March 4th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Frederick I Barbarossa was elected King of Germany in 1152.  He died during  a swim in the Saleph River during the third Crusade and his soldiers tried to preserve his body in a cask of vinegar.  It didn’t work.

• Charles Dibdin, a British composer, musician, writer and actor was born in 1745.  He is famous for the song and pantomine, The vineyard revels.

• Vermont was admitted to the union in 1791.  It’s first commercial winery opened in 1997. (there are currently 68 wineries in the state) 

• Oh, the humanity!  The Hindenberg had its maiden voyage in 1936.  Before the famous crash that ended zeppelin flights the Zeppelin Company provided food and drinks for the passengers including Zeltinger Rothlay Auslese, Moulin à Vent and Mumm, Cordon Rouge.

• The V. Sattui Winery in Napa Valley was opened to the public in 1976.

February 28th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Samuel Pepys drank a pint of wine at the Greyhound Tavern with Mr. Pierce and William Howe in 1660.

• Wine writer, Andre Simon was born in 1877. 

• Mario Andretti was born in 1940.  He is one of the founders of Andretti Winery in Napa Valley.

• California's Rockpile AVA was designated in 2002.

• California's Trinity Lakes AVA was designated in 2005.

• The French have a saying, « Beau ciel à la saint Romain, il y aura des denrées et du bon vin. » or "Beautiful sky at St. Romain, there will be food and good wine. "

January 28th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Charles VI of France almost dies during the Bal des Ardents in 1393.  During the celebration the King and five other nobles performed a charivari dance dressed as wild animals.  They were set ablaze accidentally by the King’s brother, the Duke of Orleans.  The only other noble to survive (besides the King) jumped into a vat of wine to save himself.

• Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, known most often as just Colette was born in 1873.  Many of her books describe food and wine including Gigi and the Claudine stories.

• English writer and critic, George Saintsbury, author of Notes on a Cellar-Book died in 1933.

• The Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC was created in 1972.

• California's Napa Valley AVA was designated in 1981.

• The French have a saying, « Si on ne l'a pas fait pour sainte Geneviève, c'est à la saint Charlemagne qu'on met la vigne à sève. » which translates (loosely) to "If it has not been done for Saint Genevieve, it is to Saint Charlemagne that the vineyard is put to the sap.”

October 18th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Abraham van Riebeeck, Dutch merchant and Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies was born in 1653 in what is now South Africa.  His father, Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of Cape Town produced the first known wine in South Africa.

• Flemish painter Jacob Jordaens died in 1678.  His painting, The King Drinks is a celebration of food, wine and merriment among family.

• Mike Ditka, famed Chicago Bear player and coach was born in 1939.  He partnered with Terlato Wines to produce Mike Ditka Wines.

• California's Benmore Valley AVA was designated in 1991.

• Vincent DeDomenico died in 2007.  He was an inventor of Rice-A-Roni and the founder of the Napa Valley Wine Train.

March 4th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history. 

• Frederick I Barbarossa was elected King of Germany in 1152.  He died during a a swim in the Saleph River during the third Crusade and his soldiers tried to preserve his body in a cask of vinegar.  It didn’t work.
• Charles Dibdin, a British composer, musician, writer and actor was born in 1745.  He is famous for the song and pantomime, The vineyard revels.
• Vermont was admitted to the union in 1791.  It’s first commercial winery opened in 1997.
• Oh, the humanity!  The Hindenberg had its maiden voyage in 1936.  Before the famous crash that ended Zeppelin flights, the Zeppelin Company provided food and drinks for the passengers including Zeltinger Rothlay Auslese, Moulin à Vent and Mumm, Cordon Rouge.
• The V. Sattui Winery in Napa Valley was opened to the public in 1976.

January 28th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

Charles VI of France almost dies during the Bal des Ardents in 1393.  During the celebration the King and five other nobles performed a charivari dance dressed as wild animals.  They were set ablaze accidentally by the King’s brother, the Duke of Orleans.  The only other noble to survive (besides the King) jumped into a vat of wine to save himself.

• Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, known most often as just Colette was born in 1873.  Many of her books describe food and wine including Gigi and the Claudine stories.
• English writer and critic, George Saintsbury, author of Notes on a Cellar-Book died in 1933.
• The Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC was created in 1972.
• California's Napa Valley AVA was designated in 1981.
• The French have a saying, « Si on ne l'a pas fait pour sainte Geneviève, c'est à la saint Charlemagne qu'on met la vigne à sève. » which translates (loosely) to "If it has not been done for Saint Genevieve, it is to Saint Charlemagne that the vineyard is put to the sap.”

October 18th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Flemish painter Jacob Jordaens died in 1678.  His painting, The King Drinks is a celebration of food, wine and merriment among family.
• California's Benmore Valley AVA was designated in 1991.
• Vincent DeDomenico died in 2007.  He was an inventor of Rice-A-Roni and the founder of the Napa Valley Wine Train.

Stags Leap District - Wine Region of the Day

The Stags Leap District received its AVA distinction in 1989 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 2,700 acres, Stags Leap is only 6 miles north of the city of Napa, California. The soil of this region includes loam and clay sediments from the Napa River and volcanic soil deposits from the gradual erosion of the Vaca Mountains. The heat of the sun reflects off neighboring hills onto the vines, causing warm daily temperatures in the vineyards. In the evenings, cool, marine air flows in from the San Pablo Bay through the Stags Leap District corridor. The cooling effect of this breeze means lower nighttime temperatures. This combination of warm days and cool nights allows the grapes to achieve an excellent balance of acid and sugar, and the result is a longer growing season. The majority of grapes grown in the region are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

2014 Essere Franco Cabernet Sauvignon - Wine of the Day

2014 Essere Franco Cabernet Sauvignon

$110

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From our Reverence vineyard in Coombsville. With its dense purple color, this Cabernet exudes dark berries and is lush, full, intense, and pure. With a full-bodied mouth feel it epitomizes the essence of a Napa Valley Cab.

Located on the south-eastern side of Napa, Reverence Vineyard is characterized by its slightly cooler climate conditions and for its diverse landscape of lightly hilly terrain with rocky mineral rich volcanic soils. The vineyard was planted in 2002 with an array of Cabernet Sauvignon clones, and 110R & 101-14 rootstocks. The perfect balance of challenging typography and a mild climate is ideal for producing low yielding yet intensely complex fruit. Our ultra premium Cabernet Sauvignon grapes reflect the intensity of this varietal while maintaining a classic delicacy and finesse.

Oakville - Wine Region of the Day

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Oakville was designated as an AVA in 1993 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 5,700 acres centered on the town of Oakville, it is probably Napa Valley's most famous appellation. The soil in Oakville is well-drained gravel soil deposits from the nearby Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. The region goes from sea level in the valley to 600 feet in elevation at the base of the Vaca Mountains. Oakville has a warmer climate than much of the Napa Valley, with mild amounts of wind and fog from San Pablo Bay. The conditions in the region are ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and many of America's greatest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon have vineyards in the AVA. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot are also grown here.

2014 Oak Cliff Cellars Napa Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

2014 Oak Cliff Cellars Napa Pinot Noir

$45

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This Pinot Noir is still very young, will cellar for years to come and needs some decanting, if only in the glass, for the full bouquet to evolve. Brilliant garnet in color, the flavor profile starts out with cherry/black cherry and cedar, and as the wine opens up with flavors of orange zest, fig, butterscotch, cardamom and black tea, with a long, silky finish. Pair this wine with turkey, ham, salmon and savory vegetarian dishes like stuffed mushrooms or ratatouille.

This old vines vineyard of Pinot Noir was planted nearly 50 years ago (1966) by Pat and Duncan Haynes in what is now the Coombsville AVA, east of the city of Napa. Proximity to San Pablo Bay contributes to the temperate climate of Coombsville, with cooling effects of marine air and fog occur almost daily during the growing season Located in the wide alluvial deposits created by the wearing down of the hillsides, the Coombsville soils contain abundant rock, gravel and, in some areas, are layered with volcanic ash deposits from Mount George.

St. Helena - Wine Region of the Day

St. Helena AVA gained status as an AVA in 1993 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. The AVA is situated on 9,000 acres and is centered on the town of St. Helena, California. St. Helena is Napa Valley's northernmost AVA and sits between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. The soils of the region are sedimentary, gravel-clay soils, with lower fertility and moderate water retention The location, means the region is isolated from the cool ocean breezes and fog that is prevalent in the southern valleys. These conditions make for bright sunny days with radiating heat off the mountains and full-bodied wines that are fruit forward and jammy. The featured wines of the region are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Zinfandel.

Mount Veeder - Wine Region of the Day

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Mount Veeder received its designation as an AVA in 1993 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Located on 15,000 acres in the Mayacamas Mountains, the steep mountain face gives the vines the benefits of more direct sunlight and better drainage. Mount Veeder has high elevation and volcanic soil that imparts the region's distinctive flavor characteristics of eucalyptus, herbs, and florals. Given its proximity to the Los Carneros region, Mount Veeder benefits from the cool fog and ocean breezes off the San Pablo Bay. The cool and moderate climate on Mount Veeder extends the growing season and produced fruit that is well rounded and balanced in its acidity. The region is known for producing Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Viognier, and Zinfandel.

Calistoga - Wine Region of the Day

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Calistoga received its AVA status in 2010 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA located on in the northern portion of the Napa Valley. Calistoga's soil is almost exclusively volcanic, providing a consistency throughout the region. The daily high temperatures up to 100 degrees and cool nightly breezes from the Russian River cause the highest diurnal temperature variation in the Napa Valley. This temperature fluctuation along with the volcanic soil creates wines with big bright flavors and deep complexity and well-balanced acid. The region is known for its Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Zinfandel.

Diamond Mountain District - Wine Region of the Day

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The Diamond Mountain District received its AVA designation in 2001. The region sits on 5,000 acres and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Located in the Mayacamas Mountains, Diamond Mountain's unique feature is its higher elevation than most of the growing regions in Napa Valley. The higher elevation allows the vines to sit above the fog line and receive a few extended hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil is volcanic, porous, and well draining which forces the vines to struggle and put all of their efforts into the fruit. Given the warm sunny days and cool nightly breezes, the area has a significant diurnal temperature variation. The region is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Atlas Peak - Wine Region of the Day

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Atlas Peak received its designation as an AVA in 1992. Sitting on 15,000 acres, it is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Atlas Peak's signature feature is its higher elevation than most of the growing regions in Napa Valley, allowing the vines to sit above the fog line and receive a few extended hours of direct sunlight daily. The warm sunny days and cool nightly breezes create a diurnal temperature variation of 30 degrees allowing the grapes to take longer to ripen, giving the fruit its signature depth of flavor and balanced acidity. The soil is volcanic, porous, and well draining which forces the vines to struggle and put all of their efforts into the fruit, concentrating the flavors. The area is known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay.

2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc

$35

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The fruit for the 2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Las Cerezas Vineyard in Napa Valley's Yountville viticultural area.  Aged 12 months in 80% new French Oak, this wine maintains a crisp acidic edge with a medium body. With fruit flavors of green apple and passion fruit, and a flowery peach nose, our Sauvignon Blanc is perfect for your afternoon picnic. Best served with grilled fish or white meats especially if prepared with a creamy sauce with spring vegetables.  

Yountville - Wine Region of the Day

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Yountville received its distinction as an AVA in 1999 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. The AVA is sitting on 8,000 acres, centered on the town Yountville, California. Volcanic soils on the eastern flank are similar to the neighboring Stags Leap District but also features centuries-old coastal deposits, and both sedimentary and alluvial soils exist to the west, interspersed with sandy and gravelly loam, as well as a little clay. No other area in all the Napa Valley has this particular geomorphic combination and pronounced soil differences. The climate of the region consists of cool marine air currents from San Pablo Bay to the south, allowing for cooler temperatures year round. These milder temperatures allow the grapes of the region plenty of time to develop unique flavor characteristics. The region currently produces Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

Howell Mountain - Wine of the Day

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Howell Mountain received its designation as an AVA in 1983, and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Howell Mountain is located on 14,000 acres in the Vaca Range on the northeast side of Napa Valley. Most vineyards on the Howell Mountain are planted between 1,400 feet and 2,200 feet placing them above the fog and cool winds from San Pablo Bay. The soil in the appellation is volcanic with good drainage, causing the vines to struggle and place all of their efforts into the fruit. The region is known for Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel.

Stags Leap District - Wine Region of the Day

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The Stags Leap District received its AVA distinction in 1989 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 2,700 acres, Stags Leap is only 6 miles north of the city of Napa, California. The soil of this region includes loam and clay sediments from the Napa River and volcanic soil deposits from the gradual erosion of the Vaca Mountains. The heat of the sun reflects off neighboring hills onto the vines, causing warm daily temperatures in the vineyards. In the evenings, cool, marine air flows in from the San Pablo Bay through the Stags Leap District corridor. The cooling effect of this breeze means lower nighttime temperatures. This combination of warm days and cool nights allows the grapes to achieve an excellent balance of acid and sugar, and the result is a longer growing season. The majority of grapes grown in the region are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.