Category Archives: Napa Valley

Robert Mondavi Winery

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Bronze St. Francis statue created by Beniamino Bufano at the entrance to Robert Mondavi Winery.

Bronze St. Francis statue created by Beniamino Bufano at the entrance to Robert Mondavi Winery.

7801 St. Helena Highway Oakville, California 94562

Website: www.robertmondaviwinery.com/

Robert Mondavi is a Napa Valley icon. His energetic personality and passion for wine helped bring worldwide recognition to Napa Valley. Robert decided to start his own winery in Oakville in 1965 after a feud with his brother Peter drove him out of the Charles Krug Winery. With help from Robert’s second wife, Margrit Biever Mondavi, the Robert Mondavi Winery became a cultural center for wine, food, and the arts. The two of them have been major benefactors in various arts programs in Napa. Robert achieved many awards during his lifetime for his leadership in improving wine making technology, marketing strategies, and philanthropy. He was inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame by the Culinary Institute of America in 2007. Robert passed away on May 16, 2008 at age 94, but his legacy continues on.

Robert was a perfectionist, and that came across in the way that he ran the winery. He used leading edge technology to produce premium wine, and he pushed his sons Michael and Tim to the highest quality standards. Robert’s autobiography Harvests of Joy and Julia Flynn Siler’s account of the Mondavi family in The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty provide a detailed depiction of both the high and low points of the Robert Mondavi Winery. The winery experienced some financial strife in the 1980s, leading Robert to decide to go public in 1993. Unfortunately the financial and family troubles continued after going public. Due to all of the struggles they encountered, the family ended up selling off their special voting shares. Constellation Brands acquired the winery for nearly $1.36 billion in cash on December 22, 2004.

It is no surprise that the Robert Mondavi Winery remains a popular tourist stop on Highway 29. It is worth stopping in to see the well-known Mission style complex designed by Cliff May with its large archway that looks out over the To Kalon vineyard (meaning “the highest beauty” in Ancient Greek). Robert was committed to educating people about wine, and at the winery there are a number of different tours, each providing a unique experience to visitors. The winery also hosts many wine, food, and art events throughout the year. A calendar of events is available on their website.

Robert Mondavi tasting room and gift shop

Robert Mondavi tasting room and gift shop

What makes this winery unique is the number of different ways visitors can experience the winery. Art enthusiasts can stroll around the property to view the various works of art including sculptures, artifacts, and paintings. Wine enthusiasts can sample wine in one of the three tasting rooms or partake in one of the many tours. The Appellation Room offers wines from the Napa Valley and District tiers. For a Reserve tasting of multiple vintages of Robert Mondavi’s most prestigious wines, visitors can stop in at the To Kalon Reserve Room. There is also a separate room exclusively for wine club members called The Spotlight Room. Music fanatics can attend the concert series that run throughout the summer and feature some well-known artists. There is truly something for everyone, but keep in mind that this is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Napa and draws large crowds.

This was one of the first tours that I went on in wine country and my first experience tasting grapes right off the vine. The tour started out in the vineyard where our tour guide talked about how the grapes are grown and harvested. Then we walked through the winery, following the step-by-step process of how wine is made, and finished with a seated tasting led by our tour guide. At the end of the tour we were brought into one of the tasting rooms where we could sample additional wines and purchase bottles. It was a very nice, educational tour.

The Hess Collection

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The Hess Collection courtyard

The Hess Collection courtyard

4411 Redwood Road, Napa, CA 94558

Website: http://www.hesscollection.com/

My thoughts during this past week have been with all of the people in Napa and Sonoma who were impacted by the earthquake.  I hope that all of the wineries will be able to get back on their feet quickly.  The Hess Collection is one of the places that is recovering from earthquake damages.  However, they are still doing tastings by appointment as they make repairs according to their website.  I look forward to visiting again on my next trip to Napa.

Any art aficionados or wine enthusiasts looking for a unique experience should take some time to visit The Hess Collection. This place is a combination art museum and tasting room located off the beaten path on Mount Veeder. The drive is about 20 minutes from the southern end of highway 29 or downtown Napa and the roads up the mountain are a bit curvy. It is worth the extra time to make the trek to the winery and a good break from the crowds at all the other wineries along highway 29.   The views from atop the mountain are picturesque. Mount Veeder, Mayacamas, and Chateau Potelle wineries are also in the area (note that these 3 require prior reservations).

When my husband and I pulled up to The Hess Collection it was so quiet that I questioned whether we were supposed to make a reservation in advance. I took in the natural setting around us and breathed in the fresh mountain air. The winery and art museum are actually open daily for public tours and tastings. The tours are complimentary between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and provide an overview of the winery and vineyard.

As we walked toward the entrance we came upon a large courtyard with various pieces of artwork and greenery. The courtyard is separated from the walkway by a small stone wall. We took a few minutes to stroll through the courtyard and look at the pieces of art.   The building that houses The Hess Collection art museum and tasting room is pretty modest from the outside. It is painted a tan color with large wooden barn style doors. The part of the building to the right of the courtyard and walkway is made of stone and covered in ivy which adds liveliness to the overall space when everything is in bloom. By contrast, the interior is open, clean and more contemporary as one might expect an art museum to be. Straight ahead of the entryway is a glass elevator that leads to the three floors of art exhibits. To the right of the entrance is a welcome desk where we were greeted by one of the friendly staff members who explained to us the way the tours, art museum, and tasting room work. As mentioned previously, the winery offers complimentary tours as well as a free self-guided iPod tour of the art museum. There are some other unique tours offered by the winery for a cost that require reservations. Barrel room at The Hess CollectionAlso to the right of the entrance is a sleek barrel room that is open for public viewing but the stairways are roped off so visitors are unable to go near the barrels. To the left of the entrance is a large tasting room and gift shop.

My husband and I decided to view the artwork first while we were still clear-headed. I will warn anyone like myself who has a fear of heights or dislike of elevators that going up into the museum area could pose a challenge. First, we got into a glass elevator that looks out on the lobby. There are stairs available for those who prefer to avoid elevators all together. Then we stepped out onto the wide open landing that has stairs on one side and looks down upon the lobby on the other with nothing but a small railing in between. Once I was able to take my mind off of what was down below and walked into the enclosed art area I felt more at ease. I will admit that I am not an art expert but I was really impressed by the artwork that they had on display. All of the pieces of art are just a portion of a collection that Donald Hess has been collecting since 1966 and are shown in museums worldwide. Donald Hess is passionate about art and is very specific about who he invests in as a collector. He collects works of lesser known artists who usually move on to become well-known. He has invested in 20 living artists that he supports for the long term in various stages of their careers.   My favorite pieces of art were Johanna II by Frank Gertsch and Rock Pools by Andy Goldsworthy.

Tasting room at The Hess CollectionWhen we finished viewing all of the art, we headed back downstairs to the tasting room.   We were the only people in the room when we first arrived and received very personalized attention. Another couple joined us toward the end of the tasting. The room is large with stone walls and a polished tasting bar lit by under-the-counter lighting. The room lighting was a bit dim but seemed fitting for the atmosphere. Off to the side is a separate gift shop with shelves of wine barrels lining the walls and displays of wine boxes on the floor. I would describe the style of the tasting room and gift shop as a combination of rustic and modern. Our server was great! He was very friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable. He learned what wines we were interested in through our conversation and tailored our tasting to what we liked. I really enjoyed the wines and took a few bottles home with me.

The Hess Collection gift shop

The Hess Collection gift shop

I was impressed by this winery. My biggest regret is that I didn’t give myself enough time to thoroughly take in everything. My husband and I had another reservation immediately following our visit and we had to rush out as soon as we sampled the wines. We ended up speeding through the art museum and didn’t get to participate in the self-guided audio tour or complementary winery tour. I definitely intend to return to this winery to take part in the tours and tasting. I would recommend to anyone else visiting setting aside at least a couple of hours to take full advantage of the winery, or maybe even more for art lovers.

 

Sterling Vineyards

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The bell tower at Sterling Vineyards

1111 Dunaweal Ln, Calistoga, CA 94515

Website: http://www.sterlingvineyards.com/age_gateway?destination=home

Sterling Vineyards is located in Calistoga. The white stucco Mediterranean style building is easily spotted from miles away sitting upon a knoll 300 feet above the town of Calistoga. The winery was inspired by the structures on the Greek island of Mykonos where founder Peter Newton once lived. The truly unique feature of this winery is that visitors must take an aerial tram from the parking lot to the Visitors Center. This winery is one of the first places that I would recommend to someone who is visiting Napa Valley for the first time because of its unique tour, great views from the Visitors Center, and nice wines. I also think the aerial tram adds a touch of romance. Perhaps I feel that way because this was one of the tours my husband and I enjoyed the most on our honeymoon. I would caution visitors though, this winery draws a lot of tourists and there can be a little bit of a wait to get on the aerial tram. It is a good idea to arrive early in the day to beat the crowds.

Drive to Sterling Vineyards

Drive to Sterling Vineyards

As we turned into Sterling Vineyards from Dunaweal Lane, the first thing we encountered was a long drive with trees and vineyards on each side. It is a beautiful sight to see and made me want to open my window and soak in the fresh air and landscape around me. Once we arrived at the parking area and got out of the car, we saw big, brightly colored rose bushes lining the walkway. Then we walked to the ticket booth to purchase our aerial tram tickets. This reminded me of the ticket booths at an amusement park I used to go to in my high school days.

Sterling offers several tour and tasting experiences. The General Admission tour, which is the one my husband and I went on, includes a ride in the aerial tram, a complimentary tasting of five wines, and a souvenir wine glass. There is also a Sterling Silver VIP Experience or a Food and Wine Pairing Experience. These experiences include all of the General Admission features plus an additional benefits for an extra fee. If individuals choose the General Admission and then decide they would like to try the Reserve wines at the Visitors Center, like we did, it is still possible to sit down in the Reserve tasting room and sample wines for an additional fee.

Tram at Sterling Vineyards

Tram at Sterling Vineyards

With tickets in hand, we headed to the aerial tram. The short trip up the hill to the winery provides a great panoramic view of Napa Valley. I recommend having a camera handy to snap pictures of the landscape down below as the tram moves its way up the hillside. The self-guided tour starts as soon as guests step off the tram. There was a wine station set up at the beginning of the tour where a hostess handed us our first glass of wine. It was a Sauvignon Blanc. We carried the glass with us, sipping the wine as we wound our way around the outside of the stucco building. There are screens and placards that guide the way and provide information about the winery and winemaking process. As we walked along the side of the building we were able to see a couple of the towers that house the eight bells that come from a London church founded in the 10th century. The white stucco facility and bell towers reminded me of a monastery. The bells toll each quarter hour and can be heard throughout the valley.

After passing by the crush pad and indoor barrel room, we arrived at an outdoor patio. This is where we were given our second glass of wine. There are tables and chairs on the patio where visitors can sit and relax. It is also a popular spot for people to stop and take a group photo with the breath-taking backdrop of the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges. Mount Saint Helena can also be seen in the distance. When we were done snapping pictures and soaking in some sun, we headed back inside through the barrel room to the third wine station. The tour then led us to the Visitors Center.

We finished up our tasting at the Visitors Center. I have been to the winery twice and had a little bit different experience each time. The first time I visited, we went to an outside seating area and a server poured our last couple of wines for us. Afterwards we decided that we wanted to try some Reserve wines in the Reserve Tasting Room. The second time I visited, we stayed indoors at the general tasting area, and there was a station set up that we had to walk up to and make a selection from the tasting menu. When the tasting was complete, we were led back through the gift shop where we could purchase wines before getting back on the aerial tram to go back down to the parking lot.

Visitors can easily spend a couple hours here walking around the winery and sipping wine. Everyone is entitled to move at his or her own pace. One final recommendation I have is to wear comfortable shoes for this tour. There is a lot of walking and some stairs. There are elevators available to get from the tram to the Visitors Center.

View from Sterling Vineyards

View from Sterling Vineyards