Tag: bordeaux

The short path from the parking lot to the charming Victorian house that houses St. Clement Vineyards’ tasting room is steep, but worth every step. The landmark Napa Valley estate, established in 1878 by the San Francisco stained glass merchant, Fritz Rosenbaum, was one of the first bonded wineries in the Napa Valley. But St. Clement’s history began in 1976, when William Casey, a local ophthalmologist, bought the house and built a 10,000-case stone winery in the backyard.

In 1978, Pine Ridge Vineyards was founded on a steeply terraced hillside flanked by a dramatic ridgeline of stately pine trees in the Stags Leap District. The founder was convinced that the Napa Valley was an ideal growing region for Cabernet Sauvignon and other noble Bordeaux grape varieties. Since then, 35 years have passed and this conviction has certainly proven to be true. As Napa Valley’s reputation has grown, so have the reputation and acreage of Pine Ridge Vineyards. Today, the esteemed winery is a showcase for exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon with nearly 200 acres planted in 12 prime vineyard sites: four in the Stags Leap District; two in Rutherford; three in Carneros; one in Howell Mountain; and one in Oakville.

Making its mark on the stunningly beautiful Columbia River Gorge, Cathedral Ridge Winery captures rave reviews, including Wine Press Northwest’s 2007 Oregon Winery of the Year. More recently, Wine & Spirits Magazine awarded the 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve 90 points and named it one of the year’s Top 50 Pinot Noirs. Cathedral Ridge Winery sits high atop a ridge overlooking the Columbia Gorge, with Mount Hood and Mount Adams gleaming in the distance. The winery was founded in 2003, when Robb Bell purchased the former Flerchinger Vineyards. He named the winery Cathedral Ridge after the striking knife-edge ridge running off the Northwest summit of Mount Hood. This impressive Oregon ridgeline is known to climbers as difficult to find, but worth the trip. Robb expresses this same passion in his wines.

The name Hope appears in every chapter of the 30-plus year wine industry history of Paso Robles, California. Chuck Hope planted one of the first vineyards just east of the Salinas River in 1978, and helped establish the Paso Robles region’s solid reputation for high quality grape growing. He helped other vineyards get their start and helped found what is now the Paso Robles Wine Alliance.

Chuck’s son, Austin Hope, grew up sharing his father’s passion for grape growing and the Paso Robles region, and became a winemaker. Today, this innovative farming family owns Hope Family Wines, producer of the Liberty School, Treana, Candor, Troublemaker, and Austin Hope brands.

Aside from excellent wine, an epic family history, dramatic views, and stunning architecture make Artesa Vineyards & Winery a destination-worthy experience. The fascinating Artesa legacy began near Barcelona in 1551, when Jaume Codorníu bequeathed winemaking equipment to his family. A key marriage and several hundred years later, Cava—the first méthode champenoise sparkling wine made outside of France—was created by Josep Raventós. The ripple effect of this groundbreaking claim to fame has been felt across continents since then, arriving in Napa, California at Artesa in the present day, still owned by the Raventós family.

Three generations of family stand behind the wines of Cliff Creek Cellars. The family wine business started when the Garvin family bought a 100-year-old ranch in 1992 and broke ground seven years later for a vineyard in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. Today, Sam’s Valley Vineyard is planted to about 70 acres of grapes.

The vineyard, a composite of sandy Medford loam and volcanic ash, enjoys a great deal of sunshine and heat, and little rain. It provides a long growing season and a perfect incubator for Bordeaux and Rhône varieties.

The Tri-Cities is located in the heart of Washington wine country in the center of the Pacific Northwest, about a three and one-half hour drive from Seattle and Portland.

For first-time visitors it can be confusing, starting with the climate. As green and lush as the state of Washington is, the Tri-Cities doesn’t see much rain. It’s sunny on an average of 300 days per year. The air is dry and desert-like, but there is plenty of water, too. Three amazing rivers—the Columbia, the Snake, and the Yakima—converge here, creating an oasis that makes kayakers, fishermen, water skiers, canoeists, sailors, kite surfers, and pontoonists very happy. Landlubbers too. The area offers enough challenging terrain for cyclists, beguiling trails for hikers, and beautiful golf courses to keep everyone entertained for days on end.