History of Napa in 8 Glasses ….

To the CIA’s Copia Lecture hall where one of their beverage instructors, Traci Dutton, leads a lecture on the history of Napa in eight glasses. In her opening remarks Dutton said that half of the world’s soils are present in the Napa/Sonoma valleys, which is why there is such diversity in the wines grown in the two valleys. The cool night is a big reason why the grapes keep their acidity. Add in some terrific winemakers and you see why Napa/Sonoma wines have incredible consistency in their vintages that most wine regions in the world can’t match.

1 – Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc 2016, St. Helena – Charles Krug was one of the first winemakers in Napa and was a real innovator and this a nice, crisp wine that shows the quality that Krug still makes.

2 – Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Rutherford – Georges de Latour and his wife Fernande fell in love with the land in Rutherford Beaulieu means what a beautiful place. This is the kind of bright, fruity polished cabs that Napa is famous for.

3 – Robert Biale Vineyards ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel 2014 – Robert’s dad Aldo was another pioneer who saw the possibilities of Zinfandel back in the days of prohibition and shared phone lines – a black chicken was a request for some of Aldo’s zin.

4 – Robert Mondavi Winery Moscato d’Oro 2014 – Peter Mondavi was a pioneer in cold fermentation technique and this wine has got a nice balance between the fruit and the acidity.

5 – Chateau Montelena Winery Chardonnay 2013 – Again, this is a terrific wine that combines the fruit with acidity, will be great with some grilled salmon.

6 – Mumm Napa Blanc de Blanc NV – This a good blend of chardonnay and pinot gris, this is a wine that would pair with Asian or seafood.

7 – Saintsbury ‘Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2013, Carneros – This comes from the southern tip of Napa in Carneros and shows how Napa can make a good Pinot Noir.

8 – Robert Sinskey ‘Abraxas’ White Blend 2013 – This is a blend that’s got a nice mix of mineral and fruit with a good long finish.