Favia Wines: Worth Mentioning Again
I’ve posted about Favia Wines before, here and here; and this wine is worth mentioning again.
Winemaker Andy Erickson and viticulturist Annie Favia (a husband and wife team) bring together the art and science of winemaking to deliver a quality product that can be enjoyed on any occasion. Favia Wines holds a favorite spot in my collection, as it is a wide portfolio that can pair with many foods and be savored by themselves. These wines can brighten up any day or special event with great balance, aromas, flavors and mouthfeel.
Summer Sippers
Bright, crisp, and clean with floral and fruit notes that rise up from your glass and beckon you in for a sip. The wine hits your palate and washes over it with refreshing, bright, stone fruit notes and mouthwatering acidity. The wine speaks to you like a welcome friend of summer and leaves you with a cool respite from the heat.
We have rolled into summer with a rush of heat. The temperature is rising with record heat in some areas. Refreshing white wines are on the list of items to buy to help cool off and lighten the spirit.
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.
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!