Saturday, November 13, 2021

Author Haytham Al Fiqi

Author Haytham Al Fiqi

~Guide to Howell Mountain Wineries in Napa Valley

Posted: 13 Nov 2021 04:05 PM PST

 

Howell Mountain offers some of the most outstanding wines in the region, although you might easily pass up this superb region due to its location off Highway 29. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular wine in this region. 


Lail Vineyards-Robin Lail and her family are able to trace their roots back to winemaking in Napa Valley for more than 100 years. Her great great uncle, Gustave Niebaum was one of the owners of Inglenook while Robin's father, John Daniel Jr., was also an owner of Inglenook. 


Howell at the Moon-This somewhat new winery is certainly worth checking out. The first vintage was produced in 2004. 


Robert Craig Wine Cellars-Grapes for three very distinct vineyards are used to produce the award winning Cabernet wines from this winery. 


Lamborn Family Vineyard-Only a small portion of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by this winery, established in 1971. 


Spence Vineyards-For a number of years, this winery produced only homemade, non-commercial wines. The winery eventually offered an inaugural 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon vintage to the public; however. 


Summit Lake Vineyards-This winery has become quite well known for their Zinfandel; which is mountain grown. In addition, they produce a small amount of a port style Zinfandel and a Cabernet Sauvignon. 


White Cottage Ranch-In the northeastern hills you will find White Cottage Ranch, where only a small port of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Sangiovese and Zinfandel blend are produced. All of the wines are handcrafted. 


Bravante Vineyards-The wines produced from this vineyard are truly remarkable as a result of the extraordinary care that is given to the grapes in the Bravante Vineyards. 


Cornerstone Cellars-Mountain wines have been produced by this Napa Valley winery since 1991. The founders, David Sloas and Michael Dragutsy, were originally doctors from Tennessee before they moved to Napa Valley. 


La Jota Vineyard-La Jota was originally established late in the 19th century by Frederick Hess. Following the end of Prohibition, the property was purchased by Bill and Joan Smith and painstakingly revived. Today the property is owned by Jess Jackson. 


Ladera Vineyards-Two mountain Cabernet Sauvignons are the focus of Ladera Vineyards. 


Viader-Specializing in a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Viader was originally established in 1989. 


O'Shaughessy Estate Winery-In the hills of Napa Valley, O'Shaughnessy Estate was established in 1996. The red volcanic soils of the area have proven to be quite successful for the venture. 


Black Sears Vineyard-Only a small amount of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are produced by this acclaimed winery. 


Chateau Woltner-This ghost winery has not been refurbished and is operational again. The property was originally established during the late 19th century. 


Atalon Winery-Grapes from all over the Valley are sourced by Atalon Winery. The focus of this winery is Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Although the wines from this winery are produced in only limited quantities, the prices are usually quite moderate. 


DR Stephens Estate-This 35 acre estate produces Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes that originate from the Cavernos AVA in Napa Valley. 


Retro Cellars-The primary focus of Retro Cellars is Petite Sirah. Grapes from the Muscatine Vineyard on Howell Mountain are used to produce the wine. 


Outpost Wines-A number of different wines are produced by Outpost Wines including Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Grenache. The grapes here are 100% organically farmed; making it one of the most intriguing wineries to visit if you have the opportunity. 

~Diamond Mountain Wineries: Persistence and Skill Produces Excellent Wines

Posted: 13 Nov 2021 04:00 PM PST

 

Diamond Mountain wineries are elevated above the valley floor, situated on Diamond Mountain. Here, the vineyards benefit from the hillside slopes that are warm and rich with volcanic soil. As a result, the mountainside wines that are produced in this region are often quite distinctive. 


In particular, the wineries in the Diamond Mountain region are known for being quite age worthy; especially the Cabernet Sauvignon produced here. The steep, often unforgiving, slopes of Diamond Mountain require not only perseverance but also skill. If you are in the region and wish to enjoy a tour or tasting, be sure to call in advance as the wineries in this region are usually only open by appointment. 


Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, the warm climate of Diamond Mountain is also ideal for Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Zinfandel and Petit Verdot. There are even some limited quantities of white grapes that are planted in the region as well; including Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. 


For the most part, the soil of Diamond Mountain is comprised of volcanic ash. Over millions of years, the ash has decomposed to the point that minerals have been able to leech out. Unfortunately, this means that much of the soil is unfertile. The small, rather thick skinned grapes that are produced on Diamond Mountain; however, are able to produce exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Today some of the most superb Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the entire state are produced on Diamond Mountain. These wines tend to have a flavor that is quite intense, even when compared to the regular standards of Napa Valley. 


While Cabernet Sauvignon leads when it comes to wine production on Diamond Mountain, many other red varietals are also produced. The sunny slopes on the hills of Diamond Mountain have proven to be perfect for the ripening of grapes such as Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc. 


In the early days, pioneering winemakers were drawn to Diamond Mountain by the rugged and beautiful terrain. The first winery to be established on Diamond Mountain was Shramsberg, in 1862. Within thirty years Jacob and Annie Schram would own more than 100 acres in the Diamond Mountain region. Despite the Schram's success, the hostile terrain discouraged most others from cultivating during those early years. A school was not even established on Diamond Mountain until 1909 as a result of the slow settlement in the area. While other areas had developed and then been decimated by both phylloxera and Prohibition, Diamond Mountain had barely even begun its rise to prominence. 


As it would turn out, it would be sparkling wine production that would make the difference on Diamond Mountain. Jack and Jamie Davies purchased the Schramsberg property in 1965 and began producing sparkling wine. The historic vineyards were replanted with pinot noir and chardonnay. Eventually, the land was converted to the production of red Bordeaux grapes; however, it was the interest in sparkling wine that revived this struggling area. By the mid-1970s there were several wineries in operation on Diamond Mountain, including Roddis Cellars and Al Brounstein. 


The rather unique growing conditions of the area meant that it was necessary for vintners to adapt their own techniques in order to succeed. These efforts eventually paid off handsomely when AVA status was acquired for Diamond Mountain in 1999. Today, the region has earned a reputation as producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. While traditionally these Cabs have not been considered noteworthy until they had aged for a number of years, the Cabs produced on Diamond Mountain have earned a stellar reputation even in their youth. 

~Contribution of the Climate and Terrain to the Popularity of the Stags Leap Wine Region

Posted: 13 Nov 2021 03:54 PM PST

 

Just off Silverado Trail you will find the main road that winds its way through Stags Leap. This is where the great majority of the wineries in Stags Leap are located. Although the area is located off Highway 29, the main thoroughfare of Napa Valley, tourists find that the wineries in this area are quite welcoming. The rather interesting name of the region can be attributed to a legend which indicates a stag leapt from the palisades in order to escape from a group of hunters. 


Much of the popularity of the Stags Leap wine region can be attributed to the climate as well as the terrain in the area. The volcanic soil of the Stags Leap area is particularly well suited for the growth of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabs produced in the Stags Leap area tend to be more restrained than many of the Cabernets grown in other regions, especially those grown in the warm northern regions. 


The moderate climate of Stags Leap is due to the row of hills that run along the western border. The wind from San Pablo Bay is thus drawn up in a sort of funnel. The region is cooled as a result, permitting the acidity in the grapes to develop more fully. Interestingly enough; however, the great majority of the vineyards in Stags Leap are situated on slopes that face the west. Due to this they receive a fair amount of afternoon sun. The fruit in this region is perfectly ripened as a result, featuring clearly developed tannins. This is a characteristic that has become widely associated with the wineries in Stags Leap. 


While Stags Leap, like most of the other regions in Napa Valley, struggled to gain prominence throughout the middle of the 20th century, the 1976 Paris Blind Tasting proved to be a critical turning point for Stags Leap. In fact, it has been argued that this event was the most important event in the establishment of Stags Leap wineries. Stags Leap Wine Cellars managed to achieve international acclaim when their Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon received first place and beat out numerous premier red wines from the Bordeaux region. 


The Cabernet Sauvignon produced in Stags Leap has developed the nickname of the Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove. It is believed that the volcanic terrain in the region is responsible for the unique characteristics of the wines in the Stags Leap area. 


The terrain in the local area can be subdivided into two distinct areas. They are the lowlands and the hills. The soils in the hills tend to be far more volcanic and are ideally suited to the growth of Cabernet Sauvignon as well as other red Bordeaux varietals such as Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Petit Verdot also do quite well here. The fruit in this particular region tend to be grown in somewhat low quantities as a result of the well drained soil; however, it is quite intense. 


Near the Napa River, the soil is well drained as well. In contrast to the hillside soil; however, the soil near the River is mainly made up of clay and silt. The vineyards in this region contain a high degree of alluvial volcanic sediment that has been washed down from the hills over a period of many years. As a result of this, the soils here tend to be very fertile. White varietals tend to do very well in this area including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon. 
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