Mending Wall: The New Kid on the Trail

“Mending Wall” is a poem by the twentieth century American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963). The poem is about two men who mend the fence that separates their properties, yet it brings them together. This is part of the inspiration for the Mending Wall, a new winery located on the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley. Wine is that wonderful beverage that brings people together, and the Mending Wall is the vision of three families who come together in an endeavor to make wine of great quality and flavor. There are excellent beginnings here on the Trail, since this is an endeavor of talented vintners and a highly-regarded winemaker.

None of those involved is new to the winemaking business, but this is a new beginning to “press the boundaries” in an effort to produce the best expression of the grape. At Mending Wall, Frank & Kathy Dotzler (of Outpost Winery and Vineyard) and Donna Walker & Mark Pulido (of Pulido-Walker) come together with winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown to craft a new set of quality wines. They are off and running!

Mending Wall is an upbeat and cool setting. It is hip and invites you in to the tasting room. The winery is set among established vineyards, yet the building is brand new. It is located in St. Helena on the Silverado Trail, and great care has been taken to respect the land and use resources wisely. A keen eye has been kept on the use of renewable resources, and the property is decorated with beautiful and interesting repurposed items. The staff is warm and friendly, and the winery has the vibe of a cool club inside with a long bar and several tables set up for tasting. There are many comfortable seating areas outside, as well, and it is up to you where you want to enjoy the wine and views.

On our visit, we tasted through three wines. These are the first releases from Mending Wall and were all very approachable. We started with a refreshing white blend made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion. There were great stone fruit aromas and flavors that were rounded out with the softness of the Semillion. We also had a young Petit Sirah that was big yet expressive for such a young wine. The final wine of the set was a lovely cabernet that was fruity and smooth. These wines bode well for the enterprise and partnership of the Mending Wall but most of all for us. They are here to offer great wine to enjoy and share.

The Mending Wall is open for tastings by appointment only. You can check it out at www.mendingwall.com.

Enjoy!