napa

A Visit to Cain Vineyard and Winery

Cain-vineyard

 Cain Vineyard and Winery

Last June I spent five days in Napa Valley and decided to venture off the beaten path to see what I could find.  I looked at Google Earth as I was planning my trip and came across Cain Vineyard and Winery.  It looked pretty far off the beaten path, so I contacted them for a tour and tasting*

Cain is located in the Spring Mountain district towards the north end of Napa Valley and east of St Helena.  Cain is located about as close to the summit as you can get, although there is no summit and no particular mountain named “Spring Mountain”.  Spring mountain refers to a geographical area in the mountains and hills to the east of St. Helena.

I was greeted by Operations Manager J.J. McCarthy and whisked out the front door on a wonderful walk through the oak trees.  The mottled sunlight played on the path and sparkled through the gaps in the canopy of the trees.  We came out on the other side of the trail to an absolutely spectacular view.  I was looking South East over hundreds of acres of vineyards in blocks on the steep slopes.  Some of which appeared to be close to a mile away.  Far in the distance I could see the valley floor.  If you look at the top of this post, that’s the view I was looking at.  The vineyard ranges in elevation from about 1,400 feet to a little over 2,100 feet above sea level.

The land that Cain Vineyards is on can trace its roots back to the 1870’s.  It was once a ranch that grew to over 3,000 acres.  Unfortunately after over 100 years of farming and grazing the operation was no longer viable and the family was forced to abandon operations.  They donated the majority of the land to create the McCormick Sanctuary which is part of the California Park System.

In 1980, the Cains (Jerry and Joyce) purchased 550 acres of the remaining land and began planting vines.  Their vision was to create wines using the traditional Bordeaux varieties.  5 years later, they released their first vintage.  Eventually the Cains retired in 1991 and sole ownership was passed on to their business partners, Jim and Nancy Meadlock.

During the tour J.J. was able to provide some interesting information.  The men who tend to the vineyard are each given their own blocks, which they are responsible for rather than have the group responsible for the entire vineyard.  This way each block is looked after by a single person, who can focus specifically on the unique aspects of the soil, the slope, the drainage, and any challenges and opportunities.  In the mid 1990’s almost the entire vineyard had to be torn up and replaced due to the risk of phylloxera.  The process took 4 years to complete, however there is still one small block that still remains of original root stock.

After the tour we headed back to the winery and took a quick walk through the production facilities and then headed into the tasting room.  There I tasted through Cain’s current offerings as well as some library selections and had a great conversation with J.J.  We talked about all kinds of things, not just wine.  But mostly wine.  If you’re considering heading up to Cain for a tasting or tour try to get J.J. as your host.  He’s warm and friendly, has a great sense of humor and he really knows everything there is to know about the history of the vineyard and the wines.  But mainly he’s just a down to earth humble guy.

The Wines

cain wine bottles

Cain Cuvée, Non Vintage 10, Napa Valley

I lost no time in asking J.J. about non vintage wines.  Usually the hallmark of cheap wine, he assured me that this was not cheap and what the concept is.   The concept is Cain has been working with the same vineyards and same vines, exact same rows for over 20 years for this wine.  “Each year the vines are a year older…”  according to the Cain website.  The NV10 version is a blend of 51% 2010 and 49% 2009 vintages with a mix of 48% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot.  The fruit was sourced from Gallegos in Rutherford, Stanton in Oakville, Nord-Trio C in Yountville, York Creek from the Spring Mountain District and Truchard in Los Carneros. The alcohol weighs in at 14.1% and the retail price is $34 a bottle.  11,230 cases were produced, but all of that appears to have already been allocated on the Cain website, you’ll have to track it down through wine retailers.

Cain Five, 2009, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley

Cain Five has a smaller production run with 4,331 cases produced for the ’09 vintage.  The first interesting thing I learned about this wine is that even though it’s the 2009 vintage, it was only released in 2014.  After aging in oak for an undisclosed period of time, the wine was aged a further 2 years in the bottle before being released.  This would be an incredibly difficult thing for a young winery to accomplish, having wine in the bottle ready to sell but not ready to drink and having the discipline to not sell it right away.  The ’09 vintage is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.  All the fruit comes from Cain’s Spring Mountain Estate.  This wine is still young and has at least another 10-15 years left in it.  If you’re drinking it any time soon I suggest decanting for an hour, but more importantly drink it slowly over a longer period to see how it changes after opening up.  It’ll be quite rewarding

Cain Five, 2004,  Napa Valley

The most obvious difference between the ’04 and ’09 is noticeable even before you taste the wine.  The labeling.  For some reason the ’04 does not have the Spring Mountain District sub AVA on it’s label.  The fruit is sourced from Cain’s Spring Mountain Estate, it just wasn’t labeled so at the time.  This wine also saw a release date long after the actual harvest.  The wine saw 22 months in oak and a further 2 years in the bottle before being released in 2008.  4,623 cases were produced but this wine is now considered a “Library release”  meaning it is only available on site at the winery itself.  The blend on this wine is 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot.  It was very interesting to be able to compare this with the ’09 vintage and see how aging works on the wine.  The wine had calmed down considerably.  Very refined, classic Napa mountain fruit.  A quick 10 minute decant is all that’s needed, and if you’re visiting the winery you can rest assured they’ll do that for you.

Cain Concept “The Benchland”, 2009 Napa Valley

According to the folks at Cain, “Concept” is “about Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the classical Benchlands of of Napa Valley”.  The fruit is sourced from Oakville:  Beckstoffer’s Missouri Hopper vineyard, Rutherford: Beckstoffer’s George III, Morisoli Borges and Hudson vineyards, Carneros: Hudson vineyard, Atlas Peak: Stagecoach vineyard and St. Helena’s Stanton vineyard.  The blend is 46% Cabernet, 26% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 13% Petit Verdot.  Although they just stated that this wine is all about the Benchland cab, there is a significant amount of blending going on here.  The simple purpose of doing this is to add complexity.  They’re going for a concept here, the concept – extremely refined and complex Napa Valley Cabernet based wine.  This wine hits on all marks.

Of all the places I’ve visited in Napa Valley over the last several years, the Cain estate was one of the most interesting.  Not only for the spectacularly beautiful scenery but for my one on one tasting withing J.J.   The thing that we tend to forget when trying to enjoy wine is that it’s made so much more enjoyable by drinking it with interesting people.  If you’re considering taking a visit to Cain I recommend requesting a tour with J.J. (I hope he still works there when you do!)

Visit Cain HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A visit to Pride Mountain Vineyards

A Visit to Pride Mountain Vineyards

pride-mountain-vineyards-barrels

I survived the drive to Pride!  reads the caption on the back of the black T shirt I bought in the Pride Mountain Vineyards gift shop.  If you know anything about this vineyard it is well worth the tiny winding road to the summit of Spring Mountain in Napa Valley.  And if you don’t…

Pride Mountain Vineyards is the only American winery to have it’s wines served in 3 different White Houses under Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama.  The greatness of Pride Mountain Vineyards wines is possibly the only thing the 3 of them can agree on!  Pride has received wide spread critical acclaim over the years including four ratings of 96 points or higher for their Reserve Cabernet from Robert Parker since 2001 – two of those were 99 points!

99.5% Cab .5% Petit Verdot 14.8% alc. 1,365 cases made with a retail of $135 a bottle at release. The wine is now sold out at the winery.

Pride Mountain Vineyards 2010 Reserve Cabernet: 83% Sonoma, 17% Napa | 99.5% Cab .5% Petit Verdot | 14.8% alc. 1,365 cases made with a retail of $135 a bottle at release. The wine is now sold out at the winery.

Pride is also well known for their Claret, which is usually a blend of about two thirds Merlot and one third Cabernet Sauvignon all estate fruit.  Since 2001 the Claret has also received two 99 point scores.

As nice as points and great ratings are, these days there seems to be far less emphasis than there used to be.  To use an analogy from film…the wine could be the greatest romance movie ever made, but if you like action adventure movies you won’t like it much.  These wines, more than just ratings are some of the truest representations of what the New World has to offer and in particular what Napa/Sonoma mountain fruit can be.

I say Napa and Sonoma because this brings us to a very interesting geographical fact about Pride Mountain Vineyards.  The Napa/Sonoma county line runs right through the middle of the vineyards and actually right through the middle of their bottling facility.  In a strange bit of Kafka-esque bureaucracy,  they actually have to fill out paper work to transfer wine bottles within their own bottling facility.

pride mountain county line

The Napa/Sonoma county line runs right through the middle of the vineyard and production facility

On my tour I visited the cave system and tried tasted current offerings including some barrel samples.  Although the Merlot, Claret and Reserve Cabernet were what I came for, I was most surprised by the Viognier.  The tour is more than just a quick walk through, it’s a nice long tour which lasts at least an hour.  There are tasting stations set up in the cave system where guests sample current offerings and learn about the history and the story behind the vintages.  The tour wraps up back in the main entrance and wine shop where the urge to purchase a case of the Reserve cabernet was very very difficult.  I bought the t-shirt instead.

See more pictures from this visit on Facebook

 

 

 

napa valley view

A Visit to Keever Vineyards

A Visit to Keever Vineyards

I was first introduced to Keever Vineyards by a gentleman named Chilli Davis at a wine tasting in Scottsdale, Arizona and was immediately hooked, the wine was incredible.  This past June while visiting Napa for the Taste of Howell Mountain Christine Piccin with Mackenzie Agency (PR) was kind enough to set me up with a private tasting (actually all the Keever tastings are private) on VERY short notice.  Because of intermittent cell service I missed the confirmation of my appointment but Olga Keever was nice enough to leave me a phone message.  I called back and a guy named Bill answered. He said he would wait for me.

Keever Vineyards, adding the personal touch

Keever Vineyards, adding the personal touch

I arrived an hour and a half past the original appointment time and was greeted by Bill.  Bill Keever, owner.  When I walked in the tasting room, which is actually a massive two story architectural marvel I noticed some wines set on the counter.  Then I noticed a big card which read “Welcome Tim!”

Bill took me on an extended tour of the building, the production facilities, the cave, the vineyard and back to the tasting room for more wine.  All along the tour I was able to ask questions and Bill answered freely.

Keever-vineyards-19One of the things I learned is that Bill graduated from Napa Valley high school and ended up becoming the CEO of Vodafone Asia region.  His base of operations for most of his time overseas was Germany and the Netherlands and it was during this time that his exposure to wine occurred in a big way.  They moved back to Napa in 1999 and Bill finally retired in 2003.  Eventually they came across some property right next to the Veterans Hospital right near Yountville.  If you’ve ever driven north on Highway 29 from Napa to St Helena, on the left hand side of the road just as you’re getting into Yountville there’s a big white building on the west side of the road, nestled up against the foothills of the Mayacamas range.  The property was actually a horse training facility complete with a small outdoor arena.  Bill said this was really convenient because all of the surrounding area has massive rocks in and on the ground that need to be removed prior to planting a vineyard.  Luckily this had already been completed and also the land had been leveled out nicely as well.

stunning view from the tasting room

stunning view from the tasting room

The next step in pursuing the dream was to find a wine maker.  Bill enlisted the help of a friend and well known Napa Valley consultant to find a top notch wine maker and eventually Celia Welch agreed to be their wine maker.  For those of you not familiar with Celia Welch she was named Food & Wine Magazine’s winemaker of the year for 2008.  She has been a consulting wine maker rock star for over 25 years.  She stated with Staglin and currently works with Kelly Flemming, Scarecrow, Barbour, Hollywood & Vine and others.   Celia has her own label, Corra wines as well.  Celia helped the Keevers with more than just the wine making, she was instrumental in the layout and design of the facilities as well.  In effect Celia manages them, not the other way around.

Inside the tasting room/house

Inside the tasting room/house

Bill poured me a glass of the Keever Sauvignon Blanc and we took a tour of the production facilities, which is one of the most pristine, clean and organized facilities I’ve ever seen.  It’s as if there has never been any wine made there, spotless.  This, in large part is Celia’s influence.  She is a stickler for sanitary wine making conditions.  This interesting interview from Wines and Vines goes into more depth on that subject: ( winesandvines.com )  The wine production area is gravity fed an interesting and unique feature.  All of the open top stainless steel fermentation tanks are not bolted to the floor.  They are movable.  The fruit comes in on a mezzanine level above the tank room and goes thru the de-stemmer and is sorted and all the good fruit is then dropped through a hole into a waiting tank beneath.  The tanks are switched out by forklift.  Rather than bring the fruit to the tank, they do it the other way around, by bringing the tank to the fruit.

production facilities

production facilities

Room for 100 of your closest friends

Room for 100 of your closest friends

Next, we headed into the wine cave.  Although not the biggest by any means, it extremely clean, and the tunnel itself is actually pretty wide.  In the middle it opens up into a big room where there is enough room for a table and 100 of your closest friends.  There’s even a wine vault at the end, with a little table for two behind the glass wall.

After the cave we walked back around the front of the property and took a look at progress of the grapes.  Bill laughed that his granddaughter loves to eat the little grapes, especially as they become ripe.

The vault

The vault

We ended up back in the tasting house and I sampled through the Keever Vineyards current offerings ( I’ll be posting these reviews in future updates).

If you’re into high quality Napa wines and cabernets in particular you should definitely look into Keever.  If you’re in Napa and want to visit be sure to make arrangements ahead of time as the vineyard is protected by a large gate, so you can’t just show up, all tastings are by appointment only.

Keever Vineyards Website

 

 

Mike Dunn on Petite Sirah

Mike Dunn on Petite Sirah

On my recent trip to Napa Valley for the 19th annual Taste of Howell Mountain I had a chance to visit Dunn Vineyards and Retro Cellars up on Howell Mountain.  After a tour of the vineyard and cave led by Kara Dunn I got to sit down and try out some wine and chat.  While sipping Retro Cellars Napa Valley and Howell Mountain Petite Sirah Mike offered up some insight into the grape and other varieties that do well in the Howell Mountain micro climates.

A visit to Ladera on Howell Mountain

A visit to Ladera Vineyards on Howell Mountain

 

Ladera, Howell Mountain.

Ladera, Howell Mountain.

My annual pilgrimage to Napa Valley this year (2014) included a visit to Ladera Vineyards on Howell Mountain.  Howell Mountain is a sub AVA (American Viticultural Area) of the larger Napa Valley AVA and is located in the northern end of Napa Valley near Saint Helena.  I had planned to visit Ladera in 2013 but I missed my flight out of Phoenix and arrived too late to meet anyone.  This year I made arrangements to arrive a full day ahead of any winery visits!

I wanted to visit Ladera because for the last several years now I have been a huge fan of their Howell Mountain Cabernet.  I was first introduced to Ladera by Wine Library and Gary Vaynerchuk.  I ordered 6 bottles of the ’04 Howell Mountain cab and have enjoyed them immensely over the last several years, and unfortunately they are all gone now.  I’ve enjoyed other vintages at fine steak houses across the country including Smith & Wollensky in Las Vegas.

On this visit I was lucky enough to have a personal tour with Ladera’s proprietor, Pat Stotesbery.  We toured the restored winery building, which was originally built in 1886.  Pat showed me the multi level building which actually works as a gravity fed winery.  The grapes are brought in at the top level, and sorted and sent down to the next level for crushing and finally at the lower level comes the fermentation and bottling and entrance to the cave system.

Ladera's Caves

Ladera’s Caves

The cave system is interesting.  It’s actually in a circle with off shoots here and there, and a really cool area for special tasting parties.  The cave system covers about 18,000 square feet.  Pat pointed out a very interesting architectural feature: The tunnel for the cave is lined up directly with the entrance to the building.  This is difficult to do because the tunnel for the cave was dug the other way…meaning they tunneled from underground towards the underground walls of the building and tried to line it up so that the tunnel would be directly lined up with the large entrance doors on the opposite side of the fermentation tank room.

Private tasting room in the cave system

Private tasting room in the cave system

Pat also pointed out another architectural feature on the outside of the building.  On some of the walls, the massive stone bricks are flush and on others they stick out like misaligned legos.  This was done because back in the 1880’s there were plans to make this building larger on the one side and so they left the bricks like that so they could fit the addition in where the original structure left off.

I sat outside on the patio and tasted through the current Ladera offerings with Pat while I quizzed him on his former life.

“I’ve actually re-invented myself a couple of times”  he said.  Originally he studied accounting, and then he started a cattle ranch in Montana.  This ranch was actually used as the location for the Robert Redford movie “A River Runs Through It”  and yes that great fly fishing river ran right through his property.  The Stotesbery’s acquired Ladera in the late 1999 and undertook the massive renovation of the vineyard and original winery structure.

The Wines

Ladera 2010 High Plateau Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Ladera High Plateau Cabernet

Ladera High Plateau Cabernet

This wine is 98% Cabernet and 2% Petit Verdot blended from Laderas Howell mountain and Diamond Mountain estate vineyards.  Each of the 5 lots that make up this wine were fermented separately in open top fermenters and then aged in 60% new French Oak for 22 months.

This wine very similar to Ladera’s flagship “Howell Mountain” cabernet.  Except that it retails for $65 instead of $85.  This wine has a lot of nice fruit and tannin to it.  Black fruit with a hint of spice.

Ladera 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain Stile Blocks

Ladera Howell Mountain Stile Blocks

Ladera Howell Mountain Stile Blocks

This is Ladera’s newest offering and is positioned between their Napa Valley Cabernet and the Howell Mountain Cabernet. It’s also 98% Cabernet 2% Petit Verdot, and all Howell Mountain fruit and retails for $50 a bottle.

Ladera 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain

Ladera Rerserve Howell Mountain Cabernet

Ladera reserve Howell Mountain Cabernet

This year Ladera added the word “Reserve” to the name of their previously named “Howell Mountain” wine.  Pat explained that everyone always asked him if he had a “reserve” wine and everyone else seems to have a “reserve” wine so he figured that the Howell Mountain cab really is the reserve wine and added reserve to the label. There, now its reserve.  This wine is 100% Cab and 100% Howell Mountain estate fruit.  The wine was aged in it’s separate blocks for 21 months in 100% new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration.  Only 2000 cases were made, retail price $85.

Ladera’s Howell Mountain cab has been one of my steakhouse favorites.  This wine has been extremely consistent over the years and goes extremely well with prime cuts of red meat.  This is a big bold, “decadent” (described on their website) wine.  One more recent vintages I recommend decanting for a few hours.  I recently drank the last bottle of ’04 Howell Mountain Cab and really wished I had purchased a lot more.  It’s really aged nicely.

Ladera 2010 “S” Howell Mountain Cabernet

Ladera "S"

Ladera “S”

This wine is the only wine that makes reference to the Stotesbery family with the big “S” in the label.  This wine is really only available to wine club members.  Only 97 cases were made.  Its the best fruit from the best lots, it’s simply the best of the best when it comes to Ladera.   Retail price is $175 and there is a limit of 3 bottles per customer.

 

 

 

 

Interview with Mike Dunn, Part 1 | Dunn Vineyards Retro Cellars

I had a chance to sit down with Mike and Kara Dunn at the Dunn Vineyards Estate on top of Howell Mountain and talk a little bit about wine.  First I tasted Mike and Kara’s new project “Retro Cellars” and then I tasted a selection of Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernets.

Randy Dunn started Dunn Vineyards over 30 years ago on some land near high up on Howell Mountain.

An original structure dating back to the 1800's. The vine in the fore ground is over 100 years old

An original structure dating back to the 1800’s. The vine in the fore ground is over 100 years old

Some of the original structures from the 1800’s are still on the property.  This includes a white two story house that serves as the laboratory and business offices of the winery.  This building was actually a rest house for the pony express back in the 1800’s.

My visit included a tour of the vineyards as well as a walk into the massive cave system that Randy Dunn constructed.  I’ll talk more about these things as well as the actual wine I tasted in upcoming posts…

Here’s part one of the interview with Mike.  In it he discusses how he actually “came back” to wine and how he came to make Petite Sirah.

2014 Taste of Howell Mountain Photos

The 2014 Taste of Howell Mountain was held at the Charles Krug Winery on Saturday, June 14th. Over 35 wineries were on hand pouring wines and guests were treated to some great finger foods. Guests also had a chance to bid on silent and live auction items. The live and silent auctions raised over $150,000 this year for the benefit of Howell Mountain Schools.

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One of the most interesting items ever auctioned at the annual Taste of Howell Mountain was a barrel of Dunn Vineyard sourced wine. The starting bid on the approximately 23 cases of wine was $19,000. The winning bidder paid $22,000 for this one of kind item.

The turnout was a new record as well. Over 400 people attended, paying $125 for a ticket and as much a
s $250 at the door. Next year’s event is sure to be sold out well in advance, so get your tickets well in advance!

Howell Mountain Vintners and Grower’s Association website

Napa’s Next Generation| Mike Anderson MTGA Wines

Napa’s Next Generation | Mike Anderson MTGA Wines

There’s a new generation of Napa wine makers emerging and while the wines they make do pay a certain amount of hommage to their heritage, they are also blazing a new path and a new name for themselves. One such wine maker is Mike Anderson. I discovered Mike through Instagram and then I gathered information through a series of emails

WWJ: How did you get into wine, what’s the back story?

Mike Anderson, MTGA Wines

Mike Anderson, MTGA Wines

Mike: I got back into the wine industry sort of haphazardly. Originally I had no desire to get into the wine industry but after graduating college I had a job offer at the tasting room at Raymond Vineyards just outside of St. Helena and since I didn’t have any other job prospects I moved back home to take the offer. After about a year I started taking some more wine-focused courses at the Napa Community College to get some more background on the science and numbers side of winemaking and winegrowing. By this point I had worked a couple harvests and was continuing to work on the hospitality side of things as well. In 2010 I was able to purchase a small amount Merlot, about one ton from just outside St. Helena, to give winemaking a decent shot. I ended up with two barrels and as the aging process went on I was pulling samples for friends and family to try. The questions that came up every time were, “What is the label going to be?” and “How much are you going to sell it for?” At that point I hadn’t even consider that but I got the ball rolling with permits and label design. Come July 2012 I bottled my first vintage, just over 40 cases of 2010 Merlot which I officially released the following February. Within three weeks I was sold out and looking to start gearing MTGA wines up further.

mtga-wine-bottleWWJ:  Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but are you related to Todd Anderson – Conn Valley Vineyards?

Mike:  That is correct. MTGA are my initials officially stands for Michael Todd Gustaf Anderson. The back story is that my dad wanted me to be Todd Jr and my grandfather Gus Jr. However my mother kindly intervened so I was named Michael after an uncle of mine. So the label is a “tip of the cap” to my family but also that story.

WWJ: Did you grow with vineyard life? What kind of work did you do as a kid?

Mike: I did grow up with vineyard life. It was, and still is, very much the family business. Growing up I experienced every aspect of the process from planting vines, harvest and other vineyard work, cellar work, bottling and so on.

WWJ: What did you study in college?

Mike: In college I studied criminal justice and sociology. This focus was largely because It was junior year and I needed to declare something. I didn’t have any real desire to pursue a career in those fields.

WWJ: Why did you decided to get back into the wine business and work at Raymond?

mike-anderson-mtga-winesMike: I started working at Raymond in 2008 between school years and when I was home for long holidays. At that time it was just for some extra cash. When I graduated in 2009 however it was one of the worst job markets on record, I had bills to pay so I was going to take a job wherever I could get one. It just so happened that Raymond offered me a position that I could start in as soon as I got home. From there Raymond Vineyards eventually became a part of Boisset Family Estates and I worked my way into the marketing department. At that point I was enjoying the wine industry thoroughly and was pursuing my own wine project.

WWJ: You make Merlot and Riesling.. which Conn Valley doesn’t make right?  Was this a conscious choice?  What other varietals are you interested in?

Mike:  You are correct, Conn Valley does not make Merlot or Riesling. I chose Merlot largely because there only a handful (if that) of great ones in the valley and I wanted to take on the challenge of convincing folks that Merlot could bring a lot more to the table. Riesling is one of my favorite varietals because of its versatility so when I was able to find a great source from the Sonoma Coast is ended being a perfect fit. As far as other varietals go I do wanted to get some Pinot Noir into the lineup and a Bordeaux style blend which will probably be more Right Bank in style. I have wanted to see what producing a sparkling wine would be like, because I am a sucker for good bubbles, but that is a little further down on the wish list right now.

WWJ: What is your current production?

Mike: As of today I am on the 2011 Merlot vintage; 138 cases were bottled in total. I have also just bottled up 41 cases of a dry Riesling from the Sonoma Coast. I continue to have a day job that keeps me busy during most of the week, MTGA Wines is what keeps me busy on my weekends.

These days you can find Mike managing the Clif Family tasting room, Velo Vino, in St Helena.

Keep an eye out for his wines, if you can find them!  Or contact Mike through his website (http://mtgawines.com ) to get on his mailing list.

Follow Mike on Instagram @MTGAWINES

Follow Mike on Twiter @MTGA_Wines

 

 

2014 Taste of Howell Mountain Auction Catalog

2014 Taste of Howell Mountain LIVE AUCTION CATALOG 

1.   A Variety of 500 Daffodil Bulbs for your Home or Business
The winner of this lot receives a variety of 500 Daffodil Bulbs and will be the talk of the neighborhood EVERY SPRING…a gift that truly keeps on giving, year after year…

Opening Bid: $350

Contributed by:
Central Valley Builders Supply

2.   A Giants’ Grand Slam…
•  Cheer on the San Francisco Giants vs. the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 7:15 p.m. with four (4) Virgin America Club Level tickets at AT&T Park!
• You have dinner reservations at 5:00 p.m. at Momo’s and a gift certificate for dinner for four people.
•  You not only hit a homerun with nine innings of Giants joy…you also receive nine 750ml bottles of Cresta Velia 2011 HM Cabernet Sauvignon!
•  Also take home two autographed baseballs by Giants players– one by Tim Lincecum and one by Hunter Pence
Take home tonight:
•  nine – 750ml2011 Cresta Velia HM Cabernet Sauvignon
Note: 
•  date & time of dinner: Tuesday, July 1,2014 at 5:00 p.m.
•  date & time of game: Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 7:15 p.m.

Opening Bid: $850 

Contributed by:
San Francisco Giants 
Momo’s
Cresta Velia

3.   Notre Vin and your Ten At The Chef’s Table!
Notre Vin – May-Britt Malbec & Denis Malbec, formerly of Château Latour and makers of legendary wines of Kapcsándy and Blankiet Estate, created Notre Vin to honor their favorite California terroirs. Included in this lot are six 750ml bottles of their 2007 Notre Vin Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon in a lay-down wooden case signed by winemaker Denis Malbec.

Your Ten – the hottest reservation in town –  lunch for 10 guests at the Chef’s Table. Get ready to dine in the exciting, fast-paced kitchen of the Napa Valley Cooking School during the student-run Winter Restaurant. Foodies, Food Network junkies and thrill seekers alike will love this up-front and in the trenches experience!

You and your guests will be seated at the Chef’s Table and served a 5-courselunch, paired with Napa Valley wines while watching the Chefs and students of the Professional Culinary Program work their magic while they serve not only you, but 70 people in their busy dining room. This is a great opportunity for a Holiday Party or any celebration…and it is IMPOSSIBLE to get a reservation for this!

Take home tonight:
•  six – 750ml 2007 Notre Vin HM Cabernet Sauvignon
Note:
•  Chef Barbara Alexander must be contacted at 707-967-2930 prior to November 3rd to book the date. The Napa Valley Cooking School Winter Restaurant 2014 runs Tuesday – Friday only at 12:00 p.m.

Opening Bid: $1,000 

Contributed by: 
Notre Vin
Chef Barbara Alexander, Napa Valley Cooking School

4.   Dine ALOFT with the Mondavi’s for 6 people
There are few vintners in the world that know more about Napa Valley than Marc Mondavi. Third generation vintner, his family has defined much of the things for which this legendary appellation is known.

Floating above Napa Valley at 1,660 feet of elevation, Marc’s Cold Springs Vineyard is farmed by one of California’s most sought after vineyard managers, Jim Barbour. It’s a gem of a location with soil profiles, slopes and elevation to make even the most stoic wine geek swoon.

Crafted from hand-selected fruit by Thomas Rivers Brown, ALOFT Cabernet Sauvignon is garnering a great deal of attention…and for good reason. It is a mountain Cabernet that’s terroir-driven, complex, lush and made in tiny quantities (less than 500 cases per vintage).

This is your chance to meet the people behind this special project and to get in on the ground floor of what promises to be among the best in the world of Napa Cabernet.

The winner of this lot receives:
•  a vineyard tour of Cold Springs Vineyard 1,660 feet above Napa Valley – surrounded by other famed Howell Mountain locations such as Dana, Abreu, and La Jota – followed by a family-style dinner for up to six people in Marc and Janice Mondavi’s family home

Take home tonight:
•  three – 750ml 2009 ALOFT Cabernet Sauvignon, second release
•  one – 1.5L Magnum of the sold out inaugural release, 2008 ALOFT Cabernet Sauvignon, signed by 3 generations of Mondavi’s

Note:
•  dinner and vineyard tour must be scheduled in advance on a mutually agreed upon date. Contact Alycia Mondavi alycia@aloftwine.com 707.548.9651

Opening Bid: $2,800

Contributed by: Peter MondaviSr. Family

5.   Set Sail with Four Howell Mountain wineries for 20 Couples
All aboard the Commodore Hornblower for a wine tasting, wine dinner sunset cruise. Set sail from Doubletree Marina in Berkeley… relax and enjoy the sunset and wine tasting portion of your cruise with wines poured by Bravante Vineyards, Howell at the Moon Winery, O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery and Robert Craig Winery. Savor a gourmet buffet dinner and more Howell Mountain wines from your host wineries.

On the Commodore Hornblower, it’s all about the views. wrap-around settee seating surround the main deck, making it easy to settle in and marvel at legendary landmarks and the San Francisco cityscape while enjoying wines from Howell Mountain. Exotic hardwood and brass accents complement the Commodore’s nautical décor; coupled with Hornblower’s flawless guest service and world-class wines from Howell Mountain, it all adds up to an unforgettable on-the-water experience.

This Lot Includes:
•  wine tasting with Bravante Vineyards, Howell at the Moon Winery, O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery and Robert Craig Winery
•  Buffet dinner with wine from participating wineries
• 3-hour tour of the San Francisco Bay

Schedule:
•  Saturday, October18, 2014
•  4:45 – 5:00 p.m. Boarding at Doubletree Marina, 200 Marina Boulevard, Berkeley
• 5:00 – 7:45 p.m. event time
•  7:45 – 8:00p.m. dock and disembark at Doubletree Marina

Opening Bid: $225 per couple– multiple bidder lot – available for only 20 couples

Contributed by:
Bravante Vineyards
Howell at the Moon Winery 
O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery 
Robert Craig Winery 
Hornblower Cruises & Events

6.   8, 4, 2, 1 Bottles of Undivided Howell Mountain Love!
Impress your friends with this dramatic horizontal array of 2006 Piña Napa Valley Howell Mountain Buckeye Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Take home tonight:
•  one – 750ml 2006 Piña Napa Valley HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 1.5L 2006 Piña Napa Valley HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 3L 2006 Piña Napa Valley HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 6L 2006 Piña Napa Valley HM Cabernet Sauvignon

Opening Bid: $1,500  

Contributed by: 
Piña Napa Valley

7.   Saunter on Down to New Orleans
Two lucky winners will enjoy a two-night stay at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans, which is in its 30th year of celebrating its guests…along with the Howell Mountain AVA!

Wind down in the evenings and savor any number of the six magnums of 2011 Saunter Eagle Summit Vineyard HM Cabernet Sauvignon you will receive tonight. Enjoy dinner for two at AUGUST, one of Chef John Besh’s famous restaurants. Also enjoy a dinner for two at Del Fuego Taqueria, owned by former Commander’s Palace Chef, David Wright.

While you’re in New Orleans, enjoy gift certificates from Cajun Encounters Tour Co. and take a spectacular city/cemetery tour through beautiful New Orleans in one of their climate controlled mini buses. Experience the history, culture and charm of neighborhoods like the French Quarter, Ninth Ward, Tremé, City Park, Garden District and American Sector.

Then get adventurous and step into one of Cajun Encounters’ smaller, intimate 22 passenger boats and weave your way through the back bayous of the Honey Island Swamp, which is home to alligators, raccoons, wild boars, nutrias, snakes, turtles, black bears and a rich variety of exotic birds. also visit an authentic Cajun Village only accessible by boat!

Take home tonight:
•  six – 1.5L 2011 Saunter Eagle Summit Vineyard HM Cabernet Sauvignon

Opening Bid: $1,950 

Contributed by: 
Saunter Wines
Windsor Court Hotel
AUGUST + Gretchen & Brian Brakesman 
Del Fuego Taqueria – David Wright
Cajun Encounters Tour Co.

8.   Pig Roast for 8 at Summit Lake plus 48 Bottles of Wine
A table for 8 awaits at Summit Lake’s Annual Pig Roast and Wine Club Party on Howell Mountain, Saturday, September6, 2014. Includes lots of Summit Lake homegrown, farm-to-table goodies, tastings of the new releases, some oldies but goodies, and a whole lot in between.

Plus the lucky winner will receive a One-Year membership in the Summit Wine Club, which includes four (4) wine shipments per year of 12 bottles each shipment.

Each shipment will include:
•  Four – 750ml Summit Lake “Emily Kestrel” Cabernet Sauvignon
•  Four – 750ml Summit Lake Vineyards Zinfandel
•  Four – 375ml Summit Lake “Claire Riley’s” Pirate Reserve Zinfandel Port
• shipping within California included

Note: Summit Lake Wine Club Party date is Saturday, September 6, 2014

Opening Bid: $1,750 

Contributed by:
Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery

9.   Tours, Tastings and Lunch with Royal Views
The breathtaking views from CADE and Outpost wineries on Howell Mountain will inspire you to dream, “If I were king or queen of Napa Valley, this is where I would build my castles!” Enjoy a day on Howell Mountain at CADE with a three-course lunch for six guests paired with wines from CADE. Follow that with a private tour of CADE’s winery and caves. Next, enjoy a tour and tasting for six guests at Outpost and take home tonight a vast array of Outpost wines.
Take home tonight:
•  one – 1.5L 2010 CADE HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 1.5L 2011 Outpost True Cabernet Sauvignon
• one – 1.5L 2011 Outpost Immigrant
•  one – 1.5L 2011 Outpost Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
• one – 1.5L 2011 Outpost HM Zinfandel
• one – 1.5L 2011 Outpost Grenache
•  one – 1.5L 2011 Outpost Petite Sirah – The Other
Note:
•  CADE lunch, tour and tasting for 6 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date
•  Outpost tour and tasting for 6 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date

Opening Bid: $1,750 

Contributed by:
CADE Estate Winery
Outpost Estate Winery

10.   Argentinian Style Open-Fire BBQ
Enjoy a fabulous Argentinian Asado-Style BBQ for ten guests at the quintessential Howell Mountain home-in-the-vineyards of Red Cap Vineyards proprietors Tom &  Desiree Altemus. Owner/Chef Tom Altemus will dazzle you with his open-fire cooking… Argentinian style! Red Cap Vineyards winemaker, Rudy Zuidema, will pour several award-winning Red Cap Vineyards vintages.
Take home tonight:
•  one – 1.5L 2009 Red Cap Vineyards HM Cabernet Sauvignon

Note:
•  Red Cap Vineyards dinner for 10 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date

Opening Bid: $1,400

Contributed by:
Red Cap Vineyards

11.   Livin’ Large with Lamborn, Duckhorn and Paraduxx…
Take home an exceptional vertical collection of Lamborn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon crafted by famous Winemaker, Heidi Barrett…two 750mlbottles each of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 in a beautiful, numbered, branded and signed wood box.
Also receive verticals of Duckhorn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon… one 1.5L each of 2007, 2008 & 2009 and Paraduxx Howell Mountain red wine…one 750ml each of 2009, 2010 & 2011.In addition, join Duckhorn Wine Company for an intimate Legacy Tour for four guests of Rector Creek Vineyard, the home estate of Paraduxx, where you will learn how their exceptional wines are crafted. Then taste through several of their limited production releases from their Duckhorn Portfolio.

Take home tonight:
•  two 750ml each 2005-2010 Lamborn HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one 1.5L each 2007-2009 Duckhorn HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one 750ml each2009-2011 Paraduxx HM red wine

Note:
•  Duckhorn/Paraduxxtour and tasting for 4 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date

Opening Bid: $1,700 

Contributed by:
Lamborn Family Vineyards 
Duckhorn Wine Company

12.   …we’ll Have A Barrel of Dunn!
This is the chance of a lifetime…to make and own a barrel of Dunn Vineyards sourced wine…that’s approximately 23 cases of Dunn Vinyeyards wine. Join Mike Dunn as your consulting winemaker for an extraordinary winemaking experience and produce your own Dunn Vineyards 2014 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon in a Treuil French Oak barrel with commemorative “Taste of Howell Mountain” plaque.

You can get your hands dirty and learn how to do it, or drop in just for the blending, or sit back and let Mother Nature and Mike Dunn work their magic and voila, you have approximately 23 cases of your own unique Dunn Vineyards 2014 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon! a truly one- of-a-kind addition to your cellar!
Note:
•  wine is not for resale

Opening Bid: $19,000

Contributed by:
Dunn Vineyards
Treuil and Paul Frommelt – barrel 
Napa Valley Custom Metal– plaque 
Demptos Glass – bottles
Scott Laboratories – corks

13.   Fund A Need ~ Howell Mountain Elementary School
The Howell Mountain Elementary School was given a wonderful opportunity to join the New Tech Network; a growing movement of progressive schools that engage students in a collaborative way to maximize their learning experience! This amazing journey the school has embarked on carries a cost, one of which is the need for a true student to computer ration of 1:1. Thanks to previous efforts of this Foundation and its generous donors, we’re close. we’re very close.

In order to see this goal met, we need one more set of laptops, which we estimate will cost $15,000! Our hope is that we can open our doors on August 20th and see a computer or iPad in the hands of every child! Thank you for supporting and funding this need!

14.   Fun Food and Fine Wines on Howell Mountain for 8 Couples
Have the time of your life with your friends and two of Howell Mountain’s finest family-owned wineries, Bremer Family Winery and Haber Family Vineyards on Sunday, September 14.

Savor lunch at beautiful Bremer Family Winery with wood-fired pizza, green salad, double-chocolate brownies…all paired with Bremer and Haber wines. Plus, play bocce to your heart’s content on one of California’s only full sized bocce courts! Enjoy tasting current releases and library wines as well. On the day of the event, two lucky guests will take home either a 1.5L bottle of 2004 Bremer Claret or a 1.5L of 2011 Haber Cabernet Sauvignon. Limited to 8 couples.
Note:
•  date of the Bremer & Haber event is Sunday, September 14, 2014

Opening Bid: $175 per couple – multiple bidder lot – available for only 8 couples

Contributed by: 
Bremer FamilyWinery
Haber FamilyVineyards

15.   A Great Day ON and IN Howell Mountain for 6 Guests
Start your day on Howell Mountain with a VIP tour and tasting at Arkenstone’s state-of-the- art winery. Follow your guide for an extensive underground winery cave tour, a walk through the vineyards and a full tasting of Arkenstone wines they will “unearth” for you in their tasting room with a gorgeous view overlooking the vineyards.

Next, enjoy an intimate wine tasting experience and afternoon meal at the top of Howell Mountain with6 of your closest friends at Clif Family Winery’s Cold Springs Estate. Clif’s Cold Springs Estate is the perfect setting to enjoy the afternoon tasting their wines and enjoying some savory wood-fired pizzas from their outdoor pizza oven.

Take home tonight:
•  three – 750ml2009 Arkenstone HM Estate Obsidian Cabernet Blend
•  one – 1.5L 2010Clif Kit’s Killer Cab HM Cabernet Sauvignon

Note:
•  Arkenstone VIP tour and tasting for 6 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date
•  Clif Private estate tasting experience and pizza lunch for6 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date

Opening Bid: $1,200 

Contributed by: 
Arkenstone
Clif Family Winery

16.   Your Home in Idaho and HM Wine for a Week
Victor, Idaho is where you will call home for a week in a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house located in the Teton Valley,18 miles from Jackson Hole Wyoming and 90 minutes from both Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. There’s good skiing nearby in Drigg’s Idaho at Grand Targhee, or at the village in Jackson or take in nature’s wonders on a summer vacation.

No worries, you won’t miss Howell Mountain on any of the seven nights you’re away, because you also receive a seven750ml bottle vertical from 2004 – 2010 of Pestoni Family/Rutherford Grove Winery & Vineyards HM Cabernet Sauvignon from their Three Tears Vineyard on Howell Mountain. Also enjoy a VIP tasting for 6 guests of Howell Mountain wines at Rutherford Grove Winery in their Barrel Cellar.

Furthermore, ensure you never go thirsty in Idaho and take with you one case of 2011 Black Stallion NV Chardonnay and one case of 2011 Black Stallion NV Merlot. also enjoy a tour and tasting at Black Stallion Winery for 6 guests.

Take home tonight:
•  one each – 750ml Pestoni Family – Rutherford Grove Winery & Vineyards 2004 – 2010 HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one case – 750ml 2011Black Stallion NV Chardonnay
•  one case – 750ml 2011Black Stallion NV Merlot
Note:
•  Mutually agreed upon dates for Idaho home, limited availability from June – August. Not available December15 – January 5.

Opening Bid: $2,500 

Contributed by:
Heather &Corey Dahline
Pestoni Family– Rutherford Grove Winery & Vineyards
Black Stallion Winery

17.   Second Generation Dunn Dinner
Ten guests will join Mike and Kristina Dunn of Dunn Vineyards for an evening of food, wine and fun at Goose& Gander Restaurant in St. Helena. Chef Kelly McCown will create a thoughtfully prepared four-course meal paired with several vintages of Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Retro Cellars Petite Sirah poured from magnums.
Take home tonight:
•  one – 1.5L 2006 Dunn HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 1.5L 2009 Retro Cellars HM old vine Petite Sirah

Note:
•  Dunn and Retro dinner for 10 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date

Opening Bid: $1,500 

Contributed by: 
Dunn Vineyards 
Retro Cellars

18.   BBQ, Bluegrass & A Whole La Jota Love
What do an historic winery, award winning wines and a musically-inclined winemaker have in common? La Jota Vineyard Co.’s celebration of music and wine at our annual Bluegrass and BBQ event! Four guests will join winemaker Chris Carpenter and the La Jota team for an afternoon of merriment, sampling La Jota’s new releases, indulging in succulent BBQ and listening to traditional bluegrass music.

Take home tonight:
•  one – 3L 2005 La Jota Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 6L 1998 La Jota HM Cabernet Sauvignon

Note:
•  La Jota Bluegrass & BBQ for 4 guests is on Saturday, August16, 2014

Opening Bid: $1,500 

Contributed by:
La Jota Vineyard Co
W.H. Smith Wines

19.   Get Away, Golf & Howell Mountain Wine
Getaway with a one-night stay at Carmel Valley Ranch in one of their beautiful ranch suites. Also enjoy Golf for two, including cart, clubs and shoes. Unwind with some Howell Mountain wine as well and take with you tonight six – 750ml 2010 Howell Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and six – 750ml 2011 Roberts + Rogers Cabernet Sauvignon.

Take home tonight:
•  six – 750ml 2010 Howell Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
•  six – 750ml2011 Roberts + Rogers HM Cabernet Sauvignon

Opening Bid: $1,300 

Contributed by:
Howell Mountain Vineyards 
Roberts + Rogers
Carmel Valley Ranch

20.   Bocce, BBQ & HM Cabernet Sauvignon for 6 Guests
Six lucky winners will spend the afternoon with the owners of Hindsight Wines, Keith Hargrove, Seth Gersch & Alisa Gean, MD and their winemaker, Jac Cole, enjoying great BBQ, bocce and beautiful Cabernets from Hindsight Wines. Take home tonight 6-750ml 2010 Hindsight HM Cabernet Sauvignon.

Also take home tonight6-750ml 2011 Roberts + Rogers HM Cabernet Sauvignon and 6-750ml 2010 Howell Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon.

Take home tonight
•  six – 750ml2010 Hindsight HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  six – 750ml2011 Roberts + Rogers HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  six – 750ml 2010 Howell Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Opening Bid: $1,300 

Contributed by: 
Hindsight Wines 
Roberts + Rogers
Howell Mountain Vineyards

21.   An Afternoon of Fine Wine and Culinary Delights at SPENCE
Join Jacalyn & Allen Spence at their Howell Mountain Estate for a wine country afternoon. Enjoy champagne and mouthwatering appetizers poolside prepared by Master Chef Adam Busby and Executive Chef Barbara Alexander, Director of Napa Valley Cooking School.

Stroll through the vineyards to their boutique winery for a barrel tasting of SPENCE 2013 Cabernet. Top off the experience with a sit-down late afternoon multi-course gourmet meal while indulging in a 3L of 2006 SPENCE Reserve HM Cabernet Sauvignon along with other vintages and varietals from the their home cellar …truly a day to remember!

Note:
•  date of the SPENCE event is Saturday, September 27, 2014

Opening Bid: $300 per couple– multiple bidder lot – available for only 10 couples

Contributed by: 
SPENCE
Chefs Barbara Alexander and Adam Busby
Patti Lefever – floral arrangements

22.   It’s an Italian Thing…
Take in the breathtaking scenery at Cimarossa “red hilltop” vineyards. Four lucky winners will start off with an adventurous romp in the vineyards and olive groves on “Clifford,” their vineyard ATV. While winery owners Dino Dina and Corry Dekker whip up a three course lunch, you will enjoy a tasting of estate Cabernet Sauvignon and olive oil. Lunch will be served on their deck overlooking the valley below.

Then travel down valley to Yountville where you will enjoy dinner for 4 guests at Bottega paired with Chiarello Family Vineyards wines. Also take home tonight six 750ml bottles of 2011 Cresta Velia Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker John Giannini.

Plus spend two nights at Salvestrin Winery Inn with two rooms for two guests each.

Take home tonight:
•  six – 750ml2011 Cresta Velia HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 1.5L 2008 Cimarossa Rian HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 1.5L 2008 Cimarossa Riva di Levante HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 1.5L 2008 Cimarossa Riva di Ponente HM Cabernet Sauvignon

Note:
•  Cimarossa tour for 4 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date
•  Cimarossa offers Howell Mountain tours May – October
•  Bottega dinner and wine for 4 guests to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date
•  Salvestrin Winery Inn two-night stay with two rooms, two guests in each room to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date

Opening Bid: $1,900 

Contributed by: 
Cimarossa
Cresta Velia 
Bottega 
Salvestrin

23.   Get Lucky with Five Magnums and Five Date Nights!
Consider yourself and your love done already lucky when you win five magnums from Cornerstone Cellars and the opportunity to indulge yourselves in five dinners for one couple at five famed Napa Valley restaurants
•  The Restaurant at Meadowood
•  Lakehouse Restaurant at Calistoga Ranch
•  Cook Restaurant with Salvestrin Winery wines
• Mustards Grill
• Il Posto Trattoria

Take home tonight:
•  one – 1.5L 2010 Cornerstone HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 1.5L 2011 Cornerstone NV Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label
•  one – 1.5L 2011 Cornerstone NV Cabernet Franc Black Label
•  one – 1.5L 2011 Cornerstone NV Syrah Black Label
•  one – 1.5L 2012 Cornerstone NV Sauvignon Blanc

Opening Bid: $1,500 

Contributed by: 
Cornerstone Cellars
The Restaurant at Meadowood 
Lakehouse Restaurant at Calistoga Ranch 
Cook Restaurant and Salvestrin Winery 
Mustards Grill
Il Posto Trattoria

24.   3 X 3  

Impress your friends with this dramatic array of 3L bottles and ranges of vintages from Howell Mountain.
Take home tonight:
•  one – 3L 2010 Robert Foley Vineyards HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 3L 2003 Atlas Peak Wines HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 3L 2008 Highlands Winery HM Cabernet Sauvignon

Opening Bid: $1,500 

Contributed by:
Robert Foley Vineyards 
Atlas Peak Wines 
Highlands Winery

25.   Go BiG and Go Dine!
The night is just getting started for four lucky winners as your limousine awaits you outside RIGHT NOW to transport you to your 5:30p.m. reservation for 4 at the Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil, where Chef Robert Curry’s inspired cuisine reflects the natural diversity and rich ingredients of California’s Napa Valley and draws from regional produce, accented with Mediterranean flavors. Come as you are and indulge yourselves at this Michelin rated shrine to fresh new twists on California cuisine.

Make more memories from the 19th Annual Taste of Howell Mountain by sharing the following array of Howell Mountain wines donated by Atlas Peak Wines.

Take home tonight:
•  Four – 750ml2007 Atlas Peak Wines HM Red Blend
•  two – 1.5L 2006 Atlas Peak Wines HM Cabernet Sauvignon
•  one – 3L 2003 Atlas Peak Wines HM Cabernet Sauvignon
Opening Bid: $1,200 

Contributed by: 
Atlas Peak Wines
Auberge du Soleil
Napa Valley Tours & Transportation

Taste of Today ~ Raffle Drawing
•  (35) – 750mlbottles of Howell Mountain wine. one bottle from each of the 35 participating Howell Mountain wineries.

Purchase Taste of Today raffle tickets from our raffle ticket sellers: 1-$10; 3-$20; 8-40; 30-$100

Contributed by: 
Howell Mountain Vintners & Growers Association

Card Tear Raffle ~ Join the Thrill!!!
(100) – 750ml bottles of California Cabernet Society wines
ONLY 52 Cards for Sale:  Call 707-965-2665 NOW to purchase your cards as THEY WILL SELL OUT AGAIN!

52:1 odds of winning 100 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon valued at $7575.00 for only $125.00 a playing card.

You pick a playing card, we tear it in half and give you one half and we keep the other half. During the Live Auction, we draw the winning half of the card and you win 100 – 750ml bottles of wine!

Contributed by:
California Cabernet Society 
Sam Peters

Adelaida 2005 Paso Robles
Adelaida 2007 Paso Robles
Alexander Valley Vineyards 1999 Alexander Valley
Alexander Valley Vineyards 1999 Alexander Valley
Allora 2003 Napa Valley
Allora2003 Napa Valley
Amapola Creek 2005 Sonoma Valley
Arns 2002 Napa Valley
Arns2002 Napa Valley
Atlas Peak 2004 Napa Valley
Bell 1999 Rutherford
Bell 1999 Rutherford
Bell 1999 Rutherford
Beringer 2004 Napa Valley
Beringer 2004 Napa Valley
Blue Rock 2001 Alexander Valley
Calistoga Cellars 2005 Napa Valley
Calistoga Cellars 2005 Napa Valley
Chalk Hill2000 Sonoma Valley
Chalk Hill 2000 Sonoma Valley
Chimney Rock2001 Stags Leap District
Chimney Rock 2005 Stags Leap District
Cornerstone 2009 Napa Valley
Deluctus 2000 Napa Valley
Deluctus 2000 Napa Valley
Dry Creek 2006 Dry Creek Valley
Dyer 2000 Diamond Mountain
Dyer 2000 Diamond Mountain
Faust 2009 Napa Valley
Fontanella 2008 Mt. Veeder
Franciscan 2004 Napa Valley
Franciscan 2004 Napa Valley
Frias 2006 Napa Valley
Frias2006 Napa Valley
Garden Creek 2004 Alexander Valley
Gargiulo Vineyards 2004 Oakville
Gargiulo Vineyards 2004 Oakville
Hagafen 2008 Napa Valley
Jericho Canyon2006 Napa Valley
Jericho Canyon 2006 Napa Valley
Judd’s Hill 2001 Napa Valley
Judd’s Hill1998 Napa Valley
Justin 1997 Paso Robles
Kathryn Hall 2004 Napa Valley
Kathryn Hall 2004 Napa Valley
Keenan 2004 Spring Mountain
Kenefick Ranch 2007 Napa Valley
Kuleto 2004 Napa Valley
Kuleto 2000 Napa Valley
Mi Sueno2005 Napa Valley
Mi Sueno 2005 Napa Valley
Mount Veeder Winery 2004 Napa Valley
Mount Veeder Winery2004 Napa Valley
Owl Ridge 2004 Dry Creek Valley
Owl Ridge 2004 Dry Creek Valley
Peterson 1998 Dry Creek Valley
Peterson 1998 Dry Creek Valley
Pina Napa Valley 2005 Howell Mountain
Ravenswood 2005 Sonoma Valley
Ravenswood 1999 Sonoma Valley
Raymond 2002 Napa Valley
Raymond2005 Napa Valley
Ritchie Creek 1998 Spring Mountain
Ritchie Creek 1997 Spring Mountain
Robert Mondavi 2005 Napa Valley
Robert Mondavi2005 Napa Valley
Roberts + Rogers 2005 Howell Mountain
Rudd 2000 Napa Valley
Rudd 2001 Oakville
S. Anderson 1999 Stags Leap District
S. Anderson 1997 Stags Leap District
Salvestrin 2005 Napa Valley
Salvestrin 2005 Napa Valley
Schweiger 2001 Spring Mountain
Schweiger 2001 Spring Mountain
Sequum 2005 Napa Valley
Silverado 2002 Stags Leap District
Silverado 2002 Stags Leap District
Simi 2004 Alexander Valley
Simi 2004 Alexander Valley
St. Supery1998 Napa Valley
St. Supery 1998 Napa Valley
Steltzner 1999 Stags Leap District
Steltzner 1997 Stags Leap District
Sullivan 2001 Napa Valley
Temple 2005 Napa Valley
Terlato Family Vineyards 2005
Stags Leap District
Titus 2005 Napa Valley
Trinchero 2001 St. Helena
Trinchero 2001 St. Helena
Truchard 1999Carneros
Tudal 2005 Napa Valley
Viader 2008 Napa Valley
Viader 2008 Napa Valley
Vineyard 7&82005 Spring Mountain
Volker Eisele 2002 Napa Valley
Volker Eisele 2002 Napa Valley
Von Strasser1998 Diamond Mountain
Von Strasser 1998 Diamond Mountain
Yates Family Vineyard2005 Mt. Veeder

Howell Mountain | 30 Years Above The Fog

 

taste of howell mountain 2014 poster

The 19th annual Taste of Howell Mountain is set to kick off at 12pm on Saturday June 14th, 2014.   If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley this summer I highly recommend you plan it around this event.  An amazing list of participating wineries will be pouring wines on the grounds of the historic Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena (Napa Valley).  Guests will enjoy wines from 35+ Wineries.  These wineries produce exceptionally rare and high quality wines.  Many of the wine makers themselves will be doing the pouring and interacting with guests.

The proceeds benefit the Howell Mountain Education Foundation.  Throughout the afternoon guests will get the chance to bid on silent auction items and enjoy various catering stations with yummy food.  The big finale is the live auction held inside the stately Carriage House on the Charles Krug property.  Guests will have a chance to bid on some truly amazing items.  Past years have seen items such as a 20 year vertical of Dunn Vineyard magnums and a personal lunch with Heidi Barrett. View the Live Auction Catalog HERE

Purchase tickets to the Taste of Howell Mountain HERE

Howell Mountain Vintners and Grower’s Association

Charles Krug Winery