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Swanson Vineyards

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Swanson Vineyards

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 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

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.

 

Black Stallion

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Black Stallion Estate

Black Stallion Estate

4089 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558

Website: http://www.blackstallionwinery.com/

Black Stallion is one of the younger wineries in Napa Valley. It opened in July 2007.  It is located off of the Silverado Trail in the Oak Knoll district. The Black Stallion name relates to its location on the grounds of a historic equestrian center.  A shiny black stallion statue marks the entrance to the winery. The winery itself is constructed of stone with large wooden doors at the entryways and is surrounded by estate vineyards.

Black Stallion Tasting Room

Black Stallion Tasting Room

Inside, the tasting room is a wide-open space with dark wood floors and beams.  Upon entering there is a hostess stand and a large rectangular tasting bar. In front of the tasting bar are a few tables with chairs around a fireplace.  There are a couple of rooms off of the main tasting area with long tables set up for private experiences. One of those rooms had glass doors that allowed a view in the barrel room.  Opposite from the tasting bar are tall glass doors that lead out to the swanky terrace. The terrace is framed by dome-shaped stone pillars and has black, comfy sofa-like lounge chairs.  All of it is surrounded by nice views of the vineyards.

Black Stallion Terrace

Black Stallion Terrace

The winery classifies their wines into three tiers – Heritage, Limited Release, and Prestige.  The Heritage tier is the more widely circulated wines. There are a number of tasting options and experiences available.  The most basic walk-in tastings offer a choice to sample just reds, just whites, or a mixture. Other options include the upgraded Prestige tasting of Black Stallion’s ultra-premium wines or a tasting on the terrace.  Additional private tastings and tours are offered by appointment. Check their website for details. Black Stallion specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, but they also produce several other varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel.

I visited this winery on two different occasions.  The first visit was soon after the winery opened, and my husband and I stopped in toward the end of the day.  There was a large crowd of people in the tasting room making it difficult to find a place at the tasting bar. Unfortunately my first impression of the wines was impaired by my frustration with the people who were continually bumping or crowding me.  It took me nearly ten years later to return and give it another try, but I always felt that I didn’t give the wines a fair shot. This time my husband and I planned a visit in the morning soon after they opened so we could avoid the crowds. It paid off.  We were the only guests in the tasting room when we first arrived and we got to take our time sampling the wines. We each did a tasting to share so that we could try a larger variety of their offerings. Overall I found their style of wines to be big and bold that should be aged and paired with food.  The prices on most of the reds are quite hefty as well.

I am glad that I gave Black Stallion a second shot.  I appreciated the winery much more when it wasn’t crowded.  If you are planning a visit I would definitely suggest picking a less busy time, like the mornings during a weekday.  If you are into bold reds, then this place is for you. Just be ready to splurge if you want to take some bottles home.

 

Cosentino Winery

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Cosentino Winery

Cosentino Winery

7415 St. Helena Highway, Yountville, CA 94599

Website: http://www.cosentinowinery.com/

I have been visiting Napa and Sonoma for 10 years and have visited a lot of wineries.  I am always trying to find a new, surprising experience. When I walk into each new winery I try to distinguish what is different about this one?  This time on my latest trip to Napa the winery that really excited me was Cosentino. I didn’t know anything about the winery in advance. My husband and I had driven by it lots of times on our trips through Napa.  The small chateau-like structure covered in ivy is located in Oakville right next door to Mustards Grill. This time we decided to stop in before our dinner reservation at Mustards. The winery is rather unassuming in comparison to some of the other giants in Oakville like Robert Mondavi, Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, and Opus One.

Cosentino was founded by Mitch Cosentino who started Cosentino Wine Co. in 1980 outside of the Lodi region.  He started the Napa winery in 1990. Since that time the winery has changed hands to Vintage Wine Estates, who also owns Swanson, Girard, and Clos Pegase in Napa.  Cosentino offers drop-in tastings. A benefit is that it is open a little later than many other wineries. They offer private tastings by reservation and also host private events.

Cosentino's outdoor patio

Cosentino’s outdoor patio

Besides the pretty ivy covered facade, this winery has a very inviting outdoor patio.  As we walked up to the tasting room our host Joey greeted us and welcomed us to the winery.  The first thing that caught my eye was the big stone fireplace and comfy couches. At the opposite end of the patio was a fountain. In between there were wooden benches plus multiple tables and chairs.  There were also several large umbrellas to shield the sun on a hot day. Although it looked very relaxing, it was a pretty chilly day in the middle of February, so we opted to go inside. I can see the patio being a big draw in warmer weather.  The tasting room reminded me of a little boutique with a couple of cafe style tables and chairs. The tasting bar is long enough to accomodate 4-5 small groups at once. There was another room off the main tasting room with more cafe style tables and a small tasting bar.

Cosentino Tasting Room

Cosentino Tasting Room

The hospitality our host Joey provided was super.  He educated us on the winery, the wines, and made us feel like valued guests.  I was pleasantly surprised by the prices of their wines, especially their flagship wine “The Poet”.  I was expecting a much higher price tag for the premium quality. Nowadays it seems like prices in Napa are trending upwards of $100 for a high quality Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux style blend.  In addition I learned an interesting fact about “The Poet” – it was the first designated Meritage wine when it was released in 1989. Meritage is a term used today for a red blend typically made from at least 2 of the Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or Malbec.  Lots of wineries now offer their own Meritage blend. My husband and I were so impressed by the overall experience that we joined the wine club. A couple weeks after returning home we received a handwritten thank you card in the mail. I’m really looking forward to being a club member and visiting again.