and Mt. St. Helena to the north. It is simply one of the most expansive views of the valley, especially on a clear day. We were able to view the valley on our walk from the production facility to the tasting room. It is the expansive view that you can “drink in” before tasting the luscious Cabernets.
Our tasting was hosted by a gracious, very educated individual that was a pleasure to spend time with. Ellis was an excellent guide through the wines that we tasted. It really is true that a wonderful host adds to the pleasure of the tasting. Another note here about the tasting is that it is private. You and your group will be hosted alone, and other guests will not be added to your tour.
Our tasting included two white wines and two reds. One of the reds and one of the whites we tasted were labeled “Experiment.” OVID experiments by using a process to discover the best expression of the wine using several different grapes. The white wine “Experiment” was a blend of nine different grapes, well blended to capture the brightness of the grapes with a smooth taste. They were so good, they sold me and I bought. The two red wines were 2022s that were big, bright and super expressive. The one that I enjoyed the most was the Hexameter where the lead grape is Cabernet Franc.
Well worth noting is the price of the tasting and the wine. OVID is a beautiful winery, located in a gorgeous place; and that does come with a cost. Know that I do believe we all should pamper ourselves on occasion, and this is a great place to do that.
Enjoy!
