Featured Wineries
Keen and Carica
If you are like me you think of Irish names as being anything with an “O” or “Mc” in the front. However, after co-chairing When Irish Wines are Smiling with Ireland native, Andrew Healy, I quickly learned that many common American names are Irish such as Sullivan, Brown, and Keenan. When I heard the name “Keenan” a light bulb went off in my head and I called my friend Dick Keenan, owner of Kick Ranch and partner of Carica Wine. When asked if he’s Irish, Dick replied, “I’m totally Irish. As a matter of fact I went to Notre Dame, just so I could be a Fighting Irish.” I’ve had a fondness for Dick and anything Kick Ranch since I first met Dick at Kick Ranch in 2008. Kick Ranch is an amazing growing sight. Top notch vintners such as Paul Hobbs, Renyard, and Enkidu source much of their fruit from Kick Ranch, which specializes in Rhone varietals. As with many growers, it didn’t take long before Dick wanted to make his own wine from his own grapes. He partnered with winemaker, Charlie Dollbaum, and launched Carica in 2005. Carica is named after the ficus trees that populate the ranch. Dick and Charlie make a crisp citrus Sauvignon Blanc, a refreshing rose, and a really excellent Syrah. If you are interested in visiting this growing site, Small Lots Big Wines may be able to make arrangements. However, if you want to visit the Carica tasting room you would need to visit Rock Wall Wine Company in Oakland.
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You don't get more Irish then Keating, a small winery in Sonoma. Eric Keating is 3rd generation American. His great grandfather, Joseph Keating, was brought to the USA in the 1890's by his father, John Francis Keating. He was only 2 at the time. They hail from Baldwinstown County Wexford in SE Ireland.
We start this journey in Napa with Hunnicutt Winery. Justin Hunnicut Stephens is a 2nd generation American on his dad's side. His grandmother, Katherine O'Leary, immigrated to the USA as child from a town just outside of Dublin. They first went to Ohio then ended up in Sacramento, which is the birthplace of his father, DR Stephens. But being the son of an Irishmen was not enough for Justin, he married Seana Kendrick whose family founded the Kendrick Pub in Ireland in the 1700's. (It is still open today!)
Last year they opened a tasting room and began offering one of the most unique tasting experiences in the Napa Valley, a food and wine pairing. However, this is no ordinary food and wine pairing because the food is a high end delicious variety of trail mix (i.e. fruits and nuts.) especially formulated to pair with their Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Cab, and Zinfandel.