Calistoga Food and Wine 2018
Calistoga is a small town at the northern end of Napa Valley. Population, at the last census, was around 5500. It is known for its hot springs, mud baths, and relaxing mineral water along with its wine. Just a few weeks ago, production teams were filming for a Netflix movie starring Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and other Saturday Night Live alumnae. That is a lot for a little town; and, this past weekend, the big draw was the fabulous Calistoga Food and Wine event, which culminated in an event held at the Solage resort.
Saturday afternoon, the stage was set for delicious bites from local restaurants accompanied by lovely wine. This was the culmination of a 3-day event, and it was very cool. There was music, food, and wine! The food ran the gamut from Korean BBQ ribs (they were excellent) to crab cake bites, pulled pork, and lovely desserts. You would have to work at going hungry at this event. The local restaurants were well-represented and welcomed everyone with their fare.
Ashes & Diamonds: A New Napa Valley Sparkler
This was our first experience at Ashes & Diamonds, a new winery in Napa Valley. What we found was a very young, eclectic vibe. The setting was mid-century modern, which translated to it being very upbeat and open - beckoning in new tasters. We sat among a refreshingly diverse group in our tasting room. One group sat in the corner with a bottle of wine, playing cards. Another group sat, looking at their phones together, and clearly the only thing missing was a charging station! This property is 6 months young and marching to a different beat.
One of the most notable differences up front is the hours. The tasting room opens at 11 AM and closes at 7 PM. This, in itself, is not the norm in a valley where you are challenged to find many properties open past 5 PM. Additionally, the intent is to serve lunch paired with their wines. They currently serve a menu of small plates. Of course, it is by appointment only, yet I am unaware of any winery tasting room that is set up to serve a full meal with their wine. This is an interesting approach.
Markham Merlot
Early on in my career, I was introduced to Markham Merlot. I was told it was the very favorite of our CEO; so, I thought, it must have been good. Many years have passed, and my wine journey has taken different roads; yet there is always a place for modestly priced wine that is good. This is one of them.
Markham is one of the oldest wineries in the Napa Valley that makes Merlot. It’s the 4th oldest continuously operating winery in Napa County. The vineyards were bought and brought into production in 1972. Today, the vineyards for Markham total 350 acres, which allows for a large production and a wide choice of grapes for blending.
Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate: A Class Act
There are over 500 wineries in the Napa Valley. You can walk in and taste the wine of almost 90 of those wineries; another 270 plus will welcome you by appointment. There is wide variability in what you can experience with each and every one of those tasting visits. This is a very good thing, as it begs us to explore.
This past week, that journey took us to a new and emerging winery in St. Helena named Bulgheroni Estate, and each aspect of the visit was executed with class. From the very beginning to end, it was gracious and relaxed, informative and interesting; and the wines – well they matched all aspects of the endeavor. They were well structured and balanced with expressive fruit and a long finish.
Carneros Pinot Noir Tasting: Artesa, Donum, Etude, Hyde de Villaine (HDV), Renteria
Recently, I had the pleasure to attend an event that focused solely on Pinot Noir from the Carneros AVA of Napa Valley, also known as Los Carneros. It was hosted at Artesa and led by Kelli White of GuildSomm. You might be wondering what that is and why you should care. Let me set the stage for you.
“GuildSomm is a nonprofit international membership organization for sommeliers and wine professionals that promotes education, collaboration, and healthy debate while maintaining the key values of the sommelier profession: integrity, humility, and hospitality. We’re here to help you expand your knowledge of the wine world, network, and stay up-to-date on industry news and trends.”
Mustard: Not Just a Pretty Face
The Napa Valley is beautiful to visit at any time of the year. Each season has it moments that are amazing. Right now, the vines are “resting” and have been cut back in preparation for the growing season. Temperature changes are what stimulate the growth, and presently it is chilly. Bud break, the initial beginning of growth happens, generally around St. Patrick’s Day. We are still a good month away from that time.
What you will see at this time of the year, which can be amazing, is the vast fields of yellow mustard in the vineyards. Rows and rows of bright yellow flowers fill many of the vineyards and peak around this time of year. Glorious bright yellow that spans acres of trimmed vineyards dot the valley. This is what the vineyard manager terms a cover crop. It is more than just a "pretty face."
There’s a Castle in Napa Valley
When visiting the Napa Valley, many people center their experience on wine tasting and the enjoyment of the beautiful vineyards along with the views. Rightly so, as it is one of the premier locations on the planet to offer such great wine and beautiful vistas. Yet there is more to see and do.
One of those experiences is a visit to Castello di Amorosa. Which literally means “Castle of Love.” It is a real castle built from authentic materials to replicate a medieval Italian castle. The visionary and owner is Dario Sattui. This was his dream to honor his Italian heritage. He did so with authentic old, handmade materials shipped from Europe to the U.S. in 200+ shipping containers. These containers held old bricks, building materials and furniture. This is a magnificent structure that spans eight levels (four above ground and four below) and has over 100 separate rooms. It even has a prison and a torture chamber. The construction began in 1994, and the castle opened its doors to visitors in 2007. This is the real deal!
Flavor! Napa Valley
What if you only had a few days and wanted to explore and have a taste of many of the outstanding food and wine experiences in the Napa Valley? So many fine restaurants, so many great wineries. What is a person to do?
Well, there is a great week of events just for you. It is titled “Flavor! Napa Valley.” This is a week-long exploration of what the valley has to offer in food and wine experiences. “Flavor! Napa Valley” is for you. It is an immersion in fabulous food and wine.
Hall Wines: An Artistic Expression
Wine tasting in the Napa Valley is a joyous experience. Almost 500 wineries call the valley their home. So isn’t that a luscious palate to choose from for a tasting adventure? Yes, of course, yet not all wineries welcome visitors and offer tastings without appointments. Within the valley there are three distinct categories of wineries. One being that there is no permit or access to tasting. These wineries may not be able to build a tasting room based on the size of their production or because they sell out of their wines through their mailing lists. Secondly, there are wineries that welcome visitors on an appointment basis and may offer multiple choices of tastings that could include pairings with cheeses or other small bites. And then there is a third group of wineries that are open during certain hours and offer a menu of tasting options for the visitor, even without an appointment.
This is where Hall Wines fits in. Hall offers a portfolio of wines that one may stop in and sip through. They offer many different experiences to explore, although some of these will require an appointment as well. For those driving down Highway 29 looking for a beautiful setting and great tasting wine – Hall Wines is a perfect stop.
Mumm’s the Word
You will often hear folks refer to sparkling wine as “Champagne,” but this is an accurate description only if that bottle is from the French region named Champagne. There was a time when no other sparkling wines could come close to the quality produced in France, but that’s not true today. California sparklers can deliver the complexity, richness, and length of finish to rival those made by the French.
Mumm is one such producer to try for your next sparkling wine. Located in Napa Valley and growing fruit in vineyards in the southern, cooler part of the valley, Mumm offers many different wines to please your palate. A visit to the winery is not only refreshing but also enlightening when it comes to the production of their wines. Just recently, I took their tour and found it well done and informative.