I did a tour that was after my own heart this week. Starting out in Napa we headed first to Howell Mountain and the place I recently wrote about, Ladera Vineyards.
The building above was constructed about 1882 but has been renovated inside to be one of the most modern wineries in the Napa Valley, all state of the art gravity flow. It is an absolutely gorgeous marriage of the old and the new! This facility alone is reason enough to visit, of course given the attention to detail both in the vineyard and at the winery, it also produces some very special wines!
Next we went across the valley to the Barnett Winery where the Barnett’s German shepherd oversees all arrivals. The woman in the tasting room was one of the most hospitable of any in the
valley! Wow, does she do a great job. If you are a member of their club they give you lunch! Either pizza or a picnic basket from the Sunshine Market, your choice. The Barnetts are replanting a vineyard that was originally installed in 1983. Their flagship is the Rattlesnake Hill, named for the snakes that were so numerous in these hills when they cleared the land for this spectacular vineyard.
We then proceed, after a great lunch overlooking the valley at Barnett, about 300 yards down the driveway to Sherwin. This is another great Cabernet created by Steve Sherwin, a man that was born into the cattle ranching business of the central valley. He decided in 1992 to buy this 30 acres and carve out a vineyard from the wild hillside, a most difficult task. Now, 15 years later, he has not only pulled it off but he has established himself as a top Spring Mountain Cabernet. This was reflected in the crowd there at the tasting room, no one wanted to leave.
Our last stop of the day was voted the best deal for the dollar: Behrens and Hitchcock ! They are only another 300 yards down the road that leads to Sherwin. Whoa, this guy Les makes some wine! There were about 11 wines available and all had stories of great fruit! Les knows everyone and gets some awesome fruit from very exclusive vineyards! He prices these wines in a way that must upset some to the folks that sell wines for far more money. Thanks Les!
So let me know if anyone out there wants a Hillside Cabernet tour. There are about 30 more secret places in those hills and the reward is fabulous Cabernet!
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