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.
Tony Biagi is talented and sought after in the valley as winemaker and consultant. I have tasted his expert touch in many visits to other wineries. One standout that comes to mind is Sinegal where he was the consultant. Another one of the wineries with his deft touch is Amici, which I have truly enjoyed. For more on Tony, here is a link to an article by Jeb Dunnick. Another article, by Antonio Galloni, calls out Tony as his Winemaker of the Year in 2020. Tony’s newest adventure is Patria, which is his own winery in collaboration with Kimberley Jones. The wines are really wonderful. I could go on yet there is a message here: Follow the winemaker for really well-crafted wines.
The hospitality at Hourglass was excellent. This is a wonderful tasting that should be on everyone’s list of go-to wineries. You can get more information here. The wine is the reward for your time.
Enjoy!
