Tag: cabernet sauvignon

With gracious style, exquisite architecture, and inviting gardens, Chateau St. Jean has become an icon of sorts in the Sonoma Valley.

Founded in 1973, the winery has the distinction of producing the first Sonoma County wine (the Cinq Cépages Cabernet Sauvignon) to be chosen by Wine Spectator as its Wine of the Year. The estate has delivered a relaxed French flair to the foot of Sonoma Valley’s Sugarloaf Ridge, with a graciously staffed Visitor Center and elegant gardens designed to provide the utmost in tasting experiences. Guests are invited to shop at the delectably stocked charcuterie; picnic on the grounds, which include two fountains, a rose garden, and a large patio; stroll through the courtyard garden; visit the demonstration vineyard; and simply linger.

From its very first harvest in 1974, Raymond Vineyards has upheld an enduring reputation as one of the Napa Valley’s iconic, pioneering wineries. The winery was founded by Roy Raymond and his two sons, Roy Jr. and Walter, and quickly became known for its elegant wines with a beautiful balance of finesse, power, and complexity.

Today, Raymond Vineyards has more than 300 acres of Napa Valley vineyards, including two estate vineyard sites in the prestigious Rutherford and St. Helena appellations. In late 2009, Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Estates became the proprietor of Raymond Vineyards.

When veteran grape growers Mike Rennie and Gary Winder founded their California winery in 2003, they chose the name Leoness Cellars, which means "village of dreams" in Gaelic.

Since then, many dreams have certainly come true at Leoness. The wines, born in premium vineyards that Mike and Gary were farming as early as 1990, have quite a following. Winemaker Tim Kramer continually strives to make the best wine possible to put Leoness Cellars on the map, and to build recognition for the Temecula Valley as well. His efforts have resulted in a stellar portfolio: four wines have earned 90+ points from some of the most respected wine publications in the United States. Leoness offers an impeccable three-tiered wine program: Cellar Selection wines are crafted to suit a range of palates; Vineyard Selection wines are handcrafted, small lot wines from single vineyards; and Signature Selection wines are blended for the utmost in elegance and character.

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.

The high wheel bicycle is a fitting symbol for Dutcher Crossing Winery, not because its proprietor, Debra Mathy, is an avid cyclist, but because to ride it one must possess imagination, determination, and a good deal of skill.

For many years, Debra had dreamed of owning a winery. With the guidance of her father, a successful Wisconsin businessman, she spent years searching the world for the right one. He helped her narrow her search to St. Helena and Healdsburg, California, but then he passed away. Just a few months later, in early 2007, Debra had the opportunity to buy Dutcher Crossing Winery. Needless to say, the experience was bittersweet. She decided that her vintage high wheel bicycle, the last Christmas gift her father gave her, would serve as an icon for Dutcher Crossing Winery.

The story of Summit Lake Vineyards reads like a good novel: a young romance, epic global adventure, trials and tribulations, dreams coming true. But the real themes that course through the heart of this tale, aside from its literary draw, are firmly grounded in hard work, family, and dedication to traditional winemaking. Located in Napa’s very first sub-appellation, the Howell Mountain Appellation, Summit Lake Vineyards is perched 2,000 feet above the California valley floor. Compared with the typical heat of Napa’s valley floor, the cooler climate of this high elevation coupled with volcanic soil composition, results in ideal conditions for what Summit Lake is known for, outstanding estate grown Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The new Cycles Gladiator Winery and Visitor Center is located in one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in Lodi, California, a nod to the colorful history of both the region and the Cycles Gladiator story.

In Lodi, early settlers were planting the region’s first grapevines; while in Europe, the modern bicycle was considered a technological marvel and the new symbol of independence. Cycles Gladiator was the name of a popular French bicycle company and its beautiful advertising posters captured the feeling of freedom one discovered while cycling.