5 Wine Brands to Drink This Summer

These wineries are producing some amazingly delicious wines that will make your summer brighter.
BY TOURING & TASTING

Nottingham Cellars

What to Buy:
'12 Supremacy - $80
Dark fruit, choco- late, red cherry, herbaceous earthy tones

'12 Smith Ranch Vineyard Designate Cabernet - $60
Dark cherry, chocolate, floral tones

'13 Vasco Urbano GSM The Sheriff - $36
Blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, earthy tones

Tasting Room Hours: Open Thu-Mon 11-5

In the five short years that Diane and Jeff Cranor’s Nottingham Cellars has been crafting wine, its name has become synonymous with premier quality Livermore Valley wine. Jeff first founded Nottingham Cellars because he saw tremendous untapped potential in Livermore Valley fruit. Nottingham Cellars first acquired an enviable reputation for its limited-production single vineyard Cabernet and Bordeaux blends, but it has quickly expanded its scope to fully demonstrate the region’s diversity. The Livermore Valley possesses many distinct microclimates, which support an impressive array of winegrapes. To adequately explore this diversity, the Cranors now produce their wine under three distinct brand names. Each brand is designed to honor the potential and history of the Livermore Valley.
www.nottinghamcellars.com

Mettler Family Vineyards

What to Buy:
'12 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon - $24.99
Black cherry, chocolate, black currants, toasty vanilla

'12 Old Vine Zinfandel - $19.99
Jammy red berries, candied apple, mocha, warm spices, oak

'13 Lodi GSM - $35
Rich, juicy red berries, plum, spice

Tasting Room Hours: Open Thu-Mon 11-5

Throughout eight generations in the grape growing industry, Mettler Family Vineyards has cultivated an unrivaled kinship with the earth. Beginning in Germany in the 1770s and continuing with their arrival in California’s Central Valley region of Lodi in the late 1800s, the Mettler family has a tradition of producing premium winegrapes, both for their own label, as well as for other winemakers and respected wines. As stewards of the soil, the Mettlers have chosen to run their farm as both sustainable and certified organic. The wines are made from selective blocks in the vineyards with a crop level controlled by minimal water use and hand thinning. Consistently recognized through awards, their wines stand up in both domestic and international competitions.
www.mettlerwine.com

Peju

What to Buy:
'12 Cabernet Sauvignon - $50
Summer berries, cocoa powder, mocha, nutmeg

'12 Merlot - $35
Black currant, anise, cola, vanilla

'12 Fifty/Fifty - $85
Juicy dark plum, cigar box, baking spices, black cherry tart

'14 Sauvignon Blanc - $22
Pineapple, passion fruit, grapefruit, lychee

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 10-6

When Tony and Herta (H.B.) purchased their 30-acre Rutherford prop- erty in 1982, the vineyard grounds were wild and overgrown. Through passion and hard work, the Peju family has transformed their Rutherford Estate into Peju—a wine, architecture, and art lover’s paradise. Peju has been named Top Artisan Winery of the Year by Wine & Spirits Magazine and a Top California Cabernets Producer by Wine Spectator. Guestsmay call ahead to reserve the Premier Peju Experience of their choice: Cépage, a private tour of the beautiful gardens and reserve barrel tasting followed by a classic wine tasting; and Fromage, a selection of local artisan cheeses paired with estate-grown wines.
www.peju.com

Cairdean Estate

What to Buy:
'11 Acquaintance Vineyard Cabernet Franc - $84
Cherries, blackberries, cassis, hints of tobacco, pepper, violet, touch of spice

'12 Napa Valley Haley Margaret White Wine - $38
Stone fruit, peach, apricot, hint of lime, grapefruit, slight floral note

'11 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon - $78
Red fruit, black cherry, cedar, spice, vanilla

Tasting Room: Open Daily 11–8
Winemaker’s Den Open by Appointment

Cairdean Estate is a place where guests can stop by whenever they like. Butterscots Bakery, Deli, and Culinary Market opens at seven o’clock each morning. It’s a bright and friendly place to drop in for an espresso and breakfast baked goodie, and return for a fresh salad, soup, or sandwich made with house-made bread at lunch. As the winery’s name implies, Cairdean Estate is a true Napa Valley destination—a unique spot to gather as friends to enjoy excellent wine, outstanding food, and wonderful times together. The Fox Restaurant has been a Napa Valley favorite since the day it opened. It offers a modern take on the traditional British gastropub with a beautiful décor highlighted with lush leather booths and a central communal table. Here, old and new friends gaze at the inspired menu and marvel over its culinary creativity.
www.cairdeanestate.com

St. Clement Vineyards

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

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

'14 Bell Lane Sauvignon Blanc - $27
Crisp grapefruit, white peach, tangerine

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 11-5

The short path from the parking lot to the charming Victorian house that hold 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. When the first vintage of Oroppas was released in 1991, it quickly became a style icon for the winery, noted for its consistent flavor profile and tannic structure.
www.stclement.com