The blushing bubbles of a sparkling rosé are enough to make any bubbly buff swoon. So, what is it about this elegant pink drink that makes it so special?

Believe it or not, the bubbles in sparkling wine were initially considered a nuisance in the Champagne region of northeast France, where the first wines were pale pink with nary a bubble in sight.

Produced primarily from Pinot Noir, the wines often struggled to finish fermentation under cool autumn temperatures unbeknownst to vintners who bottled them anyway. In the spring, the warmer temperatures awakened the dormant yeast, producing carbon dioxide and an effervescence winemakers found infuriating.

Eventually, sparkles were embraced and methods improved, thanks especially to Madame Clicquot Ponsardin. Prior to Clicquot, sparkling rosé was often produced by crushing red grapes (like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris), then allowing the juice to macerate on the skins until the desired color was achieved. Without modern winemaking techniques, the resulting wines were cloudy, inconsistent, and unstable.

Clicquot saw a better way. Utilizing a riddling rack (a device she pioneered), she was able to produce consistently clear red and white wines, which she blended together with precision — a method still in use by most Champagne producers.

While French Champagne rosé must be produced with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or a combination, California winemakers have the freedom to use any grapes they choose. That means local sparkling rosés vary wildly in flavor. With fruity notes of watermelon, strawberry, and raspberry, and floral aromas like rose petals, they truly offer something for everyone. Whether you’re celebrating the season of love with your partner, your mom, or your best friends, these delicious sparklers will help you do Valentine’s Day right.

Three to Try

Chandon (NV) Brut Rosé, California, $27

This sparkling rosé from Chandon winemaker Pauline Lhote is a blend of 57% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, and 3% Pinot Meunier. Produced using méthode champenoise — a lengthy process that involves a second fermentation in the bottle — the wine offers notes of strawberries, red cherries, and pomegranate, with raspberry tart on the finish. chandon.com

Breathless (NV) Rosé, Sonoma County, $29

Winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster is the talent behind Breathless’ sparkling wines, winning the Healdsburg-based brand countless gold medals. A blend of 83% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay, and 6% Pinot Meunier, this sparkling rosé is buoyant on the palate, with flavors of pear and apple enveloped in a fine creamy mousse. breathlesswines.com

SEPPI (NV) Brut Rosé, California, $32

Founded by Kelsey Phelps, Healdsburg’s SEPPI is named in honor of her celebrated winemaker grandfather, Joseph Phelps, who inspired her passion for wine. Produced in méthode champenoise with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this sparkling rosé offers aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and a touch of citrus blossom, followed by cranberry, strawberry, and a hint of tart crab apple on the juicy finish. drinkseppi.com

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What’s a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist doing holed up in an old hunting cabin along Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail? Is it infiltration into enemy territory? An effort to provide visitors with palate cleansers between big Napa Cabs? There’s no need to question Failla’s motivation — just sit back and enjoy their beautifully made, cool-climate wines.

The story

Founder and winemaker Ehren Jordan, a Pittsburgh native, didn’t grow up in a wine-drinking family. His vinous path began unexpectedly during his college years at George Washington University in D.C., where he studied art history and took a job stocking shelves at a wine-and-spirits shop — mainly for the beer discounts. That gig led to a post-graduation role with a Denver wine distributor, and later to Il Poggio restaurant in Aspen. His enthusiasm for wine quickly propelled him to the position of restaurant manager and wine buyer.

A nudge from an Aspen friend steered Jordan toward a summer job as a tour guide at Joseph Phelps Vineyards, where he soon worked his way into the cellar. Looking to deepen his production skills, he then headed to France’s Rhône Valley to work with renowned winemaker Jean-Luc Columbo.

When Jordan returned to California in 1994, his former Phelps boss, Bruce Neyers, tapped him to be the founding winemaker at Neyers Vineyards. Though Jordan worked for free, he received a stake in the business. He also did side work for Helen Turley and bonded with her brother, Larry, who recruited Jordan to lead winemaking at Turley Wine Cellars in 1996. Around the same time, Jordan purchased a Sonoma Coast property near Cazadero and planted it to Syrah, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

In 1998, Jordan and his wife Anne-Marie Failla (pronounced FAY-lah) launched their own label — initially called Failla-Jordan — focused on cool-climate wines. Jordan sold his stake in Neyers in 2003 to build a winery in St. Helena, just a five-minute drive from Turley, where he originally made the Failla wines, and near his home in Calistoga. The tasting room opened in 2010.

The vibe

The Failla tasting room is set inside a cozy cabin built in 1920, previously owned by Napa Valley chef Cindy Pawlcyn, of Mustard’s fame. The place is cozy and homey, with knotted-wood walls and ceilings, and a stone hearth decorated with antlers. Tastings take place in a couple of living room seating areas (if you’d like a pretty view of a Zinfandel vineyard, request a spot near the front window). There’s also casual outdoor seating on the front porch and in Adirondack chairs under some redwoods on the front lawn.

On the palate

Though Jordan tends to stick with a handful of grape varieties, he loves to experiment with different site expressions based on climates and soil types. His winemaking vessels of choice tend to be egg-shaped concrete fermenters and neutral oak, so fruit and place take the lead.

The 2023 Jurassic Park Chenin Blanc from Santa Ynez Valley ($45), fermented in concrete, is a crisp and lovely wine with lively acidity and notes of green apple and citrus. The 2023 Olivia Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($48) has fresh, lemony aromas and tropical fruit flavors. With bright aromas of red fruits — think raspberries — the 2023 Lola Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($48) is a juicy wine with a medium body and pencil shaving notes.

Tastings range from $65 for a seated tasting in the lodge to $90 for a cave tasting to $150 for a library tasting of selections from the winery’s private cellar, with vintages dating back to 1998.

Beyond the bottle

If you haven’t yet made it to the Julia Child exhibit at the Napa Valley Museum of Arts & Culture — also known as “The MAC” — you still have until March 2026 to check it out. The playful, interactive showing even includes faux simmering pots that exude simulated aromas from Julia’s signature recipes when you lift the lids.

Failla Wines is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily by appointment. 3530 Silverado Trail N., St. Helena, 707-963-0530, faillawines.com

Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED, and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

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For a winery that only makes about 16,000 cases each year, Bouchaine Vineyards has a lot going on. The Carneros winery makes an array of delicious, single-vineyard and single-clone Pinot Noirs, plus Chardonnay, aromatic white wines and more. With 20 different small-lot wines on the roster, this is definitely a something-for-every-palate situation. You’ll also find plenty to do at the winery, from lounging on the tasting room terrace to soaring with falcons.

The story

In the late 1800s, a pioneer named Boon Fly led a wagon train from his native Missouri to Carneros and planted the first grapes on the future Bouchaine Vineyards estate. By the time Gerret and Tatiana Copeland bought the property nearly 100 years later, the dilapidated winery buildings had seen better days. Used for two decades as a storage facility for Beringer Vineyards, the winery looked more like a slaughterhouse than a production facility for fine wines.

The Delaware-based couple had no experience planting vines or running a winery, but they did have a lifelong love of wine and plenty of resources. Gerret, a member of the du Pont family, had a successful career in finance while Tatiana focused on international business. Though Tatiana was born in Germany and grew up in Argentina, her Russian family heritage provided a pivotal connection to renowned Napa Valley winemaker André Tchelistcheff. He declared the site ideal for Pinot Noir, which was thrilling news to Gerret, who’d long dreamed of owning a Burgundy-style domaine.

In the decades to follow, the Copelands expanded Bouchaine — the name is a play on bouchon, the French word for cork — to 100 acres and renovated the old winery buildings. Among the estate’s 87 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards are 46 acres of Pinot Noir, plus Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and Syrah.

The vibe

Just outside Bouchaine’s hilltop hospitality center is a message embedded in stone pavers that sets the tone for your visit: Wine Makes You Happy. Inside the glass-walled building, renovated in 2019 to include a 2,000-square-foot terrace, you’ll find an expansive, sunlit space with a u-shaped tasting bar. Sofas and armchairs encourage guests to relax on the terrace and drink in views of the winery, vineyards and the San Pablo Bay. A second outdoor tasting area, set below the terrace in the winery’s flower garden, is a casual, family-friendly spot for bring-your-own picnics.

On the palate

Winemaker Chris Kajani spent years making wine at Saintsbury before joining Bouchaine in 2015, so she knows her way around Pinot Noir. The 2022 Swan Clone Estate Pinot Noir ($70), one in a series of single-clone offerings, sits at the lighter end of the spectrum with delicate strawberry and cherry notes. For fans of crisp, aromatic whites, go for the 2023 Alsatian White Blend ($50), a floral, peachy melding of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Riesling. It’s not often you come across a stand-alone Pinot Meunier, so be sure to try the 2022 Estate Pinot Meunier ($72), with its savory-meets-berry profile.

Seated tastings range from $45 for the Garden Tasting to $75 for the Terrace Tasting. To explore how different winemaking vessels impact the wine in your glass, book the Vine to Vessel tasting ($120). You’ll step into the cellar to sample wines directly from large oak casks, concrete eggs, Acacia barrels, and both Italian and French clay amphorae.

Beyond the bottle

Bouchaine offers an array of interactive experiences, and one of the coolest is the Falconry in the Garden demonstration ($95). As part of its efforts to keep grape-eating birds at bay, a master falconer sends raptors into the vineyard to swoop in and scare the pests away. With a glass of wine in hand, visitors can meet the majestic falcons and watch them in action.

Bouchaine Vineyards, 1075 Buchli Station Road, Napa, 707-252-9065. Open daily, with reservations required for interactive experiences. bouchaine.com

Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED, and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

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In a recent Wine Enthusiast feature, eight women from around the globe were celebrated for their innovative work in the wine industry. Of those, three are based in Wine Country, helping lead the charge in reshaping an industry traditionally dominated by men.

These women’s groundbreaking work not only influences our local wine culture, but also contributes to a larger, global movement toward change and inclusivity in winemaking. Find more of our favorite women in the local wine industry here.

Cathy Corison, Corison Winery

Cathy Corison has been a pioneer in artisanal winemaking for over three decades. When she entered the wine industry in 1972, women were a rarity in the field, but she quickly proved herself by earning a master’s degree in oenology from UC Davis. After gaining experience at various California wineries, she went on to co-found Corison Winery with her husband.

Known for producing wines that emphasize the power and elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as the subtlety of Cabernet Franc, Corison’s creations stand out for their refined qualities and balance. What shines through the most in Corison’s wines is her ongoing commitment to innovation. From adjusting acidity levels to experimenting with electric tractors, Corison is constantly pushing the boundaries of sustainable winemaking.

987 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, 707-963-0826, corison.com

Anne Moller-Racke, Blue Farm

Anne Moller-Racke’s journey in the wine industry has been marked by groundbreaking work and a deep connection to California’s wine culture. Originally from Oberwesel, Germany, Moller-Racke arrived in California in 1981. Her first major role was becoming the vineyard manager for Buena Vista Carneros Winery. There, she helped Los Carneros gain recognition as an American Viticultural Area (AVA).

In 2001, Moller-Racke founded The Donum Estate, where she served as president and winegrower, further establishing her reputation in the industry. While growing the Donum brand, she started a personal project at her home, planting seven acres of Pinot Noir. This humble beginning evolved into Blue Farm Wines, a boutique vineyard now known as one of California’s finest. In 2019, Moller-Racke shifted her focus entirely to Blue Farm, leaving Donum to invest her energy in her new pursuit.

Sonoma, 707-721-6773, bluefarmwines.com

Theresa Heredia, Heredia Wine Consulting

Theresa Heredia’s passion for wine began with her chemistry background and was deepened by her early travels through France’s renowned wine regions. Her first internship at Saintsbury Winery in Napa’s Los Carneros set the stage for a career focused on cool-climate grapes. She further honed her skills as a winemaker at Freestone Vineyards in Sonoma.

In 2012, Heredia brought her expertise to Gary Farrell Winery as a winemaker, specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. She served as the director of winemaking, leading the production of wines that highlight the unique characteristics of the vineyards. Heredia left Gary Farrell in May 2024 to start her own wine consultant business, Heredia Wine Consulting, where she offers guidance to wineries on everything from grape sourcing to winemaking protocols.

Service areas in Sonoma County and beyond. herwineco.com

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Napa is justifiably famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, but in the region’s early days — before skyrocketing land prices made it practically impossible to justify growing grapes that didn’t command the highest prices — the valley’s offerings went far beyond the “king” and “queen” of noble grapes. Hendry Ranch offers a welcome taste of variety on a charming estate at the foot of Mt. Veeder, farmed by the same family for more than 85 years.

The story

Hendry Ranch got its start in 1939, when agronomy professor George W. Hendry bought a 200-acre property in Napa and moved there with his wife Margaret. When George died just five years later, Margaret took over managing the farm, growing plums, walnuts and grapes — all while raising their two children. Having grown up on the family ranch, their son George O. Hendry followed a somewhat unexpected career path: He became a designer of cyclotrons used in medical imaging. Any free time he had, he spent working on the farm.

By the early 1970s, with Napa’s wine industry on the rise, Hendry realized he could make more money selling wine grapes than he would bring in with prunes and walnuts. He replanted most of the ranch to grapes, starting with Zinfandel and Pinot Noir, and began selling the fruit to Robert Mondavi and Kent Rosenblum. He made his first wine in 1992 and built the winery eight years later.

Hendry — now in his 80s — still lives on the property, just a short walk from the winery. His nephew, Mike Hendry, manages the ranch’s 114 acres of vines, including many grape varieties you don’t often find in Cabernet-centric Napa these days, like Primitivo, Albariño and a tiny bit of Mission.

The vibe

Driving through residential Browns Valley, most people wouldn’t expect to find a vineyard estate. Look for the understated sign that marks the entrance to Hendry Ranch, then drive past George Hendry’s big white house to the brown tasting room building.

Wooden tables dot a large patio overlooking the vines, inviting guests to slow down and get comfortable. The bright and airy indoor space, decorated with warm wood accents and Hendry family artifacts, includes various rooms for seated tastings. Hendry often pops in to say hello, accompanied by Gracie, his sweet Chihuahua mix.

On the palate

Hendry grows a dozen grape varieties, so there’s a lot to explore. Albariño has recently become “a thing” in the U.S., but you won’t find many made in Napa Valley. George Hendry was way ahead of the curve, planting it on the ranch in 1997.

Hendry’s 2023 Albariño ($28) is a lively summer sipper with peachy notes. It’s fun to compare the 2023 Unoaked Chardonnay ($28) and 2023 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay ($40). The wines are made with the same grapes and share a tangy green apple profile, but the oak adds soft vanilla aromas and a creamy texture. A standout among the reds is the elegant 2021 Primitivo ($42) with its cherry-berry flavors.

Tastings range from $50 for a red wine flight to $75 for a mixed tasting to $100 for a flight of reserve wines. (All fees are waived with an equivalent wine purchase.) Because appointments are private affairs with an expert guide, the tasting lineups often vary according to guests’ interests. You might even get a quick lesson in grafting grape vines.

Beyond the bottle

I love a gourmet market, and locally owned Browns Valley Market is a neighborhood gem. It’s known for its meat section, so this is the place to grab steaks or a marinated tri-tip to pair with Hendry’s excellent Zinfandel or Cabernet Franc. The deli offers a terrific selection of grill-and-go panini to take along on a Wine Country picnic.

3104 Redwood Road, Napa, 707-226-8320. Tastings daily by appointment. hendrywines.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 Twitter @winebroad, view her website at tinacaputo.com and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

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The Press Democrat’s annual North Coast Wine Challenge, a regional competition exclusively focused on wines produced and bottled in select Northern California AVAs, is calling on local producers to enter by March 21.

Eligible North Coast AVAs include those in Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Mendocino, Lake and Solano counties. Top-tier wine professionals — including noted sommeliers, winemakers, restaurateurs, wine writers and more — will judge the wines. Gold-winning wines will be publicly announced in The Press Democrat and winners will be invited to pour at its North Coast Wine & Food Festival, June 14, where over 1,200 people attend every year.

How to enter

To enter, log into EnofileOnline or register for an account and enter wines in the competition online. Entry fee is $85 per wine. Deadline to enter is March 21 and wine shipments (addressed to Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge) must arrive at Express Wine Delivery (7970 Cameron Drive, Windsor) by 5 p.m., March 24.

Official entries should include four 750-ml bottles per wine entry or equivalent, such as eight bottles/cans of 375 ml each. For containers larger than 1 liter in volume, send two units. Boxes should be marked “2025 PDNCWC” on all sides. Mark boxes “1 of 2,” “2 of 2,” etc. to ensure entire shipment is received. Download shipping labels here.

Judging will take place April 1-2.

For more information, email contact@pdncwc.com or visit pdncwc.com.

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When Ashes & Diamonds arrived on the scene nearly eight years ago, it was almost like an act of revolution. Deliberately foregoing the “faux Château” architecture and riper-is-better approach embraced by many wineries at the time, the Napa newcomer made a splash with its midcentury-inspired style and classically restrained wines.

The story

Kashy Khaledi spent most of his adult life working as a creative director in multimedia and advertising, including stints at Live Nation and Capitol Records, before turning his visionary talents to wine. The son of Darioush Winery founder Darioush Khaledi, he’d come to admire the new crop of California winemakers embracing organic and biodynamic farming practices, and he had a special love for Napa wines from the ‘60s and ‘70s. With Ashes & Diamonds, Khaledi set out to create modern-day renditions of the elegant, low-alcohol wines that filled his cellar. He opened the winery — named for the 1958 Polish film that inspired his life-altering career move — in 2017.

The vibe

By design, the Ashes & Diamonds winery looks like a stylish throwback to another era. Set along Highway 29, next to Don Giovanni, the place has a light and breezy aesthetic that’s more Palm Springs than typical Napa Valley. Los Angeles architect Barbara Bestor collaborated with Khaledi to conceive the boxy white building, with its wall-sized windows, zigzag roof and playful portholes. In contrast to his parents’ opulent winery up the road, inspired by the ancient city of Persepolis in the family’s native Iran, Ashes & Diamonds is all clean lines and minimalist decor.

Enter through the oversize yolk-yellow door and you’ll find an open space outfitted with curvy midcentury modern chairs and sofa seating. From its potted plants to its ‘70s playlists, everything is carefully curated to create a relaxed, lighthearted atmosphere. This makes the winery a magnet for a hip, younger crowd — though its style also feels comfortingly familiar to those of us who remember watching reruns of “The Brady Bunch” after school.

On the palate

Ashes & Diamonds wines are “classic California,” before oak and alcohol levels began creeping up. Taking a divide-and-conquer approach, the wines are crafted by a trio of winemakers: minimalist Steve Matthiasson, Diana Snowden Seysses, who makes wine in Burgundy as well as California, and sparkling wine innovator Micheal Cruse. The wines, which hail from the Ashes & Diamonds Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District as well as other sites in Napa and the Santa Cruz Mountains, are lower in alcohol than many Napa offerings, with less emphasis on new oak.

Try the chillable 2023 Rosa ($45), a deeply colored blend of Cab Franc and Sangiovese that tastes like a grown-up version of Hawaiian Punch — and I mean that as a compliment. I’m especially smitten by the 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc No. 8 ($80), which skillfully balances fruit and acidity for optimal food compatibility (looking at you, duck carnitas!).

Tastings range from $45 for a three-wine teaser of club-only wines to $175 for the excellent A&D Wines + Food family style lunch. This season’s menu features incredible housemade focaccia with mushroom butter, plus squash spaetzle, and chicken schnitzel with tahini rémoulade.

Beyond the bottle

Keep it low key with a post-tasting hang at Napa Yard at Oxbow Gardens. The dog-friendly beer garden along the Napa River was made for lawn games, tasty tacos and chilling around fire pits.

Ashes & Diamonds, 4130 Howard Lane, Napa. Open daily. ashesdiamonds.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 Twitter @winebroad, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

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If you’ve never heard the tale of “Faust,” it goes something like this: A discontented scholar makes a pact with the devil, trading his soul for limitless knowledge and worldly pleasures. (Spoiler alert: It does not go well for our tragic hero.) Named for the centuries-old legend, Faust Wines in St. Helena delivers on earthly delights — without the fiery consequences.

The story

Agustin and Valeria Huneeus, of Quintessa and Flowers fame, founded Faust Wines in 1998 and released the first wine in 2002. To support the brand, they planted more than 100 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon in what is now the Coombsville appellation — a cooler region at the southeast end of Napa. The Huneeus family found a dedicated home for Faust when St. Clement winery abruptly closed in 2016. After years of renovations on the 1870s mansion that formerly served as St. Clement’s tasting room, they opened Faust Haus in the fall of 2020.

The vibe

It’s easy to spot Faust Haus from Highway 29. It’s the black Victorian mansion on the hill, just a half mile north of the Culinary Institute of America.

Everything about the building’s design whispers the story of Faust, from its black exterior to the darkness-to-light theme that runs throughout the house. The cellar, rumored to have operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition, is a dimly lit, intimate space with stone walls and lounge seating. The mood begins to lighten up on the main floor, which features a series of rooms with deeply colored blue and red walls, and plush chairs in electric blue.

Head up the staircase, pausing to admire the hand-drawn mural by Parisian artist Roberto Ruspoli, and you’ll reach the “heavens.” Adorned with white paint and contemporary blonde wood furniture, this top-floor tasting space is bathed in light. The outdoor terrace is almost as impressive, with its custom-designed, midcentury furniture and hilltop views across Highway 29 and the valley below.

On the palate

The winery’s lineup includes two labels: the nationally distributed Faust and The Pact, a smaller-production brand focused on Coombsville estate fruit. The 2022 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($65) is bold and concentrated, with black cherry fruit and impressive balance. The Pact 2021 Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon ($125) is a deep and complex wine that shows off sweet and savory aromas, plus rich blueberry and black cherry flavors. The Lure 2021 Coombsville Merlot ($90) might just be my favorite, with its plush texture, aromas of tobacco spice and plummy fruit flavor.

Tastings range from $75 for a sampling of limited-production estate wines to $150 for an immersive experience that includes a tour of the property, barrel tasting, library wines, and pairings with local cheeses and charcuterie. The Winter in the Winery tasting ($100), offered on Fridays and Saturdays, features an array of artisan charcuteries, cheeses and housemade snacks.

Beyond the bottle

To continue exploring stately mansions, have lunch at Violetto, set inside a 1907 Georgian-style home at the nearby Alia Napa Valley resort. The restaurant showcases modern food from Northern Italy, and it even offers a lunchtime tasting menu. Go for the griddled mortadella sandwich with charred broccoli rabe from the à la carte offerings. Or, if you’re in the mood to linger, choose the three-course prix fixe ($45 per person).

Faust Wines, 2867 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena. 707-200-2560, faustwines.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 Twitter @winebroad, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

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The New York Times recently released a list of the most memorable wines of 2024. Sonoma and Napa wineries made it on the roundup of 12 young, noteworthy wines.

The Times’ chief wine critic Eric Asimov curated the list with a focus on “younger, more accessible bottles along with a couple of middle-aged examples.”

Among the newer bottles is a 2017 Chardonnay from Matt Taylor Wines in Occidental. And one of the older, “middle-aged” wines is a 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon from Corison Winery in St. Helena.

Matt Taylor Wines, Komorebi Vineyard 2017 Chardonnay

This west county winery focuses on small batches of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir made with organic and biodynamic vineyard practices. Asimov noted he had been “hearing great things” about Matt Taylor’s wines, and was finally able to try it at Point Seven restaurant near New York’s Grand Central Station.

“It was unforgettable, so different in style from the lean, precise Chardonnays that are in fashion around the world today,” Asimov wrote about Matt Taylor Wines’ Komorebi Vineyard 2017 Chardonnay. “This seemed broader, more richly textured, both complex and saline.”

Purchase the Sonoma Coast wine for $75 at Fiasco! Wine & Spirits. The winery also has its Komorebi Vineyard 2018 Chardonnay for sale on its website for $100. Its 2020 Chardonnay is currently sold out, though recent release Pinots are available ($80-$100). matttaylorwines.com

Corison, Napa Valley 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

Cathy Corison, renowned owner and vintner of St. Helena’s Corison, specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon. The San Francisco Chronicle named her Winemaker of the Year in 2011 as well as “one of Napa Valley’s best winemakers of the last half century” earlier this month.

“With sufficient aging, her wines always have a lot to say,” Asimov wrote of Corison’s Cabernets. “This 2001 was a beautiful expression of the potential of Napa Cabernets, graceful and complex with a lovely balance of earthy, stony, fruit and herbal flavors.”

Purchase a bottle (from $199) at Wine-Searcher. Corison’s 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (valued at $335) is sold out on its website, but the winery offers dozens of other Cabs (from $65). corison.com

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Cuvaison has a long history in Los Carneros, predating the appellation itself. But that doesn’t mean the winery is stuck in the past. After more than 50 years in business, the Napa Valley winery keeps finding new ways to wow visitors.

The story

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A couple of Silicon Valley tech guys visit Napa Valley and decide to open a winery. That’s just what happened in 1969, when wine-smitten engineers Thomas Parkhill and Thomas Cottrell founded Cuvaison on a hillside property near Calistoga. The two Thomases sold the winery five years later to New York publisher Oakleigh Thorne, who then passed the baton to — are you ready for the twist? — a fourth-generation family of vintners based in Switzerland.

The Schmidheiny family recognized good vineyard land when they saw it. Soon after buying Cuvaison in 1979, they acquired 400 acres in Los Carneros as the focus for their new Chardonnay and Pinot Noir program. In 2009, the family built a modern winery and tasting room at the site.

The vibe

Architect Douglas Thornley designed Cuvaison’s light-filled tasting room as an antidote to the dark, cellar-like atmosphere found at many wineries in the early 2000s. Outfitted with wall-size sliding glass doors that blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces, the contemporary venue presents panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards and hillsides. Cuvaison recently expanded its terrace tasting area and created two “boathouse” pavilions that extend out over a picturesque irrigation reservoir.

On the palate

Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the focus here, but it’s also fun to explore Bordeaux-style wines from Cuvaison’s Brandlin Estate on Mount Veeder. I’m sometimes wary of barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc, but the wines can be truly gorgeous when the oak isn’t allowed to eclipse the fruit. The 2022 Brandlin Sauvignon Blanc ($50) is a prime example. Oak aging adds body to the wine, yet it retains fresh notes of lime, grapefruit and green apple.

If you’re over big, oaky Chardonnays, you’ll dig the 2022 Cuvaison Méthode Béton Chardonnay ($70). It’s made in an egg-shaped concrete fermenter that adds texture to the wine while bringing out its mineral notes. (Translation: yum!) Be sure to try the bright and silky 2022 Cuvaison 90.1 Pinot Noir ($80), made from a single clone planted on the Carneros estate. Standard tastings range from $60 for the Estate Tasting to $85 for the Winemaker’s Tasting, which includes artisan cheese pairings.

Beyond the bottles

As stunning as the tasting room views are, it’s hard to beat the serenity of the new Boathouse Tasting Experience ($150 per person). The private tasting for two to six guests includes a visit to the winemaking facility and barrel cellar, followed by a golf cart tour of the vineyards with views of San Pablo Bay.

Next, it’s on to the boathouses to sample small- and micro-lot wines expertly paired with gourmet bites like fried olives and duck tostadas. Cantilevered over a scenic irrigation pond teeming with ducks, cranes, herons and even the occasional freshwater otter, the open-sided redwood and steel structures let you imagine you’re relaxing on your own private dock with lively bird chatter as a soundtrack. Cuvaison has just two boathouses, so reservation times fill up quickly. This experience runs year round, weather permitting.

Cuvaison, 1221 Duhig Road, Napa. Open daily by appointment. cuvaison.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 Twitter @winebroad, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

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