Tag Archives: estate

Terry Hoage Vineyards – Paso Robles

Posted on January 6, 2013 | 1 Comment
Terry Hoage Vineyards

Terry Hoage Vineyards

Tucked away on an idyllic parcel of land on the Westside of Paso Robles lies the Terry Hoage Vineyards and tasting room.  In the rustic winery perched right across the small parking lot from his home, Terry Hoage and his wife Jennifer are hand-crafting some of the finest wines to come out of Paso Robles.

Terry Hoage Vineyards Tasting Room

Terry Hoage Vineyards Tasting Room

Terry Hoage Vineyards Tasting Room

Terry Hoage Vineyards Tasting Room

Terry and Jennifer learned the art of winemaking from some of the artisan trailblazers in the area, particularly Justin Smith of the famed Saxum Vineyards.  Justin made wine for Terry Hoage Vineyards and oversaw the winemaking process from 2002-2003 until Terry and Jennifer released their first vintage in 2005.

Terry Hoage Vineyards Tasting Room

Terry Hoage Vineyards Tasting Room

The Hoage’s take a very minimalist approach to making wine and do not incorporate any racking, fining or filtering.  They personally oversee every step in the process, producing bold, juicy Rhone varietals that are 100% organically farmed and estate grown.  You can taste the quality, creativity, and attention to detail in each sip.

Our dog Booker enjoying the beautiful grounds at Terry Hoage Vineyards

Our dog Booker enjoying the beautiful grounds at Terry Hoage Vineyards

Seating area at Terry Hoage Vineyards

Seating area at Terry Hoage Vineyards

During a pre-holiday trip to Paso, I had the pleasure of spending some time with Evan and Kellie in the Terry Hoage Vineyards tasting room.  Aside from the Hoage’s, Evan and Kellie are the only other official employees at the winery, which made it feel even more like a true family style operation.

Evan & Kellie of Terry Hoage Vineyards

Evan & Kellie of Terry Hoage Vineyards

We were taken through the current tasting flight which included 4 incredible reds, and also got to try a couple of wines from the upcoming 2010 release.

Before embarking on his career as a wine maker, Terry was a professional football player and spent 13 seasons in the NFL playing for 6 different teams.  He subtly pays homage to his football days through the names he give his wines (“The Pick”, “The 46″, “The Hedge”, etc).

Memorabilia from Terry Hoage's career in the NFL

Memorabilia from Terry Hoage’s career in the NFL

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Memorabilia from Terry Hoage’s career in the NFL

I thought all the wines at Terry Hoage Vineyards were outstanding and were on par with my favorites in the area (Booker, L’Aventure, etc).  I wanted to take a bottle of each home with me, but I managed to narrow my purchases down to a 2009 “The Hedge” (a deep red Syrah named after the hedges of UGA where Terry played), a 2010 “5 Blocks” (a Syrah/Mourvedre/Grenache/Cinsault blend honoring the 5 blocked field goals Terry had in his college days), and a 2011 “Pik Pool” (a white Picpoul Blanc that tasted like summertime).

The Current Tasting Flight: '08 "The Pick" Grenache Cuvee, '07 "The 46" Grenache-Syrah, '09 "The 46" Grenache-Syrah, and '09 "The Hedge" Syrah

The Current Tasting Flight: ’08 “The Pick” Grenache Cuvee, ’07 “The 46″ Grenache-Syrah, ’09 “The 46″ Grenache-Syrah, and ’09 “The Hedge” Syrah

The 2010 Release - Currently available to wine club members

The 2010 Release – Currently available to wine club members

I truly can’t recommend Terry Hoage Vineyards enough and thank Evan & Kellie for sharing their knowledge, passion, and hospitality.  To quote Robert Parker, “This is the kind of wine the Central Coast should be producing more.”

The stunning views at Terry Hoage Vineyards

The stunning views at Terry Hoage Vineyards

Click here to visit the Terry Hoage Vineyards website.

TERRY HOAGE VINEYARDS
870 Arbor Road
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Phone: (805) 238-2083
Email: info@terryhoagevineyards.com
Tasting room hours: 11AM – 4PM Thursday through Monday

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Posted in Paso Robles, WINERY/VINEYARD, Rhone, CALIFORNIA, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Central Coast / Monterey

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Presqu’ile Winery – Los Olivos, CA

Posted on September 12, 2012 | 1 Comment

Presqu’ile Wine – Los Olivos, CA

Every time I head up to Los Olivos, CA, I feel like the town just gets better and better.  With every trip, I seem to uncover an incredible new wine or a fun, new place to grab a bite.  This past weekend was certainly no exception.

Presqu’ile Wine – Los Olivos, CA

Presqu’ile Wine – Los Olivos, CA

I decided to try the wines of Presqu’ile and instantly fell in love.  The Presqu’ile Wine tasting room is located a couple of doors down from the recently opened Sides Hardware & Shoes restaurant.  The restaurant had a 45 minute wait, so we put down our names and headed to Presqu’ile.

Anna Murphy in the Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Room

We walked in the front door and I couldn’t help notice the incredibly cool decor.  The room was painted in a deep charcoal that was warmed with splashes of color, interesting art, and great lighting.  It was refreshing to see a tasting room with such a unique and contemporary design.

Proper pronunciation of Presqu’ile cleverly written on the tasting room wall

Colorful art on the wall at Presqu’ile

Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Room

I was also thrilled to see a doggy water bowl on the front porch when we arrived.  Our dog Booker was welcomed inside and instantly made friends with the tasting room dog, Hazel.

Booker and his new friend Hazel having a blast

While the dogs played, we sat at the bar and started our tasting.  They offer a Presqu’ile Flight for $10 which includes a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Rose and a Pinot Noir.  They also offer a tasting flight of 3 Pinot Noirs for $15, or you can taste all 6 wines for $20.

Wine wall at Presqu’ile

Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Menu

We opted for the “taste them all” option, and tasting room manager Anna Murphy took us through the line up while she told us about the history of the winery.

We learned that the Murphy Family owns Presqu’ile and that the name means “almost an island” – an homage to a very special piece of land in the Gulf Coast that belonged to her family and was lost during Hurricane Katrina.  The family is working on a permanent Santa Maria winery/tasting room that will open Summer 2013.

Chandelier in the Presqu’ile tasting room

Back to the wine.  I thought the entire line up was pretty incredible and had a difficult time picking favorites.  Winemaker Dieter Cronje handcrafts the wines in a perfectly balanced, elegant, food friendly style which I really enjoyed – especially in an area with so many super-juicy Pinot Noirs and buttery Chardonnays.

Photo of winemaker Dieter Cronje

Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Room

Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Room

The hot day helped me narrow down my purchases to a 2010 Presqu’ile Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley ($35) and a 2011 Presqu’ile Rose of Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley ($18).  I will definitely be back for several bottles of Pinot Noir on my next visit.

Overall, I was so happy we visited Presqu’ile.  Anna was such a pleasure to chat with, the vibe of the tasting room was so welcoming and fresh, Booker got a great workout playing with Hazel, and the wines were fantastic.  I can’t wait for my next visit.

Click here to visit the Presqu’ile Winery website.

PRESQU’ILE WINERY – TASTING ROOM
2369 Alamo Pintado Avenue
Los Olivos, CA  93441
Phone: (805) 688-2022
Email: info@presquilewine.com
Tasting room hours: 11AM – 5PM Thursday through Monday

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Posted in Burgundy, CALIFORNIA, Chardonnay, Los Olivos, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc, WINERY/VINEYARD

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Wrath Wines – Monterey County

Posted on September 2, 2012 | 2 Comments

Wrath Wines

Wrath Wines

The Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County was yet-to-be-explored wine country for me until a couple of weekends ago.  After spending two perfect days soaking up as much of the area as I could, I found it to be a unique and very special place.

The SLH AVA sits in the Salinas Valley between the Santa Lucia and Gabilan Mountain Ranges, and enjoys a true cool climate thanks to fog and breezes blowing in from the Monterey Bay.  This makes it absolutely ideal for growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah – varieties that dominate in the area.  As a serious fan of Pinot Noir, I couldn’t wait to taste some new wines.

Wrath Wines

We spent most of our time on the River Road Wine Trail, which is essentially the main artery through the Valley and home to approximately 13 tasting rooms. The area is covered by over 50 vineyards, but most of them are private and solely grow grapes to sell to wine makers. We stopped at many of the tasting rooms along the wine trail, but I absolutely fell in love with Wrath Wines.

Exterior of the Wrath Wines tasting room

Exterior of the Wrath Wines tasting room

Aside from the fact that it’s surrounded by gorgeous vineyards, the Wrath Wines tasting room was not an immediate stunner. That is, until we stepped inside. Once I walked through the front door, I felt like I had entered a hidden oasis.

A view of the outdoors from inside the Wrath Wines tasting room

Wrath Wines tasting room

Wrath Wines

Inside, the tasting room was modern, simple & bright. We had our dog, Booker, with us and he was immediately welcomed to join us indoors. He quickly became friends with a winery dog named Penny and the two of them chased each other through the vines the entire time we tasted.  We decided to grab our first taste and join the doggies outside.

Sip Certified Wrath Wines

Wrath Wines

Wrath tasting menu

We enjoyed an outstanding line up of Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Syrahs while relaxing by the pond. We also ordered a plate of crackers with local, hand crafted Monterey Jack cheese from Schoch Family Farmstead.

The cheese is hand-made just down the road from the winery by the Schoch family who have owned and operated their small dairy since 1944.  It was so yummy and paired so nicely with the wine that I hunted it down at The Cheese Shop in Carmel – right next to Wrath’s smaller Carmel tasting room.

Stunning views at Wrath Wines

Penny showing our dog Booker around the property…

Wrath Wines

Pond at the Wrath Wines tasting room

Outdoor seating at Wrath Wines

Outdoor seating at Wrath Wines

Wrath Wine & Schoch Family Farmstead Cheese

Wrath’s adorable winery dog, Penny

An incredible old building that sits next to the vineyards and can be seen on the label of every bottle of Wrath wine.

Even after spending a couple of hours at Wrath Wines, I didn’t want to leave.  The stunning scenery, amazing wine, and friendly people made the whole experience unforgettable.  I can’t think of a better place to lose track of an afternoon.  Wrath is not to be missed.

Click here to visit the Wrath Wines website.

WRATH WINES
35801 Foothill Road
Soledad, CA 93960
Phone: (831) 678-2212
Email: info@wrathwines.com
Tasting room hours: 11AM – 5PM Friday through Monday

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Posted in CALIFORNIA, Central Coast / Monterey, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, WINERY/VINEYARD

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Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines

Posted on May 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines

I’ve wanted to try Edward Sellers’ wines for years.  It was always on my list, however because the tasting room was located in downtown Paso Robles, it usually ended up at the bottom as a last place to visit before dinner.  Unfortunately after a day of wine tasting outside of town, we usually skipped more wine and focused on food.

Now Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines has a gorgeous tasting room on the Westside of Paso and during my last visit, I made it the first stop of the day.

Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines

Driving down Highway 46 West, it’s easy to miss the entrance to Edward Sellers.  Although the tasting room is not far off the highway, once you turn down the unpaved drive and head onto the vine-covered grounds of the winery, you feel miles away from everything.

Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines

The tasting room at Edward Sellers is modern, yet it fits in perfectly with the natural beauty around it.  There is plenty of sunny outside seating that overlooks the acres of vineyards.  We got out of our car and were greeted by two friendly winery dogs who quickly made friends with our dog, Booker.

Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines

Outside seating at Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines

Outside seating at Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines with a picture-perfect view

After soaking up some sunshine, we headed inside – Booker included – to try some wine.  The inside of the Edward Sellers tasting room is just as lovely as the outside with dark stone floors, a bright green accent wall, and big window behind the bar that allows you to peek inside the barrel room.

Inside the Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines tasting room

Inside the Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines tasting room

Inside the Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines tasting room

Our tasting included two whites followed by a series of reds.  Similar to other wineries in Paso Robles, Edward Sellers specializes in hand crafted American Rhone style wines.  However, what I think sets them apart is the fact that most of Edward Sellers’ wines were perfectly balanced and surprisingly food-friendly.  They had the classic, big Paso Rhone style that I love without being too big and bold to complement a meal.

Booker enjoying the cool stone floor at Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines

All the wines we tried were consistently good which made it difficult to pick our favorites.  We decided to leave with a couple of bottles of 2011 Grenache Rose – a juicy, strawberry-filled rose that is perfect for summer.  We also took home a bottle of 2007 Vertigo (71% Grenache, 16% Mourvèdre & 13% Syrah) which was slightly tart with a nice hint of smoke.

I’m so glad we finally tried Edward Sellers.  It is one of our new favorites and will be a regular stop on our visits to Paso Robles.

Click here to visit the Edward Sellers Vineyards website.

EDWARD SELLERS VINEYARDS & WINES
1401 West Highway 46
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Phone: (805) 239-8915
Email: info@edwardsellers.com
Tasting room hours: 11AM – 5PM Daily

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Posted in CALIFORNIA, Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Petit Sirah, Rhone, Syrah, WINERY/VINEYARD

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Booker Vineyard Release Party – Paso Robles

Posted on May 8, 2012 | 3 Comments

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Booker Vineyard’s annual member release party and I wanted to share some photos of what ended up being an incredible day.

The wine, food, music and setting couldn’t have been more perfect.
Pier 46 Seafood Market and Thomas Hill Organics catered the event and provided a delicious assortment of finger foods, including fresh oysters.  I also had the opportunity to introduce our dog Booker to his namesake.  I’m proud to be an allocation member and am already looking forward to next year…

Booker Vineyard private release event – May 5th, 2012

Booker Vineyard release event

Winemaker Eric Jensen’s wife, Lisa greeting incoming guests

Guests enjoying a perfect day at Booker Vineyard

Delicious oysters from Pier 46 Seafood Market in Templeton, CA

A yummy assortment of appetizers from Thomas Hill Organics in Paso Robles, CA

A picture-perfect day at Booker Vineyard

Our dog Booker relaxing in the shade at Booker Vineyard

Click here to visit the Booker Vineyard website.

BOOKER VINEYARD
640 Anderson Rd.
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Phone: (805) 237-7367
Fax: (805) 237-7368
email: eric@bookerwines.com OR orion@bookerwines.com
Tasting room hours: 11AM – 5PM Thursday through Sunday

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Posted in CALIFORNIA, Paso Robles, WINERY/VINEYARD

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Chumeia Vineyards

Posted on October 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

Chumeia Vineyards

Last month, we drove up to Paso Robles for a long overdue visit – this time with our brand new wine tasting companion, Booker.

Our new travel companion, Booker, at Chumeia Vineyards

As a newbie to the world of dog ownership, I did some research before we left Los Angeles to see which wineries are dog friendly.  As excited as I was to taste some new wines, I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the little guy cooped up in a crate.

One winery I found online that seemed very dog friendly was Chumeia Vineyards.  My dad and I had first experienced Chumeia wines about 5 years ago when I was living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  A little wine bar in town had it on their list and – while I hadn’t had it since then –  I remembered it being very good.  I was excited to check it out again with our new little pup.

Little did I know, but Chumeia Vineyards ended up being one of the most pleasantly surprising and enjoyable wine experiences I’ve had in a long time.  Chumeia is located on the east side of Paso Robles – an area that is dominated by larger, high production wineries.  We didn’t know too much about the east side, so we made a list of a few other wineries in the area and decided to leave Chumeia as our last stop.

Chumeia Vineyards

After a day of visiting crowded wineries with limos and tour buses lined up in their parking lots, I was so happy when we pulled into Chumeia Vineyards.  Strange as it sounds, I was thrilled to see the driveway to Chumeia was an unpaved gravel road that crossed over into a protected wilderness area.  The parking lot was pretty empty with not a bus or limo in sight.

Chumeia Vineyards

Entry to Chumeia Vineyards' Tasting Room

Chumeia is very dog friendly. Just be sure to bring a leash...

We parked and were immediately greeted by a large golden retriever, who we soon learned was Cristo – one of Chumeia’s winery dogs.  Booker followed Cristo into the tasting room where they became fast friends.  The dogs played fetch on the big, beautiful lawn the entire time we were there.

Booker and his new friend, Cristo

While the dogs played, I went into the tasting room to check out the wine.  The tasting room was great – just a casual counter in the winery with stainless steel tanks in the background and a several award ribbons displayed on the wall. Nothing fancy… just comfortable and welcoming.

Chumeia Vineyards Tasting Room

A section dedicated to furry friends in the Chumeia Vineyards tasting room

Well-deserved awards displayed at Chumeia Vineyards

We started our tasting and were fortunate to have Lee Nesbitt – the winemaker at Chumeia – personally pouring for us.  We took our time with the tasting and enjoyed great conversation with Lee indoors, as well as time outside with the dogs on Chumeia’s beautiful grounds.

Winemaker Lee Nesbitt chatting with tasters at Chumeia

Chumeia Vineyards

Chumeia Vineyards

The wines we tasted at Chumeia were delicious, each one having its own unique and complex flavor profile.  In fact, there wasn’t one that I didn’t like.  I ended up taking home a few bottles of the ’08 Odyssean – a fantastic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Syrah and Malbec.  I also bought a couple of bottles of the ’09 Estate Petite Sirah, Iron Man Vineyard which was unique and so tasty.  Only 100 cases of Petite Sirah were produced.

I also love that Chumeia Vineyards was so pet friendly.  In fact, Chumeia hosts an annual “Cause for the Paws” event and has a wine club called “Whiskers & Paws” that proudly supports Woods Humane Society.

After spending a wonderful evening at Chumeia, we loaded up our car with the wine we purchased and took a few more photos to remember our experience.  Unfortunately we locked our keys in the car in the process.

Even though they were trying to close up for the day, Lee and his father were gracious enough to let us hang out and wait for AAA to open the car.  In fact, they had to leave before AAA arrived and entrusted us to lock up the vineyard.

Leaving Chumeia Vineyards...

Even with our car lock out, Chumeia Vineyards was an amazing experience and a “must see” for anyone visiting the east side of Paso Robles.  A beautiful winery, great wine, and incredibly warm and friendly people.  It has a small winery feel and meticulously crafted wines in an area known for large production.  We can’t wait to head back…

Click here to visit the Chumeia Vineyards website.

CHUMEIA VINEYARDS
8331 Highway 46 East
Paso Robles, CA  93446
Phone:   (805) 226-0102
Fax:  (805) 226-0104
Tasting room hours:  12PM – 5PM Monday through Thursday.
11AM – 5PM Friday through Sunday (excluding select holidays).  Call ahead during the holiday season.

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Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, CALIFORNIA, Merlot, Paso Robles, Petit Verdot, WINERY/VINEYARD

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Calcareous Vineyard

Posted on October 2, 2011 | 2 Comments

Calcareous Vineyard

We hadn’t been to Calcareous in a few years and decided to stop for a tasting during our last visit to the area.  Perched up on a hill overlooking Paso Robles, I remembered Calcareous being really beautiful with picture-perfect views.  After our last visit however, I think Calcareous might possibly be one of the most beautiful wineries in Paso.

Lloyd’s Lookout – the gorgeous tasting room at Calcareous Vineyard

We drove up the long driveway to the winery and arrived at the parking lot.  From the tasting room with floor to ceiling windows to the perfectly landscaped grounds dotted with tables where tasters can sit and take in the views, Calcareous was stunning.

Lloyd’s Lookout – the gorgeous tasting room at Calcareous Vineyard

The view at Calcareous Vineyard

The hilltop tasting room opened in 2008 and was named Lloyd’s Lookout, in honor of the winery’s cofounder, Lloyd Messer.  We found the perfect table outside and I went in to set up our tasting.  I was immediately offered a big bowl of cold water for our dog and was given our first pour – a wonderful 2009 Viognier/Marsanne.  It was full of refreshing citrus and great to drink outside on a warm day.

Calcareous Vineyard

The view at Calcareous Vineyard

The priceless view at Calcareous Vineyard

Calcareous Vineyard had a consistently good portfolio of wines with quite a few stand outs.  Since our last visit, they have broken into 2 proprietary labels – Calcareous and Calcareous Twisted Sisters.

Bocce ball court at Calcareous Vineyard

Booker enjoying the bocce ball court at Calcareous Vineyard

The glorious view at Calcareous Vineyard…

The view at Calcareous Vineyard

The winery’s signature and primarily estate grown wines fall under the Calcareous label while the Twisted Sisters wines are made from several different local vineyards.  All the Calcareous Twisted Sisters wines retail for $20, which makes it nice if you’re searching for high quality wines at reasonable prices.

Calcareous Vineyard

We found both labels to be equally good and could have easily purchased 1 bottle of everything.  We narrowed it down and purchased two wines from each label. From the Calcareous label, we took home an ’07 Cabernet Sauvignon and an ’07 Cabernet Franc which was full of dark cherry, strawberry and a touch of oak.  From the Calcareous Twisted Sisters label, we chose an ’08 Main Squeeze – a perfectly balanced blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel – and an ’07 Syrah which earned 92 points in the World Wine Competition.

Our dog Booker running around with one of the winery dogs…

Overall we were very impressed with the wines of Calcareous Vineyard and could have easily spent the entire day relaxing on their beautiful grounds.  Calcareous is a must-see for anyone looking for a truly memorable Paso Robles wine experience.

Click here to visit the Calcareous Vineyard website.

CALCAREOUS VINEYARD
3430 Peachy Canyon Road
Paso Robles, CA  93446
Phone:   (805) 239-0289
Fax:  (805) 239-0916
Tasting room hours:  Open daily 11AM – 5PM

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Posted in CALIFORNIA, Paso Robles, Rhone, Syrah, WINERY/VINEYARD, Zinfandel

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Rubicon Estate | Napa Valley

Posted on January 26, 2011 | 3 Comments

I have to admit that while I was interested in trying the wines of Rubicon Estate in Napa Valley, it wasn’t exactly at the top of my list.

Rubicon Estate Winery in Napa Valley

Rubicon Estate Winery in Napa Valley

I assumed that a winery owned by 5 time Oscar winner Francis Ford Coppola and his family would likely be “Hollywood”.  I anticipated it would be a bit flashy, a bit pretentious, somewhat corporate, and probably quite grand in appearance.  And I expected the wines would be equally grand in price, but lacking in substance.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover my assumptions were not true at all.  Situated in Rutherford, the Rubicon Estate was absolutely gorgeous and really has nothing “Hollywood” about it.  The rich history of the Estate dates back to pre-1880 when a tenacious and wealthy young sea-captain named Gustave Niebaum decided to launch a wine business.  Fueled by a longing for missed European traditions, Niebaum pursued his goal “with a zeal that verged on obsession.”

Rubicon Estate Winery in Napa Valley

Rubicon Estate Winery in Napa Valley

In 1880, Niebaum founded Inglenook Estate with the intention of creating California wines that would be sought by wine connoisseurs and command prices similar to the most famous wines in Europe.  He spared no expense and procured some of the best vineyards in the area.  Within 10 years, the wines of Inglenook were receiving local and international acclaim.

Eventually, Niebaum’s wife’s grand-nephew John Daniel, Jr. took over and carried on the family tradition of creating impeccable, world-class wines.  John Daniel led with a “pride not profits” motto and would not bottle a wine unless it met his strict quality standards.  Unfortunately he died before he could usher in his successor.  Which brings us to Francis Ford Coppola.

Rubicon Estate Chateau in Napa Valley

In 1975, Coppola found the Inglenook property while searching for a quaint summer home for his family where he could also make wine in the basement, similar to what his grandparents had done.  The property was much larger than what he was initially looking for, but Coppola was both impressed with the beauty of the Estate as well as felt a deep connection to Gustave Niebaum.  Coppola decided to purchase the Estate with a focus on restoring Niebaum’s original dream by creating the Niebaum-Coppola Winery.

Coppola’s goal was - and continues to be - preservation of the traditions of his predecessors through the creation of high-quality, world-class wines.   It took over 20 years to “reunite all of the original vineyards and restore winemaking to the Chateau.”  Once that was completed, the Estate was renamed to the current Rubicon Estate in honor of their flagship wine.

Wine Tasting at the Rubicon Bar

During our visit, we opted to do the Daniel Tasting ($25) which includes 5 wines, including their non-distributed Captain’s Reserve wines, as well as CASK and Rubicon.  It also includes a tour of the Estate.  The Daniel Tasting is available at the Rubicon Bar, which was beautifully decorated for the holidays.

The warm and festive interior at the Rubicon Estate Chateau

Warm and festive interior at the Rubicon Estate Chateau

While I thought Rubicon was fantastic and CASK Cabernet Sauvignon was also delicious, my favorites were the non-distributed Captain’s Reserve wines.  The 2008 Captain’s Reserve Chardonnay ($30) had wonderful flavors of pear, apple and citrus balanced by the perfect amount of vanilla cream.

Rubicon Estate's 2008 Captain's Reserve Chardonnay featuring Captain Niebaum on the label

The 2006 Captain’s Reserve Syrah ($34) was full of dark fruit – blueberry, blackberry, and plum – which was complimented with just the right amount of spice and smoke.  Finally, the 2007 Captain’s Reserve Pinot Noir ($38) had concentrated flavors of red fruits like cherry, strawberry, and raspberry balanced by hints of spice and vanilla.

I thought the Captain’s Reserve wines were gorgeous and quite affordable considering the quality.  As an added bonus, Rubicon Estate was offering 40% off each bottle for the holidays.  I walked away with a bottle of each without hesitation and would have purchased more if I had room in my suitcase.

Vineyards at Rubicon Estate

Rubicon Estate was a very pleasant surprise with amazing wines, a beautiful estate, and a very rich history.  It is highly recommended for anyone in the Napa area.

Click here to visit the Rubicon Estate website.

Rubicon Estate
1991 St. Helena Highway
Rutherford, CA  94573
Toll Free Phone:  (800) RUBICON (782-4266)
Phone:  (707) 968-1100
Fax:  (707) 963-9084
Tasting room hours:  10AM – 5PM Daily

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Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, CALIFORNIA, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, Rutherford, WINERY/VINEYARD

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