Etude Winery in Carneros

1250 Cuttings Wharf Rd, Napa, CA 94559

Website: https://www.etudewines.com/visit/tastings

Etude Winery is one of several gems on the Napa side of Carneros.  It was started in 1982, the year before Carneros was declared its own American Viticultural Area (AVA).  The name of the winery comes from the musical term “etude”, which signifies a short musical composition created to perfect a musical skill.  Instead of music, the winemakers at Etude are focused on perfecting their wine, which shows in their exceptional Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  In fact, the winery rang in the new century with a 98 point score from famed wine critic Robert Parker for the 1999 Etude Eden Rock Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  Their Cabernet Sauvignons and Pinot Noirs have continued to earn high 90 point scores since then.  All of their Pinot Noir is sourced from estate fruit.

An interesting fact about the winery is that the tasting room was built in the former RMS Brandy Distillery.  Etude still produces small lots of brandy that is only available in the tasting room. During our tasting experience, the host surprised us by giving us a pour of the Brandy.  Although I prefer to stick to wine, it won over my husband and he brought a bottle home.  I felt that the property and tasting room had a simple elegance to it.  There is a patio area right out front of the doors to the tasting room with a few tables.  The building itself looks modest, made of gray brick with a stucco roof.

Etude Tasting Room

The interior looks a bit like a lodge with wood floors and paneling along the walls and bar.  Up above are circular chandeliers.  One one side of the room is a display with samples of the different types of soil (or terroir) the grapes come from plus some high top tables for guests.  At the opposite side of the room is a lounge area with a chaise sofa, a marble coffee table, and some leather chairs.  The tasting bar is at the front of the room with a lit-up display of neatly aligned rows of more than 200 wine and brandy bottles.

Etude Tasting Bar

You’ll have to plan ahead to visit this winery because they are by reservation only.  They offer a few different types of experiences that includes a traditional tasting of 4 wines in the tasting room, a garden tasting paired with small bites, and a couple of private tasting experiences.  I really enjoyed my tasting experience.  Compared to some other wineries in Napa, the cost of the tasting was very reasonable to be able to sample some award winning, single vineyard limited production wines.  The host provided us with lots of education on each pour and gave us personalized attention.  I was enamored with all of the wines, but the most exceptional to me were Forté Pinot Noir with velvety red fruit, 2015 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon that reminded me of chocolate covered blueberries, and 2015 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon with a dustiness typical of that area.  I definitely recommend taking the time to visit here.  While you’re at it, you could make a day of visiting other nearby wineries in Carneros.