Spectacular Wineries of Napa Valley

Spectacular Wineries of the Napa Valley ****

LLC Panache Partners, (Editor)

I’m joining Jain with my Edible Book Review at Food for Thought, a delicious blog for readers with an appetite~ for the written word. . .and food.

 Spectacular Wineries of NV invites you take a journey of 46 world-class wineries within its pages. We visited Napa back in April and I purchased this book as a keepsake. With so LITTLE time & so MUCH wine to sample along with the breathtaking scenery to take in, I would love to visit some of the wineries featured within these pages that we did not have the chance to visit. (I’m keeping my fingers crossed and dreaming of a return trip next spring :-) Whether you are a wine enthusiast or interested in the architecture and stories behind the wine growers’ visions, this book will make you long for a trip to Napa. For now I’ll have to satisfy myself with sipping a glass of wine~ savoring the scenery in these pages.

From the Publisher:

 “You can’t help falling in love with the Napa Valley. It has a personality all its own. The colors are like a painter’s palette—always changing with the season—from the bright yellows of mustard plants in the spring, the greens of summer grape leaves, to the fall harvest colors of burgundy and rust, followed by the quiet shades of brown and black in winter. The morning fog, afternoon sun, moderate temperatures and the talents of vintners and growers combine to produce world-class wines. All share a common goal of respecting the land and nurturing the fruit that each distinct terroir produces.”

“This small slice of heaven on earth is only 30 miles long and five miles wide, enticing the public to view the life of wine making and incredible cuisine all while enjoying the relaxed and laid back lifestyle of small-town living. People are happy here and they show it. A passerby says good morning, cars pause while drivers wave you to cross the street, everything moves at a slow and kind pace. You find that you are smiling for a reason. It is truly a magical setting.”

“Much like the wines of Napa Valley, the valley’s winery architecture is rich and varied– sometimes a reflection of intended wine brand imagery; and other times, a manifestation of the dreams, vision or passions of their respective founders and owners. As such, with every twist and turn through the county’s meandering thoroughfares, the visitor may be greeted by a surprising array of invitations to their senses that may compel them to gaze, wonder, admire, or as many wineries would have it, stop by for wine tasting, tours, casual conversation and shopping.”

Napa Valley has flourished from a fledgling farm county to a world-renowned cultural region~ possessing both a rustic and refined charm~ a blending of agriculture with an appreciation for wine, food and the arts. Of the 46 wineries included in this book, we were fortunate to have visited three of them. I thought I would include some photos of our visit to Beringer Vineyards~ the most memorable of the three, resplendent with its Victorian architecture and the oldest continuously operating winery in the valley.

Beringer Vineyards, the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley was founded by brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer. Arriving from Germany, they were delighted to find that the well-drained, rocky soils resembled their native Rhine Valley. In 1875~ 215 acres were purchased for $14,500~ the heart of Beringer Vineyards’ Napa Valley Estate.

 

In 1883, Frederick began construction on the 17-room mansion. Restored in 1971, the Rhine House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and is today the focal point of the Beringer Estate.

 

Surviving Prohibition from 1920 to 1933 by selling sacramental wines, the winery became the first to offer public tours & sales.

When building his 17-room mansion, Frederick wanted to create a California villa that was reminiscent of the family’s impressive old German home at Mainz-on-the-Rhine. Built at a cost of about $28,000, with the 40 panels of stained glass accounting for nearly a quarter of total construction costs, the Rhine House is a classic example of ornate Victorian architecture with its many gables, turrets and ornaments.

The reflection of the window in my tasting glass :-)

Lovely grounds on the estate~

 

The ancient valley oak, affectionately named “The Leaning Oak,” well over 200 years old and a touchstone for the natural beauty of the property, sadly fell. The tree was designated a Bicentennial Tree because it was alive at the time of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

In its honor, we are enjoying a 2007 Beringer Zinfandel Leaning Oak Napa Valley  paired with a burger recipe, courtesy of Michael Chiarello.

Caramelized Onion Zin-Burgers with Crispy Cheddar Frico, recipe here.

 My favorite kind of pairing~ Cabernet & Chocolate :-)

  Bouchon Silicone Baking Mold & Chocolate Bouchon Mix from Williams-Sonoma.

Chocolate Bouchons. . .Delicious, Fudgy Goodness~  a perfect brownie-like, moist bite~ named for their shape, which resembles a cork.

Bouchon Bakery, in dangerous proximity to our hotel in Yountville :-)

 

“Celebrate the grape as you enjoy insightful profiles fragrant with the philosophies of the country’s most revered winemakers.”

Be sure to visit Food for Thought and see what everyone is reading & eating (or drinking :-)

I’m also joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, stop by for mosaic magic~