Dick Vermeil is best known for his legendary NFL coaching career that netted him a Super Bowl title. These days the Coach is making some delicious wines under his own label. It is easy to think that Dick Vermeil might be using his football fame to sell wine. That is not the case with this celebrity. Dick Vermeil was born and raised in the Napa Valley. His family and the Frediani family of Calistoga vineyard fame were very close. The Frediani family owns 200 acres in the Calistoga AVA. These grapes are highly prized and there is a waiting list to buy Zinfandel, Cabernet and Charbono. Dick Vermeil’s close friendship with the Freidiani family nets him a good share of these vines. The wines are well made, delicious, and high end. Thomas Brown is the winemaker, and he is one of the best in the Napa Valley. We suggest you try the Charbono for sure. Charbono is a grape that was a favorite long ago in the Napa Valley. Today, there are a small amount of acres of Charbono planted in the Napa Valley. These grapes make a tasty and food-friendly wine. Think grilled beef. The Vermeil wine tasting room is at 1255 Lincoln Avenue in downtown Calistoga. The tasting room is open Sunday to Thursday, 10AM – 5:30PM, and Friday & Saturday 10AM – 8PM. Besides tasting wine, football buffs can peruse the Vermeil coaching memorabilia. Sip some wine and look back at one of the greatest coaching careers in NFL history.
