Kelley and Young-The Irish Rose

When I was looking for wineries of Irish heritage, Kathleen Kelley Young, of Kelley and Young, quickly pointed to her label which is a Celtic inspired shamrock.  Kathleen’s family Ireland to Canada and then from Canada settled in Maine where her family worked for the railroads.  Taking advantage of their railroad connections, Kathleen’s father and uncle went on a cross country trip that took them to California before Kathleen was even born.  But her father never forgot that California sun.  When Kathleen was ready to go to college her father encouraged her to consider going to school in California and living with an aunt who lived in Marin County.    So she did.  Before she knew it her entire family relocated to the SF Bay Area, where if you are from Maine, is sunny indeed.

Ehlers Estate-Heart Warming

Ehlers Estate is a resurrected ghost winery that is held in trust by Foundation Leducq. Foundation Leducq was founded by long time heart disease sufferer, Jean Leducq, in 1996. The Leducq Foundation crosses international barriers by searching for cures and treatments of heart disease, a world wide problem.  The foundation donates 30 million dollars per year to both American and European universities for heart research.

Anything involving the heart means passion.  And Ehlers Estate is as passionate about wine as they are healthy hearts!   Their wine is 100% estate and is certified organic with biodynamic practices.   They focus on making Bordeaux style reds such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and their flagship wine the 1886, a Cabernet Sauvignon that is named after the year the original Ehlers Estate was established by Bernard Ehlers.  This cab is big and lush and comes in a bottle that is a replica of an antique medicine bottle from the turn of the century.  Ehlers estate honors its founder Jean Leducq, a Frenchman, by making their wines using old world techniques and tradition.  This style of winemaking ensures full-bodied, bold, and food friendly wines.

Keating Wines

You don't get more Irish then Keating, a small winery in Sonoma.  Eric Keating is 3^rd 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.

Like many immigrants, they entered the USA via Ellis Island and then headed straight to California. Perhaps they had had enough of cold weather!  Eric's great grandfather made his living as a furniture upholster in San Francisco.

Eric was born and raised in Santa Rosa where he attended local schools.  After graduating from Santa Clara University, he pursued a career on Wall Street.   And while the stock trade was exciting, he felt the vineyards of his hometown calling him home.

Charbay-"The Still on the Hill"

I had always wanted to go to Charbay, a unique winery distillery up on Spring Mountain because the owner and I share a common heritage. However, it wasn’t until Susan Karakasevic called me and invited me to the Still on the Hill did I finally make the drive up Spring Mountain. Once I was there I had one of the most unique tastings I have ever had in Napa Valley.

From day one Charbay has chosen not to put itself in a box, giving them room to make many types of wines, liquors, and spirits including tequila, a walnut liquor, green tea and pomegranate aperitifs, and our featured wine, the pomegranate dessert wine. Being from the old world, they aren't in a hurry either. In the tasting room you may taste a 2003 Cabernet, a 12 year old port, and a 26 year old late

Hunnicutt Wine-Making the Cutt

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!)

Just as Justin traces his Irish roots from his father, so does he his love of wine. In 1996 his father and mother bought a piece of land up on Howell Mountain.  They planted some cabernet and in 1999 released their first wine, DR Stephens Moose Valley Cabernet.  Justin so loved the wine and wine business that in 2002 he launched his own label, Hunnicutt, his mother's maiden name.  The Hunnicutt label features Zin and Cab.  But it seems like every vintage some grower has some fantastic lot of grapes that they either can't sell or have too much of.  They'll call Justin and make him an offer he can't refuse.   For these special occasions, Justin created the Cutt label, which will always be changing but currently features at late harvest zinfandel and syrah.

Hunnicutt is located in North St. Helena on Silverado Trail.  They are in the process of building a fabulous tasting room complete with an outside seating area and tasting room.  In the meantime you can contact Small Lots Big Wines for an opportunity to try their delicious Zins, Cabs, and Syrah.

We paired Cutt Late Harvest Zin with some delicious Zins.  Click here for more info.

Graeser Winery-Semillon

In my other life, I do real estate. Lately I’ve been doing business in Santa Rosa. I find the easiest way to get to Santa Rosa from Napa is to go up Petrified Forest Road. So one day, while going over the hill back into Napa I noticed Graeser Winery. I was hot, tired, and a little grumpy (dealing with foreclosure banks can do that to you), but I decided to stop anyway. What a fortuitous day that turned out to be. First of all, I was very fortunate to be met by Desire. Her easy going style and friendly smile quickly let me know I had made a good stop (actually, everyone was very friendly including Rebecca Ahl and Richard Graeser). As I told her all about Small Lots Big Wines she began pouring me the Graeser line up, beginning with the Semillion. I was very excited about this wine,

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Clif  Family-Trail (mix) Blazer

Have you ever had a Clif or Luna bar?  These well known snack bars have a family behind them, and this family, the Clif family, also makes some really great wines, that go surprisingly well, with, uh..trail mix.

In 1992 the Clif family, with a passion for food, family and adventure began making these wildly popular health bars.  This passion eventually led them to the Napa Valley where they purchased  a piece of property with plenty of room to raise animals, grow a garden, and eventually plant vineyards.

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.

The folks at Clif Bar have an interesting twist on zin.   The zin is incredibly balanced and earthy.  So rather than do the normal pairing of bringing out the fruit and jam of the zin, the pairing is a smoked paprika almond and herb mix.  Something so different yet so delicious coming from a family who made the sweet and salty MOJO bar, should come as no surprise.

Next time you are in Napa make sure to visit Clif Family Winery where you not only get great wine with a unique food pairing, but you get a little closer to this family owned winery and farm.

Summit Lake Vineyards

A day in the Meadow

In 1971 Bob Brakesman surprised his wife with the best birthday present ever, a deed to a 28 acre ranch that included 8 acres of pre-prohibition Zinfandel vineyard on the top of Howell Mtn. While the ranch looked great on paper, this was not the case once they moved to the property on Christmas Eve of 1971. Sue Brakesman’s heart sank as she saw the overgrown orchard and vineyards and the dilapitated cottage. However her broken heart was mended with the first dusting of snow that Howell Mountain enjoys every year.

Each harvest marked a barrel full of memories for Bob and Sue. While the children learned writing, reading, and arithmetic in school, Bob and Sue learned everything they could about wine making , viticulture, husbandry, and DYI home repairs.

Today, daughter, Heather Griffin, and her husband live on the property where they now raise their children who in turn raise goats, pigs, and horses for 4-H. The property is a little piece of heaven with stunning views of the east side of Howell Mountain. In the middle of the vineyard is a meadow where in the summer Heather conducts close and personal tastings of their wines: Cab, Zin, Petite Sirah, and a Zin port. The Zinfandel boasts a beautiful label that will forever serve as a reminder of the late Sue and all her hard work at Summit Lake, especially since she personally chose the label.

The Summit Lake Zinfandel is a very good representation of Howell Mountain. High above the fog line, Howell Mountain’s volcanic soil, long growing season, and hot summers produce big bold wines that pack a flavor packed punch. Next time you are thinking of making the trek up Howell Mountain, be sure to put Summit Lake at the top of your list.