Where Scenic Beauty, Architecture and Winemaking Come Together
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By GERRY and PAMELA BARKER North Palm Beach Life Published April, 2020. No trip to California is complete without a trek to the wine country. As part of a stop in San Francisco last year, we hired a driver and set off to explore all the wineries we could visit in one day in Napa Valley. When the object is sampling wine, it's always best to let someone else do the driving. Our guide took us to some amazing places. If you love wine, and beautiful country, hop in and enjoy the tour! Photos by North Palm Beach Life |
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Domaine Carneros
This was first stop -- Domaine Carneros. Talk about your "wow" factor. High on a hill, with sweeping views of the Napa countryside, it just took our breath away. And with their specialty being champagne, Pam was in wine heaven. Here's more about this winery from their website:
"Founded by the noble family behind Champagne Taittinger, Claude Taittinger's search for a worthy U.S. counterpart began in the late 1970s. In 1987 he selected a 138-acre parcel in the heart of Carneros, Napa Valley. ...The heart of Domaine Carneros has always been sparkling wines, with distinctive styles ranging from the classic vintage-dated Brut cuvée to our luxury Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs. In 1992 we added rich, complex Pinot Noir to our portfolio and our passion for sparkling and still wines continues to grow. Learn about sparkling winemaking and Eileen Crane, Pinot Noir winemaking and TJ Evans, and our portfolio of wines. "All of our wines proudly hail from the Carneros appellation, and 95% of our fruit comes from our estate vineyards. More on our vineyards." Learn more HERE. 
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Artesa
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Our second stop was Artesa, which waqs literally "jaw dropping." Its dramatic architecture is a stark contrast to the rolling vineyards of Napa. And talk about a dramatic entrance -- flights of stairs lead to a deep blue pool and fountain, with sweeping vistas all around. The wine was good, too!
Here's more about this winery from their website: "Artesa is a testament to the harmony between nature and architecture, a skillful example of interaction between structure and environment. Designed by renowned Barcelona architect Domingo Triay and built in the early 1990’s, the avant-garde structure was conceived to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. On the interior, two stories below the main entrance, is the meticulously managed barrel room where small wine lots are fermented, aged and artfully blended using a mix of ancient methods and modern techniques to create the luxurious wines for which we have become known." Learn more HERE. 
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Prager Winery and Port Works
Our next stop was 180 degrees from the first two. Prager Winery and Port Works is laid back, funky and fun. But don't let appearances fool you -- their port is one of the best we've had.
Here's more from their website: "Prager Winery and Port Works was founded in 1979 by Jim and Imogene Prager. The Prager’s moved to St. Helena from Orange County in Southern California, where Jim had been a commercial casualty insurance broker. After vacationing in Napa in 1974, he started dreaming of being a winemaker in the Napa Valley, and in 1977 decided it was time to follow his dream. He loved port, and believed that world class ports could be produced in the Napa Valley. Moving to Saint Helena with his wife Imogene, and his 7 children, Jim established Prager Winery and Port Works. The first crush was in the historic carriage house on the property, built in 1865 and once part of the historic John Thomann Winery and Distillery estate. The first releases were a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chardonnay, and the first port, the original Noble Companion Port. Total production was only 120 cases. Over the years, production has increased to almost 4000 cases." Learn more HERE. |
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Castello di Amorosa
Our last stop was a medieval castle, in every respect. Castello di Amorosa is a destination all to itself. An authentic reproduction of a 13th century Tuscan castle, it draws thousands of wine tourists to its cellars. If you come, expect parking to be at a premium!
Here's more about it from their website: "Castello di Amorosa is the realization of an all-consuming passion. Fourth generation winemaker Dario Sattui ...the great grandson of pioneering vintner Vittorio Sattui, an Italian immigrant who founded St. Helena Wine Cellars in 1885. The Sattui family lived at the winery, even after Prohibition closed the business in 1920. "With his great grandfather’s legacy firmly in hand, Dario spent the next two decades searching for a dream property in the Napa Valley. In 1993, he finally found the ideal parcel — 171 acres near Calistoga where Colonel William Nash had planted one of California's first vineyards in 1846. "Dario began construction of Castello di Amorosa winery in 1994. He first intended to build an 8,500 square foot building without cellars. But gradually the project morphed into a 13th century Tuscan castle spanning 121,000 square feet (three acres) with 107 rooms, four underground levels, and four above-ground levels." Learn more HERE. |
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