Swanson Vineyards
1271 Manley Ln, Napa, CA 94558
Website: https://www.swansonvineyards.com/
If you consider yourself a wine connoisseur who is used to the more upscale tasting rooms in Napa then you will want to have an open mind before visiting this winery. If you are someone looking for a casual, unique experience then this place will be right up your alley. The style is a bit quirky, but don’t underestimate the quality of the wines. Swanson Vineyards was started in 1985 by Clarke Swanson and his wife Elizabeth Swanson of the frozen food company. The Swansons sold the winery to Vintage Wine Estates in 2015 while maintaining their vineyards in Oakville. Vintage Wine Estates also owns B. R. Cohn in Sonoma, as well as Girard, Cosentino, and Clos Pegase in Napa.
The tasting room is located in Rutherford off the side road Manley Lane. It is surrounded by vineyards with a nice view of the Mayacamas in the background. This winery requires advance appointments for tastings. A small gravel driveway leads to the parking lot. The stucco winery is hidden behind some trees. There is a courtyard out front with some outdoor furniture and picnic tables. We walked up the pathway through the courtyard to the glass front doors beneath a white stone archway.
The salon at Swanson Vineyards
The interior salon was striking to see as we entered. The walls were coral colored. In the center of the salon was an octagonal wood table with a big eye-catching chandelier hanging from middle of ceiling. Also hanging from the ceiling were bird cages, a couple of them filled with feathers. To the side of the room was a stone fireplace and there were tall dark wood doors around the room. I didn’t know what to think until our host explained that Elizabeth Swanson grew up in New Orleans and modeled the room after a Parisian salon. The winery conducts Oenophile tastings in the salon where guests can have some small bites along with the wine pairing.
The Sip Shoppe at Swanson Vineyards
More casual tastings happen in the Sip Shoppe or outside in the courtyard. The Sip Shoppe is their other tasting room and is equally intriguing. The term the winery uses is “whimsical”. The room has red and white striped walls that reminded me of a circus tent. There was some eclectic shelving and artwork around the room along with a couple of long tables and chairs. Here they offer the Bon Vivant tasting which provides a sampling of 4 wines paired with chocolates.
It was a nice sunny day so my husband and I chose to sit outside. Our host gave us some pistachios and cheese bites to start off our tasting experience. This winery has a broad selection of different varietals including merlot, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, zinfandel, pinot grigio and chardonnay. They are also known for their sweet wines – a fortified wine, Rosata, and Angelica. My husband and i each did a tasting to share so we could sample more of the wines. Our host was very hospitable and gave generous pours. The Merlot is one of their most popular reds. My personal favorite was 2012 Face Cabernet Sauvignon. I considered it a little pricey but worth it. We got to try all of the sweet wines. My preference was the Rosato. I appreciated the fortified wines even though I don’t typically drink them.
I enjoyed the experience more than I anticipated. I was truly skeptical but curious about the winery after seeing pictures. I was thankful for the hospitality and casual atmosphere.