At the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction, a 6-liter bottle of the cult Cabernet Sauvignon blend Screaming Eagle set a world record for the highest price ever paid for a single bottle of wine: half a million dollars. Heidi Peterson Barrett made that wine. Today, you can taste Barrett’s offerings at much more down-to-earth prices at her first tasting room in downtown Calistoga.
The story
Barrett grew up in the vineyards and cellars of Napa Valley, working alongside her father Dick Peterson, a legendary innovator in California’s post-Prohibition wine industry. She became one of the region’s most sought-after winemakers in the late ’80s and ’90s, making top-scoring wines for Dalla Valle, Screaming Eagle, Grace Family and other cult producers.
The winemaker founded her own brand in 1994 somewhat on a spur of the moment. She had been hired to make a Sangiovese for a client who suddenly needed to abandon the project. Instead of letting the client sell the wine on the bulk market, Barrett decided to buy it herself and start a winery. She called it La Sirena, inspired by the mermaid on Mexican Lotería cards and a nod to her love of scuba diving and the ocean.
In April, after a decade-long search for just the right spot, Barrett opened her debut tasting room in Calistoga.
“I would either be priced out of the market, or it was way too big of a place, or it came with a large home or more vineyard land,” she said. “I was really just in need of a tasting room, and this place has a little barrel cellar with the potential to make some of the wine here. It was a perfect fit.”
The tasting room showcases La Sirena wines, along with selections from Barrett & Barrett, co-founded with her husband Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena, and Aviatrix, a collaboration between Barrett and her daughters Chelsea and Remi Barrett. Made from the family’s vineyards and purchased fruit, wines range from Moscato and Grenache to serious red blends. Annual production totals about 3,000 cases.
The vibe
Barrett describes her fledgling tasting room as “joyous,” and it’s hard to argue with that. Set on Foothill Boulevard next to Rivers-Marie and close to Lola Wines, La Sirena is filled with nautical whimsy, awash in cheery cobalt and aquamarine hues. Barrett, also an artist, painted the mermaid mural in the women’s bathroom.
The concrete-topped bar is decorated with blue mosaic tiles, and Barrett’s colorful paintings line the walls on both the main floor and in the upstairs loft. Outside, you’ll find two fun surprises: a petite side patio overlooking a neighbor’s vineyard and a set of swings — yes, swings! — hanging beneath a vine-covered arbor in the parking lot. Go ahead and take a ride (I did). In addition to wine, the tasting room sells Barrett’s handmade ceramics, jewelry and paintings.
On the palate
Though Barrett made a name for herself with Cabernet Sauvignon-based trophy wines, the offerings at La Sirena venture beyond typical Napa Valley varieties.
The 2021 Grenache from Aviatrix ($40), made from Bennett Valley grapes, has a bright and juicy profile that’s all about ripe red fruit. Also on the fresher side, La Sirena 2023 Moscato Azul ($34) from Lake County and Calistoga has lovely floral aromas, plus peach and tropical fruit flavors. With barely a half-percent residual sugar, it’s crisp and dry.
Fans of serious reds will appreciate the La Sirena 2021 Studio Series from Napa Valley ($125). An unconventional blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc, the wine is rich in leathery spice aromas and black fruit flavors.
Tasting flights include a $25 mini tasting for walk-in visits, a signature tasting ($50) and two different reserve tastings ($75-$100).
Beyond the bottle
Calistoga is a walkable town, but it can be more fun to travel by cruiser bike. It’s an easy, flat ride between La Sirena and other downtown tasting rooms, including Lola and Tank Garage, plus shops and restaurants. Beyond downtown, riders can pedal alongside vines to visit local wineries. Bring your own bike or rent from Calistoga Bikeshop.
La Sirena, 810 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Reservations required for reserve tastings. 707-942-1105, lasirenawine.com
Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, HuffPost, and Sonoma magazine. Follow Tina on Bluesky @winebroad, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.