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Brannan’s Grill Closes in Calistoga

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Brannans grill closes

A twenty-year run for Brannan’s Grill ended in July of 2018

Brannan’s Grill Closes in Calistoga

It is the sign of the times in the Napa Valley. Another one of Napa Valley’s oldest restaurants, Brannan’s Grill closed in Calistoga. It is a different clientele in the Napa Valley these days, even in the sleepy and laid-back town of Calistoga. We have noticed a steady change in the Napa Valley since 2012 when the economy began to boom. San Francisco Area is a mecca for the wealthy and the sophisticated. This sector brings a new breed of traveler to wine country. Brannan’s is more of the old Napa Valley

Calistoga is our favorite town, and we loved coming to Brannan’s to sit at the 1880’s Brunswick mahogany bar. I don’t know the name of the Brannan’s bartender, but he was a friendly and efficient server. We popped into the Brannan’s bar just a few times a year. Each time the bartender remembered Janelle’s favorite cocktail, the Branhattan, the best Manhattan in the Napa Valley.

We hope that the restaurant reopens under new owners and that they have the common sense to keep the beautiful mahogany bar. We will miss Brannan’s Grill.

1880's Brunswick mahogany bar

1880’s Brunswick mahogany bar

More on Calistoga in the Napa Valley

Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen to Close

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Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen to close on July 7, 2018

All the locals know about Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, it is the spot to talk about wine, vineyards, and everyday Napa Valley life. Tourists love the eclectic menu and the enjoyable atmosphere of Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen. Sadly, Cindy Palwcyn is closing her beloved restaurant on Saturday, July 7, 2018. The word is that Cindy Pawlcyn was offered a proposal she could not refuse and has sold her restaurant to an unnamed buyer. We have been to Cindy’s on several occasions. The small plates are fantastic and fun to share with your friends and family. The wine list is extensive and the wines priced well below most restaurants. Cindy will continue to operate her first Napa Valley Restaurant, Mustard’s Grill in Yountville. Most of the staff at Cindy’s Backstreet will head over to Mustard’s. We will certainly miss this terrific St. Helena restaurant. Read more about the closing of Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen.

stuffed Piquillo Peppers are a favorite

The stuffed Piquillo Peppers are a favorite at Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen

I have two of Cindy’s cookbooks: Mustard’s Grill Napa Valley Cookbook and Big Small Plates by Cindy Pawlcyn  The Piquillo recipe is in Big Small Plates cookbook

Happy Diners at Cindys

The Margrit Mondavi Summer Concert Series 2018

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robert mondavi

 

The Margrit Mondavi Summer Concert Series 2018 – 49th Year

The Margrit Mondavi Summer Concert Series is one of the great summer traditions in the Napa Valley. Check your travel calendar and purchase your tickets as soon as you can. The Margrit Mondavi Summer Concert Series takes place on five consecutive Saturday evenings beginning June 30 through July 28. Tickets are on sale as of April 10.

“The Margrit Mondavi Summer Concert Series began in 1969 when Mrs. Mondavi’s passion for the arts was put on the big stage. In its 49-year history, the series has raised millions of dollars to support a number of Napa Valley-based charitable music organizations. In keeping with this tradition, Robert Mondavi Winery will donate proceeds from this year’s ticket sales to the Napa Valley Unified School District’s music programs.” 

For additional information and to purchase tickets, including General Admission, Reserve Patio, and Dinner in To Kalon Vineyard, visit www.robertmondaviwinery.com or universe.com. For additional inquiries please contact concerts@robertmondaviwinery.com.

Robert Mondavi concert series

 

Conversations at Copia

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Announcing Events at Copia – The CIA presents Conversations at Copia

Each month the CIA at Copia in Napa will host weekend-long Conversations on timing topics of that impact our lives. The next event will be on April 7-8, Sustainable Seafood and Bay Area Watersheds. We as individuals can contribute to sustaining the wondrous world of water and marine activities. For more information on this event, please see Conversations.

 

 

 

What will it cost to taste wine in the Napa Valley in 2018?

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Napa Valley tasting room fee index

Beringer has several levels of tasting wine ranging in price from $25 to $100

  • The Napa Valley is one of the hottest wine travel destinations in the world
  • Tasting wine at a Napa Valley winery varies from $20 to $100, depending upon the level of tastings
  • Many Napa Valley wineries require an appointment for tasting wines

This is the fifth year in succession that we have tracked Napa Valley tasting room fees. This is an unscientific study with a small sample of wineries. The intent is to give wine country travelers an idea of what it costs to taste wine in the Napa Valley. A trip to the Napa Valley is expensive these days. With the economy booming, Napa Valley is a fashionable getaway and a paradise for folks with plenty of splurge money.  For the Napa Valley Tasting Room Index, we have chosen the same set of wineries as last year. These are wineries on Highway 29 that are accessible and popular with tourists. The cost of the tasting is for the bottom-tier level of tasting. Many wineries have several levels of tastings of all types. Be aware that most wineries require an appointment for the top tier and exclusive wine tasting experiences.  Tasting room fees can change from one month to the next. These prices are as of March 2018.

Napa Valley Tasting Room Index 2018 – Tasting Room Fees

These wine tasting fees represent the entry-level wine tasting.

  • Alpha Omega – $50 for two reds and two whites*
  • Beaulieu Vineyards –  $30 for four wines
  • Beringer Wines – $25*
  • Grgich Hills – $25 for five wines*
  • Louis Martini – $25 for four wines*
  • Peju Province – $40 for four wines
  • Provenance –  $30 for five wines
  • Pestoni Family Estate – $20 for four wines*
  • Sequoia Grove – $25 for four wines
  • Whitehall Lane – $25 for four wines*

The Napa Valley Tasting Room Index for 2018 is an average of $29. This compares to the 2017 rate of $27.50.

More on Tasting Wines in the Napa Valley

* No increase over the previous year’s tasting room fee.

Do You Know Napa Valley’s Big Three?

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napa valley wine facts

Welcome to the world-famous Napa Valley.

Napa Valley’s Big Three – Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon

If you travel to the Napa Valley or consume Napa Valley wines, here is what you should know about Napa Valley’s “Big Three.”  We attended a wine tasting of the “Big Three” at the Castello di Amorosa winery in their beautiful Great Hall. We tasted three Chardonnay wines, two Merlots, and four Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The occasion was part of the Wine Bloggers Conference held in November in Santa Rosa. Let us begin with Chardonnay. Do you have your glass of Chardonnay in hand?

Napa Valley Chardonnay

Chardonnay accounts for 6,397 acres of vineyards in the Napa Valley. Chardonnay represents 15% of the vineyard acres in the Napa Valley.  The average price per ton of Chardonnay grapes is $2,952.  Among the “Big Three,” Chardonnay offers the winemaker the most flexibility in creating a wide range of flavor profiles. It can be produced in stainless steel, neutral oak barrels, and French or American oak. There are also different winemaking treatments, such as battonage and malolactic fermentation. The result is Chardonnay wine that can range in character from light and fruity to robust, with creamy butter and big oak flavors. Chardonnay tends to love cool climates and the Carneros region fits that environment.  Hillside regions also offer cool climates, and many flavorful Chardonnays come from the hillside vineyards on Spring Mountain. One interesting idea is to try Chardonnay at the two extremes. Hendry Winery in the Napa Valley makes an unoaked Chardonnay. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel and not allowed to go through malolactic fermentation. Compare it to the Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay. This wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrel and spends nine months aging in American and French oak. The two wines show the versatility of Napa Valley Chardonnay.

Napa Valley Merlot

Merlot became one of the best-selling wines in the early 2000’s. It was a favorite wine among party goers and wines by the glass at bars and restaurants. Merlot’s popularity changed in a heartbeat in 2004. The cult movie Sideways arrived in the theaters. The main character in Sideways, Miles, cast Merlot as a trendy wine not worth tasting. Sales plummeted. Merlot is on the rise again. Just this past month, the Wine Spectator named a Napa Valley Merlot as the number one wine on their list of Top 100 Wines of 2017. It is the 2014 Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard. That wine sold out shortly after the Wine Spectator’s announcement of the number one wine. Today there are 4,707 acres of Merlot planted in the Napa Valley, fetching an average price of $3000 per ton. Merlot is a grape that grows well in many climates but it particularly likes climates with cooler temperatures like Carneros, Oak Knoll and mountain hillsides. In contrast to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot tends to be a softer and not as intense wine. Both are Bordeaux wines, Merlot being the grape of choice in the Right Bank of Bordeaux.

Merlot nearing harvest in the Napa Valley

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the King of all grapes grown in the Napa Valley. Many Napa Valley vineyards have been ripped out and replanted with Cabernet Sauvignon. Vineyard acres of Cabernet amount to 20,342 (45% of the vineyard acreage) in the Napa Valley. The average price per ton is $6,289. This represents 64% of the total value of grapes in the Napa Valley. There are several “Cult Cabernet” producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. The price for these wines can be astronomical. Screaming Eagle, Harlan, and Bryant Family Vineyard are examples of highly sought-after Cabs selling at high prices. These wineries have a waiting list to get on the buying list. But there are affordable Cabs in the Napa Valley, and excellent Cabernets can be purchased for under $20. Black Stallion and Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet are two examples.

 

More information on the wines of the Napa Valley

Next time you head for your Napa Valley wine country getaway you will be armed with this knowledge and information about the “Big Three.” Enjoy and discover these famous wines of the Napa Valley. Try these links for helpful information.

Napa Valley Open for Business

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V. Sattui Winery under blue skies on Friday, October 20, 2017

Napa Valley is open for business and needs your support

The Wine Country Fires took their toll on thousands of homeowners and other industries. There are 42 reported deaths from the fires. Several wineries suffered significant damage, but the majority are up and running. The entire community of Napa Valley needs your support. Without tourism, the economic losses will increase even as the fires become contained.  Head to the Napa Valley and enjoy the chance to help support wine country and all its workers.

Do you know Coombsville and Caldwell Vineyards?

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Caldwell winery

Fantastic views on the way to Caldwell

Coombsville, Caldwell Vineyards, and the Legendary John Caldwell

Napa Valley travelers, take heed: Don’t miss out on the Coombsville AVA and its wineries.  The Coombsville AVA is just east of the town of Napa at the foot of the Vaca Mountains. It is part of the Napa Valley, but easy to miss because it is far from Highway 29 where most visitors start their wine tasting journey.  We picked up Coombsville Road just off the Silverado Trail in the town of Napa. We had been to parts of Coombsville previously, but this was mostly new territory for us.  We headed up scenic backroads in Coombsville to the Caldwell Winery. The beauty is spectacular.

Caldwell has to be one of the more interesting and unique wineries in Coombsville as well as the entire Napa Valley. John Caldwell purchased the land in 1974, hoping to make a bundle on sub-dividing the area for housing. When the County nixed the idea, John decided to become a vineyard farmer and set out to make wine. Not just any wine, but great wine! For that, he needed the best Bordeaux grapes money could buy. The only problem: none of the grapes were available here in California. Off John went to Bordeaux and ended up smuggling some 6000 cuttings of Bordeaux varietals into the US. It is best that you hear the full saga of the smuggling adventure with your cave tour and tasting at Caldwell Vineyards. Bryan Toy usually hosts guests and spins a fascinating tale of John Caldwell’s smuggling escapade.

 

Not only do you need the best grapes for making great wine, but you need the right barrels. When John Caldwell visited Bordeaux, he was inspired by the nuances in Grand Cru wines. These characteristics came from the aging barrel. And so John Caldwell sought out his own Cooper and aging barrels made specifically for his wines. Ramiro Herrera, a Master Cooper, makes the barrels in France and ships them to the Caldwell Winery. Ramiro can manufacture 300 barrels a year. To our knowledge, no other winery in the Napa Valley has its own personal Master Cooper.

We were treated to some delicious and fantastic-tasting wines. This is the same tour and tasting that regular visitors to Caldwell receive. The current fee is $65 per person and well worth the price.  The wines vary at each tasting. They are selected from twenty-one different labels produced. Have you tried Tannat or Carmenere? That is what is so unique about Coombsville. The soil, climate, and terrain enable many different wine varieties to flourish in Coombsville.

Caldwell produces 5000 cases a year. The wines are not distributed, sold at wine shops or available at restaurants. The wines are sold to wine club members, online or at the winery. Check the Caldwell Website to book a wine tasting.  Check the informative Coombsville Wine Association Website to learn more about the AVA and to see what other wineries are ideal for your wine tasting adventures in Coombsille.

What you need to know about staying in Napa

Materra Cunat on Big Ranch Road

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Materra Cunat – high tech and Merlot

Are you looking for a winery off the beaten path in the Napa Valley? Try the Materra Cunat Family Vineyards on Big Ranch Road. Big Ranch Road is located in the Oak Knoll AVA, a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley. Big Ranch is close to the downtown area of Napa where there are plenty of excellent lodging and dining choices.  Also on quiet Big Ranch Road, you will find Robert Biale Vineyards, Andretti Winery, and Corley Family Vineyards. Spend the day wine tasting on Big Ranch Road. Think quiet, peaceful and good wines.

Lucky us, we received an invitation to take a tour and tasting at Materra Cunat Family Winery. We were greeted and hosted by Neena Cunat Heitz and later joined by winemaker Bruce Regalia.

The Materra Cunat Tour

2007 is the first vintage of Materra Cunat wines, but the ultra high-tech winery was not opened until 2015. The wine had been made elsewhere until the winery and tasting room facility could be completed. Among the many state-of-the-art features: Each fermenting tank has a mini computer, so that temperature and humidity can be controlled.  The control system is linked to the cellar master’s smartphone app. The app allows the cellar master to control the tanks 24/7 from any location.  It also alerts the smartphone of any problems. Very cool! There are new open-top fermenting tanks with a new style automatic punch-down mechanism. These tanks simulate the same action as a person doing the punch down, but save time and energy and are more efficient. A third cool feature is found in the barrel room. A curtain can be drawn across the barrel room which somehow allows the room to be two different temperatures. Take the tour and see many more interesting modern wine making features.

The Tasting

We tasted in the white wines: Sauvignon Blanc,  Viognier, and the Chardonnay from Oak Knoll. We tasted the three reds in the above photo, plus a fantastic Cunat Reserve wine. Where the Oak Knoll vineyards are located at Materra, the climate is cooler than the rest of the Napa Valley as it extends to the north. The cooler climate and the soil type make perfect growing conditions for the Merlot grape. Merlot takes a back seat to Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley, but not at Materra Cunat. Merlot is their flagship grape, but we must say that the Sauvignon Blanc and the Viognier we tried were also delicious. I cannot think of any other winery in the Napa Valley that produces a Viognier from the Napa Valley AVA.

If you go, you will need an appointment. There are three tasting levels: Daily tasting, a Tour and Tasting, and a Reserve Library Tasting.  The Library room is a kick. The floor is clear glass so that visitors can get a clear view of the Materra Cunat soil.

Materra Cunat winery

With Neena Cunat Heitz and Bruce Ragalia

 

 

 

 

 

Zuzu in Napa – Tapas, Tapas, Tapas

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Zuzu on 829 Main Street in Napa

Zuzu at 829 Main Street in Napa

Zuzu – fine dining for less than $100

Ask a Napa resident or a Napa seasoned tourist where to dine, and surely Zuzu will be on the list of recommended restaurants. From the outside, it may not look like much, but the food is authentic Spanish Tapas. Tapas are small plates of delicious flavored foods that include seafood, cheese, meats and veggies. When we lodge in Napa, we are sure to have dinner at Zuzu at least one night. Not only is the food terrific, but you can also dine easily for under $100 a couple, and that includes a bottle of wine. All the ingredients are from local artisans and purveyors of fine food. Fresh food is the operative word at Zuzu. The restaurant does not take reservations so you may have to wait for a table, but it will be well worth it. For two people, order four tapas. We shared the Queso Frito, the Tortilla Español, a Paella for one, and the Monterey Squid and Morcilla Sausage a la Plancha. The wine list prices are reasonable and corkage is $15. How often does a Napa Valley restaurant charge $15 for corkage? Not often. Zuzu is a very down-to-earth restaurant, and it has the look and feel of a Tapas bar in Madrid, Spain. Warning, not for the swanky!

More on staying in old town Napa

The old downtown of Napa is changing. New lodging and dining establishments have brought a thriving tourist community to the area. Several exciting wine bars and tasting rooms are within easy walking distance of lodging. The old Copia building is now an extension of the Culinary Institute of America. A restaurant, a store and wine tasting classes are available to the public. The Oxbow Public Market is not to be missed. You will find Napa an excellent wine country destination.

CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY REGIONS:

Carneros • Livermore • Lodi • Mendocino • Monterey • Napa Valley • Paso Robles • Santa Barbara County • Santa Cruz Mts. • Sierra Foothills • Russian River • Sonoma Valley