Oakville AVA - Napa - Oakville Grocery

Oakville Grocery

So let’s say you’ve been out wine tasting in Napa all day and you’re ready for some food. You want a meal, but you don’t want to go to a fancy sit down restaurant, and you’re not exactly sure what you’re in the mood for.

Here’s what you do; head on over to Oakville Grocery right in the heart of Napa. This place was established in 1881-it’s a historical landmark, and the longest continually running grocery store in California.

This isn’t just a grocery store though. This place has a little bit of everything-all fresh and local. From artisan cheeses and olives, to freshly made sandwiches, wood fired pizzas, and a stunning array of local jams, mustards, and tapenades. You could spend hours browsing the wine selection alone.

Dandy and I split a sandwich made with smoked chicken breast, gruyere, and sweet & spicy mustard. We also had some pesto pasta, fresh garlic hummus, and a caprese salad. We ordered our food and then sat outside overlooking the stunning mountain views. I could have easily gone in and ordered a whole other meal and done it all over again.

Next to the store is a Victorian House with a rich museum, showcasing some of the tools and highlights of each Napa AVA that Jean-Charles Boisset established.  If you’re a history buff, you’ll love this.

And here’s the thing that really sets this place apart, especially for you wine lovers. You’ve heard of Opus One and Screaming Eagle Vineyards, yes? Those are some of the upper echelon wines that put Napa on the map-but their bottle prices aren’t for the faint of heart. At Oakville Grocery you can taste a sample of some of those wines. (Screaming Eagle was available for a few months and by the glass was $600…but at least you could try it without having to buy the bottle) They’ll set you back a few bucks, but you can go home and brag to your friends that you drank, literally, some of the most famous wines in the world. 

Spring Mountain AVA - Napa - Sherwin Family Vineyards

Sherwin Family Vineyards

When you schedule your appointment for a Sherwin Family Vineyard tasting, make sure you give yourself some extra time. It’s hard to leave this place. You’ll be greeted like family, and invited into the tasting room that feels more like a living room. A super fancy giant living room, but still a place where you can relax, have a glass of wine, and chat with friends-old and new.

After dedicating 30 years building and developing in the Bay Area, Steve Sherwin was ready for a different pace. A good friend urged him to buy property in the peaceful setting of Spring Mountain and grow grapes. He purchased 30 acres in 1996, and Steve says it’s one of the best decisions he’s ever made. 

Never Forget.

Sherwin Family Vineyards is the only alcohol-containing product in the United States allowed to showcase the American Flag on its label. After the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, Steve and Linda were asked to contribute to a wine auction to benefit families of those lost in Windows of the World. They couldn’t say yes fast enough.

They designed a stunning patriotic bottle that was so well received they decided to produce more bottles, and continue contributing to various charitable causes. But first (this is America after all), there was paperwork. As it turns out, they needed permission from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in Washington D.C. They were warned not to be too hopeful, but they got the exemption! Their joke is that the guy with the “approval” stamp was in a hurry to clock out that day.

As a lifetime industry worker, I’m truly touched by this ongoing gesture. I don’t know a single person who doesn’t remember that awful day and its repercussions, but to see tangible evidence of something good coming out of it has occurred a mere handful of times. This was one of them.

The Sherwin Vineyard grounds have picnic tables, bocce ball, and even a little putting green where you can try to win wine by hitting the golf ball to the little island on the lake. We got to see a couple of people try it…so close!

So bring your friends & family to the top of Spring Mountain and you’ll be sure to have a great time!  -Lea Gourley