In their heyday, Napa Cabs were nothing like today’s stereotypical version. The flower-power vibe of the 1970s was apparent in the rough-around-the-edges, lively, vegetal, and experimental Cabs of that period. Then came the critic Robert Parker and the development of winemaking technology — two forces that influenced winemakers and consumers alike to acquire a taste for bold, high-alcohol, jammy…
As America’s first American Viticultural Area (AVA), Napa Valley has been celebrated around the world for its wine for generations. This beloved region first made it big on the world stage after its wineries swept up numerous awards at the Judgement of Paris wine tasting of 1976 and has drawn in wine lovers from around the world ever since. While bold Cabernet Sauvignon and crisp Chardonnay are…
The best way to experience any new place is through the guidance of a local. Here, we’ve tapped three culinary, hospitality and wine icons— Darryl Bell, the chef-owner of Stateline Road Smokehouse; George Goeggel, Managing Partner of Auberge de Soleil, part of the Auberge Collection; and Kelli White, the Director of Wine Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood — for a local’s view of Napa…
Like many of Napa’s earliest wineries, the story of Beringer Vineyards is the story of the American dream. In the late 1860s, Jacob Beringer emigrated from Mainz, Germany — a town just off the banks of the Rhine River — to the U.S. after hearing about the country’s bountiful opportunities. He landed in New York and, shortly after, caught wind of the then-elusive Napa Valley. He’d heard the area…
In 1944, George Mardikian purchased a 280-acre plot of land in the northern Napa Valley as a vacation home for his family. By then, Mardikian was already something of a popular name on the West Coast: He gained renown for surviving the Armenian Genocide, escaping Turkish prison, and opening one of the most influential restaurants in San Francisco. After Mardikian passed away, his family kept the…
This episode of Wine 101 is brought to you by Meiomi. Meiomi Pinot Noir is one of the best-selling wines in America for a reason. It’s smooth, rich, and incredibly easy to enjoy, whether you’re celebrating with friends or enjoying a glass at the end of the day. Made in California, Meiomi is both deeply flavorful and expertly created — making it the perfect finish for big moments and everyday…
As the United States’ premier wine region, Napa Valley produces a number of highly sought-after wines, none of which are more coveted than its Cabernet Sauvignons. Napa Cabernets are known for their robust, juicy qualities, strong tannins, and prominent notes of red and black fruits. While the American Viticultural Area’s (AVA’s) Cabs might be accurately generalized as such, Napa Valley is home…
While Mike Grgich was making his way from communist Yugoslavia to California, a successful attorney from Los Angeles named Jim Barrett purchased Chateau Montelena from Lee and Helen Paschich, a married couple who’d turned the estate into their residence. Soon after, Barrett hired Grgich as head winemaker and, around the same time, Bo Barrett, his 20-year-old son, as the “cellar rat.” As a former…
Pilsner is an unsung hero in the beer industry. We can thank the style for some of the world’s most dominant beers and breweries. In fact, many American macrobreweries, including Anheuser-Busch, formed when German brewers brought the Bavarian barley grain haná and its corresponding beermaking technique to the U.S., according to Nick Gislason, co-founder and head brewer of Hanabi Lager Co. in Napa…
This episode of Wine 101 is brought to you by Meiomi. Meiomi Pinot Noir is one of the best-selling wines in America for a reason. It’s smooth, rich, and incredibly easy to enjoy, whether you’re celebrating with friends or enjoying a glass at the end of the day. Made in California, Meiomi is both deeply flavorful and expertly created — making it the perfect finish for big moments and everyday…
To many Romans, the Latin maxim memento mori meant, “Remember you must die.” A conquering general returning to Rome with the spoils of war, welcomed with laurel wreaths and showers of flower pedals, would often have a slave stand behind him to whisper in his ear and warn him that all glory is temporary and […]
The post One of Napa’s Most Exclusive Wineries Could Soon Be Open to the Public…
February was no slow news month for food and beverage businesses. At the start, industry giant Gallo agreed to purchase Four Roses Bourbon for up to $775 million. Then, acclaimed chef Thomas Keller voiced his objections to an affordable housing project in Napa Valley. All the while, beer and wine producers announced mass layoffs. Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach recap a few…
Any time is a good time to enjoy a properly made Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. However, there are occasions in life when reaching for your favorite cost-effective “everyday” Napa Cab simply won’t do. Celebrating a milestone birthday, a new job promotion, or an anniversary demands something much more than the same bottle you open every Thursday night before you settle in and catch up on your favorite…
Some grape and region combinations work so well that, together, the two become an unofficial title. California Chardonnay is one such case. But how did Chardonnay from the New World state become so revered? Rombauer Vineyards is largely to thank. Koerner and Joan Rombauer — two native Californians — established Rombauer Vineyards in 1980. The married couple’s first foray into the Napa wine…
Early European vignerons noticed that grapevines thrived on hillsides. Sun exposure, cooling winds, and hard, mineral-rich soil all created the perfect environment for growing grapes. And though pioneering Napa Valley winemakers mimicked many European viticultural strategies, the first vineyards in the California region were planted on the valley floor. As the zone became more popular,…
When diving into the wide world of Cabernet Sauvignon, many people start with the Napa Valley. The thick-skinned red wine grape thrives in the Northern California region, where winemakers have transformed it into tannic, velvety wines bursting with red and black fruit flavors for decades. It’s true that Napa has no shortage of amazing Cabernets, but knowing where to start can be intimidating.…
This episode of Wine 101 is brought to you by Meiomi. Meiomi Pinot Noir is one of the best-selling wines in America for a reason. It’s smooth, rich, and incredibly easy to enjoy, whether you’re celebrating with friends or enjoying a glass at the end of the day. Made in California, Meiomi is both deeply flavorful and expertly created — making it the perfect finish for big moments and everyday…
In last week’s “Wine 101” episode, host Keith Beavers explained how Robert Mondavi endured family conflict and the drama brewing across the Napa Valley. Around the same time, Mondavi had a chance encounter with a French baron. Today on the “Wine 101” podcast, Keith recounts the story of the Robert Mondavi Winery at its peak. The French baron comes to Mondavi with a proposal, but how does it…