The Taste of Howell Mountain 2018
The Taste of Howell Mountain was created to raise money for the elementary school on Howell Mountain. The vintners and winemakers gather to donate their wine to support the educational needs of the kids who go to school on the mountain. The funds that are raised will provide needed resources, and the kids are the biggest winners of the day.
This event remains one of my favorites. There are several reasons for this, starting with the wines of the AVA (American Viticultural Area – a designation within the United States that denotes shared characteristics for the growing area). The altitude of Howell Mountain provides warm days and cool nights that afford the grapes an opportunity to develop fine phenolics (chemical compounds that affect taste, color and mouthfeel of the wine) and produce deep, rich red wines with bright acidity. They are lush on the palate with tannins that are sometimes big and yet refined. When you start with this quality of wine, you have set an excellent day in motion.
The Taste of Howell Mountain 2016
The Taste of Howell Mountain is one of my favorite events of the year. Over 40 wineries that make wine from vineyards on Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain come together to raise money for Howell Mountain Elementary School. Clearly, it is a charity event that displays the heart of these winemakers and owners as they contribute time, energy, wine, and special auction lots to support the education of the children who learn at the school.
The benefactors though are more than the kids. We, enjoyers of great wine, are given an outstanding opportunity to taste their wine as well as meet the winemakers and owners who call this mountain their home. More than a tasting, it is an event to vie for special bottles through the silent auction and to bid for one of a kind wine collections or wine experiences to treat yourself (and possibly friends) during the live auction. The energy and bidding is fast and fun!
Taste of Howell Mountain: A Wonderful Annual Event for a Great Cause
Howell Mountain rises up on the east side of the Napa Valley floor. It is a distinct appellation in the valley that presents characteristics that contribute to the flavor profile of wine made from Howell Mountain grapes. The vineyards rise up to as high as 2200 feet, and this gives rise to temperature variations that range from 10 degrees cooler in the early summer to 10 degrees warmer later in the season. The fog is a big contributor, as it will hang on the valley floor yet the mountain will be bathed in warm sun. The red volcanic soil is full of minerals and not a lot of water. The vines really have to work hard on these mountain slopes. All this and more contribute to depth of flavor and a great fruit profile in the wine that will entice you back for more.
This is more than a wine-growing region though — it is a community. It is one that strives to contribute and has its eye on taking care of the children who attend Howell Mountain Elementary School. Each year, the Howell Mountain Vintners & Growers Associationpresents Taste of Howell Mountain. It is charitable event that supports the elementary school on Howell Mountain to ensure that the kids who attend have the opportunity to grow and learn in the best possible way.
A Taste of Howell Mountain
There are many great events to attend in Napa Valley. Last week, I wrote about the Auction Napa Valley (more about that below), which happened in early June. This week, I want to share about the annual “Taste of Howell Mountain,” which we attended just yesterday.
One of my favorite AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in Napa Valley is Howell Mountain. It is in the Vaca Range on the east side of Napa Valley. It occupies a volcanic plateau and looks across the valley to the Mayacamas Range on the west side. The AVA itself starts at an elevation of 1400 feet and ranges up to 2000 feet. The grapes in these vineyards ripen slowly; and, because they are above the fog line, are drenched in sun for many hours of the day.
While I could go on about the wines, another notable characteristic is the generosity of the winery owners themselves. Many partake and give much to the Napa Valley Vintners Auction, and they band together for “Taste of Howell Mountain” to raise money for the Howell Mountain Elementary School.
Outpost Wines: A Real Gem
There are many wineries that stand out for their wine, and Outpost is one of them. This winery crafts wonderful wine from high atop Howell Mountain. Outpost sits 2200 feet above the Napa Valley floor. The vineyards surround the property, and you can readily see many of them from one of the tasting rooms during your visit.
What’s relevant about the altitude? There are many who say that mountain fruit produces deep and concentrated flavors in a wine. There are attributes associated with altitude that contribute to this, such as heat during the day, cooling at night, exposure to more direct sunlight, and access to water. One thing that all will agree on is temperature. The higher you go, the cooler it gets. That translates to potentially longer hang time for the grapes on the vine, which benefits ripeness and flavor. The mountains also tend to have soils that drain more rapidly, and that contributes to the vines having to struggle to get water. This puts stress on the vine. What that means is that the vines put a lot of energy into the grapes, resulting in mountain fruit having thicker skin, smaller berries, and, many believe, a greater concentration of flavors.
Dunn: A Napa Valley Classic
One of the most iconic cabernets out of Napa Valley is the Dunn Cabernet from Dunn Vineyards. Randy Dunn, the primary principal of this winery, started his career with Caymus back in the 1970’s. He began his own winery in the latter part of that decade. Randy has been known and respected throughout the valley for crafting and creating big, muscular wines that age and age.
Mike Dunn (Randy’s son) is the cellar master and assistant wine maker and has assumed many more of the day-to-day responsibilities of the winery over the past seven years. Mike also started his own label — crafting his own style of wine called Retro, which is a Petite Syrah. He has two wines that are big, bold, and age-able, yet approachable young — at a killer price. His Retro label sells for under $35 and will age gracefully.
A Visit to Howell Mountain: O’Shaughnessy Winery
With Christmas day, lovingly celebrated with family, in the rear view mirror, it was time for a quick visit to Napa Valley. This is a time of the year that is relatively quiet in the valley with many wineries closed for a break until after the New Year. I needed to pick up some wine at O’Shaughnessy Winery, so we headed up Howell Mountain. O’Shaughnessy is one of my favorite wineries on Howell Mountain, and Howell Mountain itself is a specific appellation and one of the AVAs of the valley.
More about O’Shaughnessy in a minute, but let’s talk about the terms “AVA” and “appellation.” AVA stands for an American Viticultural Area. Specifically, an AVA is an officially recognized appellation; and an appellation is defined as a “geographically based growing region that shows unique characteristics of soil, climate, historical relevance and more.” Throughout Napa Valley, there are several AVAs, and Howell Mountain is one. An AVA’s distinctions influence the grapes and, ultimately, the wine. What distinguishes Howell Mountain is a climate that is slightly warmer and drier overall due to strong afternoon sun influence. The elevation ranges from 600 feet to 2600 feet, and the principal varieties grown are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc. It’s a short 20-minute drive up Deer Park Road (from Silverado Trail) to Howell Mountain.