Recently we attended the annual wine bloggers conference which allowed us to spend some time in Sonoma and Napa Valley. These next few episodes will cover some of the information we learned as well as some of the wines we sampled.
This week we discuss:
- Where is Napa Valley?
- Wine production and impact
- Climate and geography
- Grapes grown and why the focus on Cab?
- What to expect from Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabinet Sauvignon
Wines and Wineries featured in this episode
Chardonnay:
- J. Moss 2015 Los Carneros – $42
- Handwritten Wines 2016 Los Carneros – $55
- Castello di Amorosa 2016 Reserve, Napa Valley – $50
Merlot
Cabinet Sauvignon
- J. Moss 2013 Coombsville – $84
- Handwritten Wines 2014 Los Carneros – $100
- Handwritten Wines 2014 Stags Leap District – $115
- Castello di Amorosa 2006 Il Barone Napa Valley – $185
Unusually Napa Valley wine varieties
- 2014 Nichelini Family Winery Chiles Valley Petite Sirah – $43
- Antica 2014 Napa Valley Antinori Family Wine Estate Atlas Peak Pinot Noir – $35
- Hess Collection Small Block Series 2016 Mount Veeder Gruner Veltliner – $28
- Silverado Vineyards 2016 Miller Ranch Yountville Sauvignon Blanc – $25
- Schramsberg 2013 Querencia Napa Valley Brut Rose – $55
A big thanks to Napa Valley Vintners, Castello di Amorosa and Las Alcobas for hosting us as well as all of the wineries who shared their wine with us!
- Castello di Amorosa
- Scenic view at Castello di Amorosa
- Olive Tree at Castello di Amorosa
- Medieval chandelier at Castello di Amorosa
- View at Los Alcobas
- Unexpected wines of Napa Valley
- Schramsberg Querencia Napa Valley Brut Rose, oyster with green apple mignonette and verbena oil
- Silverado Vineyards 2016 Miller Ranch Yountville Sauvignon Blanc with Hamachi Caruso with rose vinegar and Asian pear or vegetable croute de te with hummus
- Hess Collection 2016 Mt. Veeder Gruner Veltliner with striped bass with carrot top chimichurri and charred carrots or lemon spinach rigatoni with toasted pine nuts
- Antica 2014 Napa Valley Antinori Family Wine Estate Atlas Peak Pinot Noir with thirty day dry aged strip loin with king trumpets, celery root, and potato gratin, sauce au poivre or king trumpets with potato gratin, carrot top chimichurri and charred carrots
- 2014 Nichelini Family Winery Chiles Valley Petite Sirah with local cheese with accompaniments
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