Author Archives: Cathy Gartley

Silver Oak Napa Valley

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Silver Oak Napa Valley

Silver Oak Napa Valley

915 Oakville Cross Rd, Oakville, CA 94562

Website: https://www.silveroak.com/visit-us/

After ten years of trips to Napa Valley and not having been to Silver Oak Winery I felt like I was missing out on something big.  Silver Oak is known for making only one varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon. There is almost a cult following for their yearly releases.  The winery was started in 1972 by a handshake between two friends Raymond Twomey Duncan and Justin Meyer. The original winery was in a dairy barn.  Duncan and Twomey decided to focus solely on Cabernet Sauvignon produced exclusively in American oak barrels. Justin Meyer retired in 1994, turning over his portion of the winery to the Duncan family.  The winery is still run by the Duncans today. They are truly committed to continuous improvement stating that they haven’t produced their best wine yet and strive to get better with each vintage.

Carved Water Tower picture behind the tasting bar at Silver Oak Napa

Carved Water Tower picture behind the tasting bar at Silver Oak Napa

Many people recognize the winery by the iconic water tower on their label.  There is a story behind the water tower. It appeared on first label as an ode to the owners’ favorite wine Chateau Latour and was also a symbol of California agriculture in the 1970s.  Bonny Meyer, wife of Justin Meyer, researched all kinds of water towers before landing on the one became the symbol of the winery. The symbol became an real life water tower in the early 1980s.  Unfortunately the original winery was struck by fire in 2006 and had to be rebuilt. The Duncans recently opened a second state-of-the-art facility in Alexander Valley. The same family also owns Twomey in both Napa and Sonoma.

I feel like this winery is a mix of modern and rustic.  To get to the tasting room you drive past rows of olive trees and  can see the mountains on both sides of the valley. The walk up to the entrance is very picturesque surrounded by acres of vines.  There are some benches outside the entrance for guests to sit down and take in the views. Many visitors will take a photo opportunity in front of the famous water tower before heading inside.  The exterior is made all of limestone with big oak doors leading inside. The stone continues on the interior.

The Glass House Library at Silver Oak Napa

The Glass House Library at Silver Oak Napa

The tasting room is rather spacious with a long wood bar that can accommodate several small groups at a time.  On the left side of the tasting bar is a glassed in area with wine bottles floor to ceiling that is called the Glass House Library with bottles dating back to the 1970s vintages. Within the tasting room is also a History Gallery with pictures of the original winery.

Silver Oak takes walk in tastings which I found a little surprising considering their level of popularity.  A lot of the more popular wineries now require reservations to limit the crowds. When I visited, the winery was busy but not over crowded.  I suspect that they can get very really busy during peak visiting times. Silver Oak offers a few other tasting options as well including tours, food and wine pairings, or a vertical tasting of library wines.  I was satisfied with the walk in tasting that includes a taste of both the Napa Valley and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon plus a library wine (we tried a 2006). The Cabernet Sauvignons are marvelous! I found them to be so silky and well balanced.  Our hostess was also very welcoming and knowledgeable.

I’m glad I can now say I’ve been to Silver Oak.  I’m interested in seeing the new facility in the Alexander Valley as well.  This winery is worth a stop to try the acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

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The Chateau at Jordan Vineyard & Winery

The Chateau at Jordan Vineyard & Winery

1474 Alexander Valley Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Website: https://www.jordanwinery.com/

Visiting Jordan Winery is truly an event. Since I usually only get to go out to wine country once a year, I try to maximize my time and visit several tasting rooms.  Sometimes I will pick one place where I want to spend extra time on a tour or special tasting, and for the rest of the trip I go to drop-in places. After visiting Jordan, I would recommend giving yourself ample time – at least a couple hours – to take full advantage of everything to see on the property.

This winery was founded by Tom and Sally Jordan in 1972.  It is now run by their son John. The Jordans were inspired by wine estates in France that focus on the connection between food, wine, and hospitality.  They built a 58,000 sq. foot chateau with combined wine-making facilities, guest suites, a kitchen and dining areas. Visitors can actually stay on the property in one of the suites.  You need to plan ahead if you are visiting Jordan because they do not take drop ins and reservations fill up well in advance during the busy seasons. Jordan offers a few different “intimate” tasting experiences.  All of the tours include food and wine tastings. Jordan produces a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and champagne called Jordan Cuvée. An interesting fact we learned while on the tour is that winemaker Rob Davis has crafted every vintage since the first production in 1976.  That’s pretty impressive!

The Cask Room at Jordan Winery

The Cask Room at Jordan Winery

My husband and I signed up for the winery tour and library tasting.  The tour included a walk around the chateau while our host provided the history of the winery.  We started outdoors looking out at the vineyards. The chateau overlooks 1200 acres of rolling hills.  The Jordans practice sustainable farming with a focus on conserving the land and preserving natural habitats.  Cattle, birds, and other animals like rabbits and turkeys roam the property. There is also an onsite garden and olive trees.  After exploring outside, we went inside for an hors d’oeuvre in the cask room with a glass of Chardonnay. The cask room contains twelve 6,000 gallon oak casks.  After touring the property we sat down in the library for a wine pairing with cheese and small bites. We ended the tour back in the chateau where we could purchase wine or the estate olive oil.  I enjoyed the overall experience. It felt like a little piece of France in Sonoma, CA. For a deeper view of the estate, the winery offers another tour that ventures into the vineyards as well as the chef‘s garden with an al fresco tasting.

One other feature of the winery that I found interesting is their unique rewards program.  They do not a have traditional wine club. Instead, anyone who signs up for the mailing list can earn rewards points.  You’ll get your first points just by joining the list and taking a tour. There’s no obligation to purchase wine. You’ll get emails of releases, recipes, and upcoming events.  When you do make a purchase you will earn points to be used toward special perks at the winery like dinner events or a stay on property. If you are planning a visit, I recommend checking the events page on their website to see if they are offering any seasonal events, vineyard hikes, or special dinners when you visit.

The Library Tasting at Jordan Winery

The Library Tasting at Jordan Winery

 

Martinelli Winery

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Martinelli Winery

Martinelli Winery

3360 River Road, Windsor, CA 95492

Website: http://www.martinelliwinery.com/

I like Martinelii winery because it’s rooted in family tradition.  Located in the heart of the Russian River Valley is an old red barn and former hop kiln.  The Martinelli family are well lauded grape growers who sell 90% of their grapes to other well-known wineries.  The family has been growing grapes since the 1880s. The original founders, Giuseppe and Luisa, came from the Tuscany region of Italy to California to farm and start a winery.  They started by planting Zinfandel and Muscat Alexandria on a 60 degree slope. The vineyard that is still farmed today is the steepest non-terraced vineyard in Sonoma. It is affectionately called Jackass Hill which started when Guiseppe and Luisa’s son was told “only a jackass would farm a hill that steep”.  The fourth generation of the family is involved in running the winery today.

The tasting room is inside of a large red building that looks like a farmhouse.  The entrance is underneath a trellis covered in green ivy. Inside is a large open space that has a very rustic atmosphere.  There’s a square bar in the middle of the room. The room is framed by wood beams and has old wine barrels and other historical memorabilia all about the space.  I thought it was cool that the side of the tasting bar looks like it is made from leather hide. The glass pendant lights above the bar add to the ambiance. Overall the space is simple yet intriguing.

The hop kiln at Martinelli Winery

The hop kiln at Martinelli Winery

This winery is most well known for their Zinfandel.  They also produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. They offer several different tasting options – walk-ins, tastings on the terrace, lunch with wine, private tastings, or the collector’s flight of their limited, most highly rated wines including the Jackass Hill Vineyard Zinfandel.  My husband and I did the basic tasting experience and got to sample all of the different varietals that they produce.

After our tasting we took a walk around the property.  We walked around the historic hop kiln. My favorite part was the terrace.  It was so pretty with all of the flowers and greenery. There were vines surrounding it.  It was such a peaceful setting. This winery is certainly worth a stop if you are in the Russian River Valley, especially for Zinfandel fans.  I would recommend spending some time out on the terrace.

The terrace at Martinelli Winery

The terrace at Martinelli Winery