These wineries produce elegant, bold, crisp, savory, delicious wines.
BY TOURING & TASTING

St. Clement Vineyards

What to Buy:
'11 Abbott’s Vineyard Chardonnay - $29
Crisp apple, Meyer lemon, toasted vanilla, pine nuts

'11 Oroppas Cabernet Sauvignon - $60
Plum, black currant, mocha, cedar

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 11-5

The short path from the parking lot to the charming Victorian house that houses St. Clement Vineyards’ tasting room is steep, but worth every step. The landmark Napa Valley estate, established in 1878 by the San Francisco stained glass merchant Fritz Rosenbaum, was one of the first bonded wineries in the Napa Valley. St. Clement’s newest chapter began in 1976 when another glass expert, local ophthalmologist William Casey, bought the house and built a 10,000-case stone winery in the backyard. Oroppas is a great example of how St. Clement’s close relationships with top winegrowers led to the creation of exemplary wines. Growers in six unique Napa Valley sub-appellations including Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, and Rutherford contribute to this wine each year. As a result, Oroppas is a rich, opulent Bordeaux-style blend that emphasizes concentration, depth, and velvety tannins.
www.stclement.com

Garré Vineyard & Winery

What to Buy:
'Sparkling White - $18
Pear, green apple, honeysuckle, ground almond, hint of brioche

'09 Primitivo - $24
Dark fruit jam, holiday spice, allspice, hint of anise

'08 Merlot - $24
Black cherry, plum, blueberry jam, cassis, touch of tobacco

'10 Nonna’s Family Reserve - $28
Blueberry pie, cassis, rose water, clove

Tasting Room Hours: Open Fri–Sun 11:30–5

In the heart of Livermore Valley, Garré Vineyard & Winery warmly welcomes guests with wonderful wines and genuine family hospitality. The winery was founded by Bob Molinaro, for whom winemaking has always been a large part of life. His passion for food, wine, and his Italian heritage led him to starting the winery. From the beginning, the Garré tasting room grounds have been a popular place for people to gather, taste wine, and play a game of bocce. Perhaps that’s because Bob and his daughter, Gina Molinaro-Cardera, insist that besides food and wine, friendship and hospitality are also an important part of their family tradition. Food, wine, friends, hospitality, and family tradition are the values for which Garré stands and the wine list of Sparkling, Italian, and many blends pays homage to a traditional Italian family’s way of life.
www.garrewinery.com

Artesa Winery

What to Buy:
'13 Sauvignon Blanc - $26
Grapefruit, lime, green apple, orange zest, lemongrass

'11 Tempranillo - $40
Blackberry, plum, black currant, roasted coffee

'12 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir - $40
Red berry, rose petal, lavender, white truffle

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 10-5

Aside from excellent wine, an epic family history, dramatic views, and stunning architecture make Artesa Vineyards & Winery a destination-worthy experience. The fascinating Artesa legacy began near Barcelona in 1551, when Jaume Codorníu bequeathed winemaking equipment to his family. A key marriage and several hundred years later, Cava--the first methode champenoise Sparkling wine made outside of France--was created by Josep Raventos. The ripple effect of this groundbreaking claim to fame has been felt across continents since then, arriving at Artesa in the present day, which is still owned by the Raventós family. A visit to Artesa offers the potential for many levels of interaction, from a day of tasting the Grand Reserve Sparkling, Classic, Reserve, and Limited Release selections to full tours encompassing the artistic Main Salon, Barrel Room, courtyard, reflecting pool, and the scenic Vista Terrace. A variety of special pairings and tastings are also available by appointment.
www.artesawinery.com

Brian Carter Cellars

What to Buy:
'09 Solesce - $55
Blackberry, leather, toasted cedar, cassis

'10 Byzance - $34
Dark fruit, bay leaf, spice

'10 Corrida Winter Special - $29
Ripe fruit, chocolate

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 12–5

Brian is considered a pioneer in Washington State, where he has been an advocate for developing the quality and quantity of its varietals in many ways. The portfolio of Brian Carter Cellars wines reads like a map of the entire European continent, with stops in France’s Bordeaux and Southern Rhône regions, Italy’s Tuscan region, sunny Spain, and Portugal for dessert. The wines are all very food friendly and are favorites among the top-tier chefs of Woodinville and sommeliers across the country. Each wine has its own story to tell. When Brian has perfected a blend, he and his business partner, Mike Stevens, name it and share the concept with their designer, Stephen Black, who creates a unique and distinctive piece of artwork for the wine. This artwork becomes the wine’s label and the original is on display in the Brian Carter Cellars tasting room.
www.briancartercellars.com

Castello di Amorosa

What to Buy:
'13 Mendocino Pinot Grigio - $21
Crisp and refreshing with bright citrus and green apple notes.

'11 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $49
Exhibiting aromas of sage, earth, and eucalyptus accented with spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and tinder box.

'13 Il Raggio del Sole Moscato - $27
Refreshingly sweet, with notes of honeysuckle, ripe peach, and orange peel.

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily Mar–Oct 9:30–6; Nov–Feb 9:30–5

Inspired to build an authentic medieval castle to honor his Italian heritage and showcase his exceptional wines, Dario Sattui studied architecture for 30 years before he created Castello di Amorosa. The 121,000-square-foot fortress took 14 years to build, stone by stone. The Castello has 107 rooms, 95 of which are used for winemaking and wine storage. One might think that this overwhelming fortress would upstage the wines, but it merely sets the stage. Each handcrafted wine is classically structured, intensely flavored, well balanced, and elegant, showcasing the terroir of its vineyard site. Most of the vines at Castello di Amorosa grow on hillsides that provide optimal growing conditions. The vines are hand farmed, and sustainable practices are used.
www.castellodiamorosa.com

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