Posted by admin on October 30, 2007
October 30, 2007
What a day! Picked up some folks for tour out of Meadowood Resort. They were here from Iowa. Our first stop was Beringer at the outskirts of St Helena. The tree lined drive in front has not changed since I was a boy. The wine maker here for years has been Ed Sbragia. He makes some very good wines and recently opened Sbragia Winery in Dry Creek Valley just at the dam of Lake Sonoma.
Then it was over to Revana, where I had the opportunity to meet Heidi Barret, the renown wine maker best known for Screaming Eagle. She is now the wine maker here and also has Amuse Bouche and La Sierna labels available when released (but they sell quickly according to Tom the assistant wine maker). I got some pictures so check them out!
The last stop of the day was Castello di Amorosa, the 36 million dollar castle Daryl Sattui just completed. It has 109 rooms and 8 levels, with a swimming pool on the bottom level. The tour is $25 during the week, $35 weekends and $10 more for the reserve tasting. The tour takes 1 3/4 hours to complete and the rooms incredible. The wines are all Italian style. After the tour it was back to Meadowood for a clothing change and then off to Yountville and Redd for dinner. They are eating as I sit in the Limo and write this article in front of the Villago Hotel.
Another day in life of the Limo D!
(more…)
Posted by admin on October 28, 2007
October 28, 2007
I was out at Seavey on Conn Valley Rd Saturday, right at the site of the historic Volber Winery complete with the original stone winery building. Before the advent of refrigeration this was the best way to store and age wine short of a cave.
Mr Seavey greeted us and explained that his wine is rated with Cult status by Robert Parker as of a recent tasting at the Culinary Institute (where he had to donate a case of his wine for the purposes of tasting). He believes he is priced lower than any others with this status at $85 a bottle and is considering raising the price to $95. His distributors were not happy with that idea as it will make it harder for them to sell they say! It seems to be a husband and wife operation as Mr Seavey showed our guests around and the Mrs. handled another two guests who happened to just show up in the tasting room.
They make a Caravina blend ($105) and a Cabernet ‘04 ($85). Also available is a Merlot ‘04 ($38) and a Chardonnay ‘05 ($30).
They have built the winery in a style that is very similar to old 19th century buildings of stone construction. A very pretty spot and not too hard to get to either.
The day was a rough one for me as I had been double booked and the clients were not aware of this change . Then the second car came to extent their tasting time with a nail in the tire and I ran to fix it. This took four stops on a Saturday to find an open shop, so I did not get any pictures. I will have to return for a more complete assessment!
Oh well that is the life of the Limo D, wandering the wine country in search of great wine!
(more…)
