Judd's Hill - Crushing on You

So one day I stop by Judd’s Hill to try some wine. I’m chatting with Pat, the tasting room manager, about how awesome their wine is (especially the Petit Sirah and the Cab they have hidden in a secret compartment) when out of a back room comes Judd Finkelstein dressed in a leprechaun green tuxedo complete with hat and peach frilly tuxedo shirt (see video). He look at us as he walk by and explains, “We are doing a recording.” “For what, St Patrick’s Day?” I ask. He just smiles and leaves. A few minutes later he comes back in, this time carrying a chicken (you can’t make this stuff up).

In the meantime I get a chance to chat with the winemaker about Judd’s Hill microcrush program. For over 25 years the Finkelstein family has been making premium wine in the Napa Valley, from founding Whitehall Land to Judd’s Hill all the way down to single barrel lots that they will source and manage for you. That’s right, you. For those of you who don’t need a barrel of wine, they offer a “Bottle Blending Day Camp” where guests meet with the wine maker, blend, bottle and label six bottles of their very own wine.

As I contemplate what a wonderful opportunity Judd’s Hill offers aspiring winemakers and vintners, out comes Judd with the chicken, “He did great!” he says as walks outside to put the chicken back. A few minutes later he comes back in, this time with a pineapple shaped ukulele (Judd has a band called The MaiKai Gents Featuring the Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa) and plays us a few notes.

Visiting Judd’s Hill is very much like a box of chocolates. You may not be sure what the filling is, but you can be sure it’s paired with great chocolate. At Judd’s Hill you may not know what or who will walk through those doors, but you can be sure you will drinking some of the best wines in the valley when they do.

Get more details about Judd's Hill in our Winery Directory

Click here to learn how Chef Binder paired Judd's Hill Petite Sirah with cheese.