Buccella: Industrial on the Outside, Luxurious on the Inside
The Buccella tasting room can be found in the southern tip of Napa Valley, located in an industrial setting. It was only recently that the tasting room has been open to visit. This is an appointment-only tasting and well worth the effort and time. Do not go looking for vineyard or mountain views — this is a stop to experience the wine, learn about Buccella’s wine making philosophy, and taste through some beautiful wines hosted by Gwen who leads their hospitality team. She is knowledgeable about the winery and will walk you through the richness of the experience. The tasting room itself is lovely and well appointed. Check out the pictures for an up close and personal view.
Since the winery is located on the same property as the tasting room, and with the activity of harvest happening on our visit, it was quite the experience. The grapes where being brought in, de-stemmed, and moved to the sorting table. Several ladies were sorting as the grapes were prepared for crush, pulling grapes that did not make the cut. Winemaker Rebekah Wineburg was checking the sugar and overseeing the lots. Rebekah has been the winemaker since 2009 and holds a Masters Degree in Enology and Viticulture from the University of California at Davis. She has great experience from Italy, New Zealand, and Napa Valley, all of which she brings to Buccella. All around us, there was a flurry of activity and purpose as they prepared the grapes for their evolution to wine.
For our tasting that day, we started out with the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is only sold at the tasting room, and it was a standout. I could not stop coming back to the glass, sip after sip. The wine had a bright lively acidity, stone fruit, and a soft, round mouth feel. This is truly an outstanding value for only $35 a bottle. We then were presented with three luxurious cabernets. All were big, textured wines with rich flavors. The nose alone on all three was captivating with flowers and dark red/black fruit. We tasted through the 2010 Cuvee Katrina Eileen, 2011 Cabernet, and the 2011 Cuvee Katrina Eileen. These all were big wines with layers of flavor. The flagship cabernet has been one I have enjoyed for years, as it is silky, textured and complex. They are big flavors that sail on and beg for another sip.
Buccella makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and a new Rhone wine with grapes from Shake Ridge in Amador County called Mixed Blacks. These wines are graceful in the glass and silky expressions of their varietals. For many, these are special occasion wines that you deserve to afford yourself the opportunity to experience.
Enjoy!
