Author Archives: Cathy Gartley

Tamber Bey Vineyards

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Tamber Bey Vineyards

Tamber Bey Vineyards

1251 Tubbs Ln, Calistoga, CA 94515

Website: http://www.tamberbey.com/

Tamber Bey Winery is located on the Sundance Horse Ranch in Calistoga.  It is an equestrian facility dedicated to training top performance Arabian horses.  I have been to Calistoga many times but didn’t realize this winery was there.  It is located on Tubbs Lane just up the road from Chateau Montelena.  I sought out this winery because of its horses.  My husband and I brought his aunt to Napa for her 70th birthday to thank her for all of the times she has babysat our kids, and she loves horses!  This place was perfect to bring her to.  The owner Barry Waitte started making wine in 1999 after purchasing vineyards in Yountville and Oakville.  The winery was built on Sundance Ranch in 2013 and is named after Waitte’s first two horses Tamborina and Bayamo. 

 

Tamber Bey Vineyards Tasting Room

Tamber Bey Vineyards Tasting Room

The winery is located inside a huge barn.  There is a courtyard in back with eight horse stalls on each side (16 in all).  There’s a pretty view of Mount St. Helena in the backdrop.  The tasting room has a little more modern feel.  It has dark paneled wood all around which made it a little dark.  There’s a horseshoe-shaped bar in the center of the room with polished wood counter tops and rustic wooden stools.  There was some merchandise off to the side. 

 

 

Horse stalls and picnic tables at Tamber Bey Vineayrds

Horse stalls and picnic tables at Tamber Bey Vineayrds

We went outside for the tasting.  It was a windy day, but the setting was lovely.  There are several tables and comfy lounge chairs in the courtyard shaded by umbrellas. There are also picnic tables off to the sides of the courtyard in front of the horse stalls.  Guests can walk around and view the horses.  We sat in the comfy chairs while our server gave us a little history of the winery and described the wines.  We learned that the ranch has taken in some extra horses at times to help out other horse owners.

Tamber Bey’s portfolio includes a Signature selection of premium wines and the more popular, affordable Vineyard Series.  They have several varieties of wine including Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.  For me I enjoyed the site more than the wine.  That’s not to say the wine was bad.  It was good quality.  It just wasn’t my style overall.  My favorite of their wines was the 2013 Merlot.  The highlight of our visit was getting to meet the beautiful horses. 

A mustang on the horse ranch at Tamber Bey Vineyards

A mustang on the horse ranch at Tamber Bey Vineyards

Sokol Blosser

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Sokol Blosser Winery

Sokol Blosser Winery

5000 NE Sokol Blosser Ln, Dayton, OR 97114

Website: http://sokolblosser.com/

 

Vineyards in front of Sokol Blosser Winery

Vineyards in front of Sokol Blosser Winery

Sokol Blosser is in the Northern Willamette Valley in Dayton, Oregon.  This winery has a gorgeous setting with 85 acres of row upon row of vines surrounding the winery.  The property was an abandoned prune orchard when owners Bill and Susan purchased it.  The winery has been family owned since the first vines were planted in 1971.  Bill and Susan’s children, Alex and Alison, now run the winery.  All of their wine is sustainably organic and certified Salmon-Safe.  They are known for their Pinot Noir of course!

The remodeled tasting room opened July 2013.  I would classify this place as a very modern winery.  Upon driving into the parking area, you can see several solar panels pointing out toward the vineyard.   The building has an open structure with lots of natural sunlight.  There is lots of outdoor seating both in front and in back of the tasting room to take in the peaceful setting while sipping wine. 

Sokol Blosser Tasting Room

Sokol Blosser Tasting Room

The tasting room is wide open with light wood paneling from ceiling to floor.  There are also windows from ceiling to floor facing front and back.  You can catch a view of the vineyards from pretty much any angle inside and out.  The tasting bar is in the center of room with a fireplace in one corner.  The atmosphere is very comfortable with some leather seats and some tables and stools.  Around the corner from the tasting room is a room called “The Library” where guests can peruse and purchase merchandise off the shelves.  There is even a kitchen where guests can meander in and watch the culinary specialists prepping food while sipping their wine.  In the back of the winery, there are some picnic tables.  We took a walk out back to grab some photos of the panoramic view and came upon a tractor loaded with grape musts.  It was an idyllic wine country experience.

For our tasting, we started off with a crisp Pinot Gris and Rosé of Pinot Noir.  We then tried the Dundee Hills Pinot Noir from 2009 and 2011.  It was interesting to compare the differences.  Vintage 2009 was a warm year and gave the Pinot Noir notes of warm spice and milk chocolate, while the 2011 vintage brought forth cherry, cranberry, and cola flavors.  We also sampled the 2011 Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir made from a blend of their best four blocks which had loads of cherry, some smoky oak, and light acidity.  I finished off the tasting with a white Riesling dessert wine made in an ice wine style.  I loved the wine, but only those with a real sweet tooth would enjoy it. 

This winery has a lot to offer.  Beyond all of the various areas for guests to sit and enjoy their tasting, they can also purchase a butcher board for some bites to eat and picnic outside.  They can take a tour of the winery.  And in the summer time they could sign up for a 3 mile hike with a catered lunch and wine afterward.  Check their website for details.

Panoramic view of Sokol Blosser vineyards from behind the winery

Panoramic view of Sokol Blosser vineyards from behind the winery

Provenance Vineyards

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Provenance Vineyards

Provenance Vineyards

1695 Saint Helena Hwy S., Saint Helena, CA 94574

Website: http://www.provenancevineyards.com/

Thinking back on my visit to Provenance, I asked myself “How does this winery compare to all of the other Napa wineries?”  Then I started thinking about how I would classify the wineries I have been to and came up with a few general categories.  First, there are the historic wineries that have roots dating back to the 1800s or early 1900s.  On the other end of the spectrum are the modern, flashy wineries with the contemporary, artistic structures.  A third category would be the “high-end” wineries that look like palaces or have cult status and sell their wines at a premium.  The final category would be all of the lesser known wineries that are either family owned or run by people who have a passion for making wine and let their wines speak for themselves.  I would put Provenance into this last category.

The name Provenance is indicative of the character of the winery.   The word “provenance” in French means “origin” or “source”.  It can also be a record of ownership of a piece of art that guarantees a work’s authenticity.  The goal at Provenance Vineyards is to produce wines that are “authentic works of art”.  Another spin on the word provenance in geological terms means the source of the materials that make up an area’s sediment.  Likewise, the origin of the vineyard’s soil is critical to the wines produced at Provenance.  As of June 2014, their Estate Vineyards are 100% Certified Sustainable.

Provenance started in 2002 when the Chalone Wine Group purchased the former Chateau Beaucannon winery.  The huge, red barn structure is hard to miss driving down Highway 29.  The exterior is very unpretentious with a couple of white umbrellas and chairs on the lawn out front of the entrance.  The tasting room was opened in October 2003. 

Provenance Vineyards Tasting Room

Provenance Vineyards Tasting Room

The distinguishing feature of the tasting room is the floor made entirely of staves from the winery’s oak barrels.  The tasting room is spacious with a large u-shaped tasting bar in the center.  There are also various wine accessories and gifts available for purchase.  This winery specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and a couple other reds.  My favorite part of the visit here was that they were offering a special tasting for Valentine’s Day that paired hand-made chocolate truffles with 4 red wines.  Of course I couldn’t turn it down.  The tasting included 3 different Cabernet Sauvignons and 1 Merlot.  I really enjoyed the pairing of chocolate with the wines.  This is a good place to visit for Cabernet Sauvignon fans that are looking for something a little low key.