Oakville Ava - Napa

If you’ve ever had a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa that knocked your socks off, there’s a decent chance it came from the Oakville AVA. California makes some of the best wines in the world, and it all started in this tiny little Napa County town way back in the 1860’s.

History

In 1868 Hamilton Crabb left Ohio for California and purchased just over 100 acres of land in Oakville. He planted some grapes and began producing his own wines. He named his parcel of land To-Kalon, which means “highest beauty” in the Greek language. 

In 1873 John Benson purchased over 400 acres in Oakville, and established the Far Niente Vineyard in 1877, which means “to do nothing” or “without a care”.

Here’s the part of the story more people are familiar with; In 1966 Robert Mondavi showed up and things reallystarted to take off. He built his gorgeous winery in the California Mission style of architecture, and it is easily one of the most recognized wineries in the Valley.

This was a big deal, because even though lots of small wineries had popped up here and there during the 50’s and 60’s, Mondavi’s arrival was a declaration to the wine industry that Napa Valley wines were now a force to be reckoned with. The AVA was officially designated in 1993.

Climate and Soil  

The climate in Oakville is uniquely influenced by several different things. Cool ocean air meets with warm dry air, creating a Mediterranean climate-perfect for growing quality grapes. It gets that hot Napa Valley sun, but when the temperature starts to rise so does the marine breeze, bringing the temperatures right back down. 

The soil here is sandy and gravely, which makes for great drainage. There are also parts of the AVA that consist of red clay and loam. Different types of soil make for different types of wines, and there is a rich array of finely nuanced wines that stem from this AVA.

Grapes

This is the land of Cabernet Sauvignon, as well Cabernet Franc. Oakville is right in the middle of the Valley, so you get some grapes from the cooler climate, and some from the warmer climate-you really do get the best of both worlds. 

This is the AVA you want to visit if you are a lover of Cabernet. Many of the wineries in the Oakville AVA include Nickel & Nickel, Far Niente, Opus One, Robert Mondavi Winery, Screaming Eagle, Miner Family, Cardinale, Gargiulo, Ghostblock, Harlan Estate, Hoopes Vineyard, Futo, Dalla Valle, Silver Oak, Turnball, Bond, Bevan, B Cellars, Plumpjack, Saddleback Cellars…the list goes on & on. 

Oakville Wineries:

Nickel & Nickel, Far Niente, Miner Family, Saddleback Cellars, The Vineyard House, Cardinale, Robert Mondavi, Screaming Eagle, Opus One, Promontory, Groth, Silver Oak, B Cellars, Gamble Family, Turnbull, 1881, Gargiulo, Ghost Block, Plumpjack, Paradigm, Rudd.

We’ll be visiting Miner Family Vineyard next week, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it! – Lea Gourley

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

Spring Mountain AVA - Napa - Schweiger Vineyards & Winery

Schweiger Family Vineyard

Sustainability was an integral part of the Schweiger family’s farming philosophy long before “sustainability” was embraced by the masses. During our visit we got to see Fred Schweiger casually disperse cleanly picked shredded grapevines right back into the vineyards as mulch. Dandy’s was so excited - sustainability is her passion!

Tasting rooms are usually so elegant, so clean and classy looking. It’s fun to get dressed up, hire a driver, and play fancy wine taster for the day! It’s easy to forget that wine comes from farming. Farming is dirty, backbreaking, and sometimes heartbreaking labor. 

Schweiger Family Vineyard has a unique way of showcasing both the elegance and the ruggedness that winemaking entails. From their beautiful new tasting room you can see the tractors pulling their weight across the vineyards-the wine in your glass went through an intense transformation from vine to wine, and it wasn’t easy.

 Fred started clearing his land in 1979 during the recession. It was all forest and you couldn’t see more than 10 feet ahead of you. He convinced his wife Sally that planting grapes might be a good idea, and in 1984 they sold parts of their first harvest to Staggs Leap. Upon the realization that the grapes were that good, establishing a winery became the new goal.

After graduating from UC Davis, Freds son Andrew received a pat on the back and the suggestion that he go “screw up someone else’s wine” for a while before joining the family business. His hard work paid off, and Andrew’s been the family winemaker since 1999. 

This is a true “family winery”, there’s even a couple of dogs running around the property! The wines we tasted were fantastic and went down all that much easier with views that seem right out of a postcard. Make an appointment and visit the Schweiger family if you can-you’ll make memories and maybe some new friends (feline or otherwise) that you’ll never forget. – Lea Gourley

Spring Mountain AVA - Napa - Spring Mountain Vineyards

Spring Mountain Vineyard

If you love learning the history and stories behind the wineries you visit, you should head out to Spring Mountain Vineyard. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it-like so many of the vineyards in Napa, you’d never know it was there unless you were looking for it. But once you’re through the gates you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time to a different sort of place. Dandy and I could’ve spent hours here, just taking in the views and basking in the peacefulness. 

Spring Mountain Vineyards is made up of 3 different vineyards, each one with its own rich history. German immigrant Charles Lemme established La PerlaVineyards in 1876, and was the very first person to grow and make Cabernet Sauvignon on Spring Mountain. Thank you kindly, Mr. Lemme!

Tiburcio Parrott was born in Mexico in 1840. School and work brought him to San Francisco, then to Napa where he became friends with the Beringer brothers. Through them he was introduced to architect Albert Schroepfer who designed the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco. The two men wasted no time in designing and building Miravalle, a gigantic residence with panoramic views of Napa Valley.

There’s a famous window in that house, and if you’ve ever watched Falcon Crest you’ll know exactly which window I’m talking about. Of all the fascinating historical tidbits we learned, this is the one I chose to share- I’m a sucker for Hollywood, what can I say? 

In 1850 Fortune Chevalier left France with several panels of glass and headed for San Francisco with intentions of building and repairing windows. Circumstances landed him in Sacramento dealing in wines and spirits instead. Eventually he wound up in Napa and his timing couldn’t have been better: In 1880 there were 40 wineries in Napa, and within a decade there were 166. Chateau Chevaliercame to be at the end of that great winemaking boom. 

Much of the old winery equipment and horse carriages still exist at Spring Mountain Vineyard, and the grounds also contain the largest stone terrace garden in Napa. The library wines we had the pleasure of tasting were absolutely phenomenal, and our host Catherine White was so much fun, and incredibly knowledgeable about the history andthe wines. We can’t wait to go back when we have more time to take it all in! 

-       Lea Gourley

Spring Mountain AVA - Napa

Spring Mountain AVA

We’re heading off to one of the lesser known AVA’s this month, Spring Mountain. Unlike the other mountainous AVA’s we’ve come across so far, Spring Mountain refers to a group of mountains as opposed to a single peak. And the name itself stems from the numerous natural springs interspersed throughout the region. It’s located in the lower Mayacamas Mountains, and has been producing wine since the Civil War Era!

History

Spring Mountain got its start in 1874 when German immigrant Charles Lemme planted 25 acres of grapes. Those acres became La Perla Vineyard. Less than ten years later Jacob and Frederick Beringer began planting here as well-a name you probably recognize.

In the 1890’s San Francisco banker Tiburcio Parrott showed up and declared that he would be producing world class wines from the rocky sparse soil. He was met with scoffs and skepticism. He built a Victorian-style home and established Miravalle Vineyard. The skeptics hushed up rather quickly after he won a Gold Medal at the World Fair in 1893. Miravalle is now a part of Spring Mountain Vineyard-***MORE ON THEM NEXT WEEK***!

In 1946 after Prohibition had ended, Fred and Eleanor McCrea began a small Vineyard that expanded 7 years later with Stony Hill Winery. Spring Mountain began to thrive after that, especially in the 1970’s when talented winemakers started establishing themselves and their talents in the area. Ritchie Creek, Yverdon, and Robert Keenan are some of the wineries that came to be during this time. 

The AVA was established in 1993, and its history is rich and important to Napa. I would say it deserves more recognition than it gets.

Climate and Soil

Spring Mountain is only 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean, therefore making it very cool and wet. There’s a low pressure gap that pulls cool moist air directly into Spring Mountains path. Even in the summer months you’ll see waterfalls of fog drifting into the area.

The soil here is deeper than most of the AVA’s we’ve studied so far, and not as rocky. That’s because it’s closer to the side of the mountain and not right on top. It’s still much shallower than the soil in the valley though. It’s a mixture of sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, and the volcanic rock that we’ve seen so much of in our travels so far.

Grapes

Cabernet is prevalent here, as it is in so much of Napa, but Cab Franc, Merlot, Zinfandel and Chardonnay also do well here. The Chardonnay pleases me because I’m one of few people I know who prefer white wine to red. For those of you who are like-minded, and even if you’re not, definitely try some Riesling from Smith-Madrone or Stony Hill Winery when you explore the Spring Mountain AVA!  - Lea Gourley