Category Archives: Napa Valley

Provenance Vineyards

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. 

Hall Winery St. Helena

Hall Tasting Room St. Helena

Hall Tasting Room St. Helena

401 St. Helena Hwy, St. Helena, CA

Website: http://www.hallwines.com/

In relation to many of the other wineries in Napa Valley, Hall is one of the newcomers.  Craig and Kathryn Hall opened the state-of-the art facility in 2005.  Although, the property itself has a history that dates back to 1885 and was formerly the site of the Napa Valley Co-op, one of the primary winemaking facilities in Napa in the last century.  The St. Helena winery is located right off of Highway 29 and is open for drop-in tastings.  There is a second Hall winery in Rutherford that offers a more elegant tasting experience by reservation only.  The Rutherford winery includes 14,000 feet of caves built by hand and showcases select works from the Halls’ art collections.

Everything about Hall Winery from the owners, to the facilities, to the wine screams out “high society”.    Owners Craig and Kathryn have very impressive business backgrounds.  Some of the most notable achievements in Craig’s career were being part owner of the Dallas Cowboys; forming one of the first stock savings and loans in Michigan; founding one of the first for-profit HMOs in the country; and participating, along with Time, Inc., in growing the nation’s largest chain of health and sports clubs. He has also written 5 books.  Kathryn and her family (the Walt family) have been grape growers in Mendocino County since 1972.  However, probably the most highly acclaimed period of her career was serving as the United States Ambassador to Austria from 1997 to July 2001.  The Halls carried over their prestige and passion for wine to their 2 ultra-premium winemaking facilities.  This winery is dedicated to making single vineyard and limited production wines.  In 2008, the St. Helena facility became the first winery in California to become LEED Gold Certified by The U.S. Green Building Council.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which means that the winery has taken various measures to be environmentally friendly.  Their website provides details into how they have achieved this certification.  The Halls own more than 500 acres of estate vineyards that produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.  All of these factors combined make Hall a “high end” winery which is also reflected in the price of their wines.

 

Artwork outside Hall Winery St. Helena

Artwork outside Hall Winery St. Helena

What I found most alluring about Hall Winery in St. Helena is its art collection.  From the moment my husband and I pulled off of highway 29 into the winery we were greeted by artwork.  On each side of the entryway are large butterflies atop poles.  As we drove toward the end of the driveway and turned into the parking lot, there were a couple more unique, large red metal sculptures.  There is additional artwork strewn throughout the outdoor seating areas, and even the topiaries at the front entrance look like art.  There is a red theme to all of the art.  Inside, the tasting room looks rather modest at first glance, as the walls, ceiling and floor are all wood.  Across from the entryway is an L-shaped tasting bar, also made of wood. 

Glass bulbs hanging from the ceiling of the tasting room at Hall St. Helena

Glass bulbs hanging from the ceiling of the tasting room at Hall St. Helena

 

The most eye-catching part of the room is all of the tear-dropped shaped glass bulbs hanging from the ceiling.  Visitors have the option of stepping up to the bar for a tasting, moseying around the tasting room, or going to the outdoor seating area.  The place was rather crowded when we visited but we were able to get a spot at the tasting bar.  Our server was courteous and took the time to explain each wine as he was pouring for us, even though he was busy keeping up with everyone else there as well.  Unfortunately the other server next to us wasn’t as courteous.  As I was sipping my wine and listening to all of the chatter around me I overheard a customer ask for a recommendation for other wineries in the area to visit and the server told her to avoid the winery across the street.  I found that to be rather unprofessional. 

Prior to coming to the winery, I was aware that their wines have been given high scores by Wine Enthusiast.  Of the four Napa Valley Collection wines that I tried, I enjoyed the 2007 Hall “Darwin” Proprietary Red the most because it was smooth and had a rich berry flavor.  The one issue I had with the winery is the price of their wines.  The red wines range from $55 to over $200 a bottle.  Although I liked the wines, I wasn’t won over enough to pay that much for a bottle. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I took the time to visit this winery.  I would recommend it for anyone who has a fondness for art.  The outdoor seating areas are really nice for taking a break and socializing on a sunny day.  It is also a great opportunity to sample a few premium wines that you may not want to take the risk of buying on your own.  For guests who are interested in learning more about the LEED Gold certified state of the art facility, Hall St. Helena offers tours and other private experiences.  Check their website for details. 

Outside seated tastings at Hall Winery St. Helena

Outside seated tastings at Hall Winery St. Helena

 

 

Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

2555 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574

Website: https://www.ciachef.edu/cia-california/

Someone who is not familiar with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Greystone might ask “why would I want to visit a culinary school?”  The CIA is not just a cooking school, it is one of the most historic properties in Napa Valley.  The castle-like stone building was formerly Christian Brothers Winery and was considered to be the largest stone winery building in the world when it was completed in 1889.  The CIA opened its doors in August 1995 and today includes a 15,000 square foot teaching kitchen, Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, Spice Island Marketplace, and Vintners Hall of Fame.  For foodies or wine enthusiasts alike, the CIA offers culinary and wine programs.  For visitors just stopping in, check the CIA’s website for a calendar of cooking demonstrations or wine events.  After touring the property, visitors can have lunch or dinner at the Wine Spectator Restaurant and observe students and chefs in open cooking stations while eating a delicious meal.  I recommend making a reservation in advance, especially on a weekend.

Let’s take a step back in time to the 19th century when Greystone was constructed.  The original idea to build a 1 million gallon winery and cellar can be attributed to William Bowers Bourne, Jr., a very wealthy businessman throughout California.  Bourne, with the help from his partner Everett Wise, recognized the potential of the Napa wine industry and forged a cooperative with other Napa County vintners.  Once the stone building was constructed it was named Greystone Cellars and was the first California winery to be operated by electricity.  It was also the largest winery in California.  By 1894, the winery changed hands to Charles Carpy who was a key player in the Napa wine industry during his time and turned the winery into an icon for the California Wine Association (CWA).  The ownership changed hands again between the mid-1920s and 1940s before the famed Brother Timothy of Christian Brothers stepped in.  Brother Timothy, who was a member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and a former science teacher, became a wine chemist in 1935 and built Christian Brothers into a leading California brand. Christian Brothers purchased Greystone Cellars in 1950 and began producing sparkling wine under the Christian Brothers label.  Christian Brothers continued operations until 1989 when Brother Timothy was 79 years old and sold to Hublein Company of Canada in 1991.  A year later Hublein sold the winery to the Culinary Institute and it opened its doors as a culinary school in 1995.  Greystone has been listed on the National Register of Historic places since 1978.  (Information provided by NapaValleyRegister.com: Greystone Cellars – The History of a Napa County Icon).

 

One of the large oak barrels with plaques in the Vintners Hall of Fame

One of the large oak barrels with plaques in the Vintners Hall of Fame

Although Greystone is now a culinary school, it still remains a historic symbol of the Napa wine industry.  Today the CIA at Greystone honors the men and women who have shaped the California wine industry with the Vintners Hall of Fame.  The Hall of Fame is open to the public daily and is located on the second story of the building in the former Christian Brothers’ barrel room.  Inside the Hall of Fame, guests will find an educational exhibit on the history of California wine displayed through rare bottles.  Along the length of each side of the room are 2,200 gallon redwood wine barrels with bronze plaques of all of the men and women who have been nominated into the Hall of Fame.  Since I am so enthralled by the history of Napa Valley, I was awed by all of the faces and biographies on the plaques.

There is a lot more to do at the CIA besides take in the history.  For any food or wine aficionado, I recommend taking a break from wine tasting to take a tour of the facility.  The Spice Island Marketplace is a nice place to find neat culinary souvenirs for friends or family.  Even though I did not have the time to attend one of the wine or food demonstrations, I enjoyed being able to view one of the classrooms and get a sense for what it’s like to be a culinary student.  The CIA also hosts large group events in their facilities.  The real reason I stopped in the first time was to try the excellent restaurant that got rave reviews from a friend.  My meal was delightful and I got to experience a celebrated piece of Napa history at the same time.

A view of Napa from the Culinary Institute at Greystone

A view of Napa from the Culinary Institute at Greystone