Introducing the Rock Block Series - Lede Family Wines

Jason Lede explains the origins of the Cliff Lede Vineyards Rock Block Series.

See more at https://www.ledefamilywines.com/

Pam Starr Vino Lingo Video Soil Profiling

Every week we feature a new video of winemakers defining wine terms used every day in the cellar.  Vino Lingo!  This week we feature Pam Starr, co-owner of Crocker & Starr in Napa Valley defining the term "Soil Profiling".  Cheers!

See more about this winery at https://www.crockerstarr.com/

Blue Rock Vineyard - Old World European Style Wines in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley

Blue Rock Winery was first settled by Italians who worked at the Italian-Swiss Colony winery just down the road. The original stone house was once Villa Maria winery, which closed its doors during the Prohibition Era. Acquired by Kenny and Cheryl Kahn in 1987, the Estate maintains much of its old-world

character. It even maintains its original olive trees that are now over 140 years old.

See more about this winery at http://www.bluerockvineyard.com/

Wine Tour Specials Available

 

Wine Tour Specials

Book a 7-hour tour and get the 8th hour FREE*

Book multiple day tours and receive a 10% discount**

Mention you found our tour service on Yelp

and receive a 10% discount.

* Cash Only.

Tours subject to availability in relation to COVID-19 restrictions.

**Cash or Credit.

Tours subject to availability in relation to COVID-19 restrictions.

See more a WeWineNapa.com

Chimney Rock Winery's Winemaking Philosophy

Chimney Rock's Winemaker Elizabeth Vianna explains the passion and approach behind the wine at Chimney Rock Winery.

See more at https://www.chimneyrock.com/

To Our Clients and Friends

Clients & Friends,

As the Napa Valley transitions once again through our local fires, we’ve seen a steady increase in wine-tour activity. As a footnote, the Covid-19 cases are also declining and Napa County is officially off the watchlist.

We are accepting reservations for October & November currently. We continue to provide complimentary Concierge services and customized itineraries as well.

Thank You all for your support and we look forward to the opportunity of serving you. 

Stay safe & be well.

Jim Gramlich

Owner/Proprietor

WeWineNapa.com

The new wine language: a simpler concept | Madelyne Meyer | TEDxZurich

The wine world can seem extremely exclusive, expensive, refined and almost elite. So Madelyne Meyer made it her mission to simplify wine communication. Wouldn’t it be easier and just a little bit more fun if we ordered a glass of wine that had a sweetness level of a HEINZ ketchup than ordering an off-dry wine? Swiss wine expert Meyer does not only want to simplify wine language, but also create a more light-hearted wine world. How she does it? Listen to her talk! Madelyne Meyer approaches people to wine in an unconventional way. With her website "Edvin." she conveys basic wine knowledge through videos and illustrations. Meyer started her wine journey in California, where she worked for 2 wineries. Subsequently the half Swiss half American moved to Bordeaux where she studied Wine Marketing and Management and interned for a wine merchant. Today she is the head of Marketing & Communication at Weinkellereien Aarau and passionately develops Edvin: A source for wine knowledge. Ignoring all wine rules. 

Miljenko Mike Grgich Grgich Hills (re edit 2020)

This program was originally recorded and broadcast in July of 2009.  I interviewed Miljenko “Mike” Grgich at the Grgich Hill Estate Winery in Napa Valley for the very first time and realized I was in the presence of a legend.  After all, the Chardonnay he made that won the Tasting of Paris is now is the Smithsonian.  Mike has a great sense of humor and joy of life, so it was easy to chat with him.  I wanted to re-run this podcast considering he turned 97 back in April.  April 1st, in fact.  Please enjoy this program from our library with a glass of Grgich Hills wine, and why not, they are made to go together!

Learn more by visting www.grgich.com

Elkhorn Peak Cellars - Harvest 2020

Incredible Pinot Noir and more, in the beautiful, natural setting of Napa Valley's Jamieson Canyon. Not only a winery and business but a passion for the lifestyle and the wine. Elkhorn Peak Cellars is family-owned and operated, growing and producing 1000 cases of wine year. Learn more at www.elkhornpeak.com.

Filmed and edited by Evan Roscoe, Beneath the Vines Imaging https://www.btvimaging.com/

Vineyard Pruning Philosophy

Pierre Seillan explains his pruning philosophy and how it relates to the wines of Vérité.

See more about this winery at https://www.veritewines.com/

Famed Zinfandel Winery in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley | Nalle Winery

We feature family-run wineries all the time, but one with a history dating back to 1870? This is a first! Allow us to introduce you to Nalle Winery.  Cellar Angels interviews the family members behind Nalle Winery, who share the rich history behind the wine, including their famed Zinfandel that was featured on the cover of Wine Spectator in 1992! 

Find Nalle Winery's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon on www.cellarangels.com for a limited time to help raise funds for important causes. 

Welcome to Cellar Angels, your private gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase. 

See more about his great winery at https://www.nallewinery.com/

David Ramey Ramey Wine Cellars Vino Lingo Video

Winemakers know all the cool wine words.  We've now begun to produce our well known Vino Lingo segment from the website into a video.  This week, we listen (and see) David Ramey of Ramey Wine Cellars define the term "Descriptors".  Cheers!

See more about this winery at https://www.rameywine.com/

Elkhorn Peak Cellars - Harvest 2020

Incredible Pinot Noir and more, in the beautiful, natural setting of Napa Valley's Jamieson Canyon. Not only a winery and business but a passion for the lifestyle and the wine. Elkhorn Peak Cellars is family-owned and operated, growing and producing 1000 cases of wine year. Learn more at www.elkhornpeak.com.

What Our Customers Are Saying...

Some Yelp Reviews:

"Absolutely loved our WeWine Napa experience with Jim! Can't believe we didn't think of this years ago but as other reviews have mentioned it was worth every single penny!

Pros: Jim is awesome & was extremely helpful when it came to booking our itinerary. The fact that he drove our car made us feel so much more comfortable than previous visits when we had to navigate throughout Napa Valley ourselves. Something additional to note - he is a very good driver!" 

More Pros: The wineries we visited were truly second to none. Gorgeous, tasteful (pun intended), and friendly. Jim booked a winery that allowed us to bring a picnic lunch which he picked up from Oakville grocery which was so cool! He made the experience fun and had so many stories and interesting facts about wineries and the area to share which made our tour much more memorable.

More reviews

RHYOLITE Wine. Why That Name? Here's Why.

Our Estate Red Blend, Rhyolite refers to the volcanic rock that makes up our soils, but it is so much more than that. This limited wine is the most emblematic to winemaker and proprietor, Timm as it encompasses all of the grapes he grows on the ranch, including some of the oldest Zinfandel grapes still growing in the Napa Valley. 

Apart from the wine, Rhyolite is also the namesake of our ranch, Quarry Vineyard as our old rock quarry (sitting above the vineyards) produced rhyolite for many buildings throughout the valley as well as our 1885 ghost winery and Balsamic Vinegar acetaia. 

On October 1st, we will be uploading a video featuring winemaker and assistant winemaker, Timm, and Dominic doing an in-depth tasting of the 2016 and 2017 Rhyolite. If you would like to follow along, give us a call to stop by the winery to pick up some Rhyolite or use this link to learn more: https://www.terraceswine.com/store/de...

To Our Clients and Friends

Clients & Friends,

As Napa Valley continues to adapt and adhere to Covid-19 protocols and procedures we’ve once again seen an increase in demand for wine tours and visits from previous months. Now that local cases are declining Napa County is officially off the watchlist. We are accepting reservations for September and October as the Harvest is in full swing. We continue to provide complimentary concierge services and customized itineraries for all future reservations.

Thank You all for your support & we look forward to the opportunity of serving you.

Stay safe & be well.

Jim Gramlich

Owner/Proprietor
707-294-8413

WeWineNapa.com

2020 Apple Pressing Fir 2020 Estate Sparkling Cider -- The Terraces Winery

A week ago, Dominic with a little help from Jorge pressed our first batch of apples which will eventually become our 2020 Estate Sparkling Cider. 

After picking the apples, we leave them in the cellar to sweat (softens the apples and gives them a chance to further ripen and proud additional sugars). Then we press them and begin the fermentation process.

See more at https://www.terraceswine.com/

Veraison in Howell Mountain | Winemaker Laura Barrett | Clif Family Winery

How is the Howell Mountain AVA different from others in the Napa Valley? While most vineyards on the valley floor are about 60% into veraison, Winemaker Laura Barrett provides an update from Clif Family Winery's Cold Springs vineyard at the top of Howell Mountain.

Learn more about Clif Family Winery and the small production Napa Valley wines on https://bit.ly/clif-family-winery

Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery | Terra de Promissio Vineyard

Join Winemaker Theresa Heredia, and Grape Grower Diana Karren on a journey through an immigrant's American Dream. Located in the Petaluma Gap, Terra de Promissio Vineyard produces some of our most elegant and balanced Pinot Noir.

See more about this winery at http://www.terradepromissio.com/

Wine with a Twist | Spicy Vines in Healdsburg

Rare in the wine industry is the successful blending of centuries-old traditions with a new innovative twist.  Welcome to Spicy Vines, a fun, approachable, and diverse winery producing premium quality award-winning wines in Healdsburg. 

Watch our video interview with founder Crystalyn Hoffman and Winemaker Doug Hackett and learn the story.

Welcome to Cellar Angels, your private gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase. 

Winemakers answer the question

Welcome to a slightly different show this week.  Later this year we'll be celebrating the 12th anniversary of our podcast and for many of those years I've posed this to our winemakers, “What is the one question that you've not been asked, that you would like to be asked?”  So for this program, we've put together several interesting responses from our library of over 600 interviews.  I think you'll enjoy it!

This program features in order of appearance: DAVID RAMEY/RAMEY WINE CELLARS, ALICE WARNECKE SUTRO/SUTRO WINE CO, DARIO SATTUI, CASTELLO DI AMOROSA, VICTORIA ANGOVE/ANGOVE FAMILY WINEMAKERS.

At Home with Kendall-Jackson: Cool Coastal Pinot Noirs

Think all Pinot Noir is the same? Think again. Today Winemaster Randy Ullom dives into nuances of K-J's coastally-sourced Pinot Noir. If you've been waiting for the perfect time to open a bottle of Grand Reserve Pinot Noir - today is the day!

See more about Kendall-Jackson at https://www.kj.com/

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir | Zoetic Wines

Meet Zoetic Wines, a beautiful example in the wine industry where passion grows and grows and opportunity finds a way to intercede. Winemaker Kim Vance has dived deeper into Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley AVA and is specializing in clones and single vineyards.  

Of the notoriously difficult to grow Pinot Noir, Kim notes that she started playing around with the different clones of Pinot Noir and actually aging them separately. Pommard flavor profiles really drew her in, with its fruity characteristics and nice earthiness undertones.  She also takes on 777 clone which is a little bit more earthy and not quite as fruity on the initial palate. Zoetic Wines bottles the clones separately which is unique. Single vineyard designates, where grapes come from one vineyard, is common, but you don’t see the single clonal a lot. 

Kim talks about how the vineyard speaks to her and she is of that place and it means a lot.  She uses what Mother Nature intends and doesn’t do a lot of manipulation of fruit.  The fruit is the best tool to have in your toolbox. And the barrels, whether neutral or French Oak, can add a lot of different components.  

She and husband David keep their operation small, so it is manageable and they can focus on getting the quality of the wine.  

Cellar Angels is very excited to see the growth of Zoetic Wines and what Kim and David are doing with two very, very special varietals.  Do yourselves a favor and grab some of this wine.  Thank you so much for all of your support. 

Welcome to Cellar Angels, your private gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase. 

See more about this great winery at http://zoeticwines.com/

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in Coombsville | Sciandri Family Vineyards

Very excited to reintroduce Sciandri Family Vineyards in Napa Valley’s Coombsville AVA. Bringing 200 years of passion for food and wine from Italy to the United States. Sciandri’s first vintage was back in 2006, single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from their single vineyard estate.  After years of growth, they now offer a blend, a rosé, estate Meritage, and a Sauvignon Blanc. 

All the wines are small-batch, hand-harvested, hand made. The artisan way.  Before they decided to produce their own wines, they tasted wines made by Don Baker at a local festival, fell in love, and asked him to join their team. Don has been making wine with Sciandri Family from the beginning.

As grape growers in the late 90s, Cabernet was the only varietal grown. After getting bit by the unofficial wine bug, the family planted the other Bordeaux varietals on their estate.  Three generations of the family are involved in growing and producing wine.  

Rebecca Sciandri says, “If you only serve good food so you can drink good wine, then you should only drink good wine so you can eat good food.”

Welcome to Cellar Angels, your gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase. 

See more about Sciandri Family Vineyards at http://www.sciandrivineyards.com/

A Look Inside The Terraces Winery In Rutherford, Napa Valley

If you've forgotten what The Terraces looks like or you're still waiting for your first visit, here's a snippet of our quirky tasting room! We're all still chugging along up here on our quiet hill in Rutherford!

See more about this great winery at https://www.terraceswine.com/

#terraceswine #winery #napavalley #art #winetasting #wine #napawine #winecountry #winesofcalifornia #wineries #napavalleywines #wineexperience

Let Us Do The Driving On Your Wine Touring Adventure

Approximately 4 million people visit the Napa and Sonoma Valleys to tour & experience world-renowned wineries each year. Many decide to utilize the services of a limousine or private driver company while on their wine country visit.

After becoming a preferred driver and guest favorite for several local vendors, we began to recognize that we could offer customers a much more enhanced experience with an added cost savings benefit. This, in addition to providing full-service concierge standards, such as an end to end customized itineraries, reservation bookings at exclusive restaurants, and even sourcing rare wines that cannot be easily found.

Since launching WeWine Napa, we have been humbled by the amount of positive guest feedback and referrals received. As local residents for over 40 years, it is truly our honor to provide a safe, professional, and memorable experience while visiting this beautiful region. It is truly our privilege and goal to serve you.

Find out more at https://www.wewinenapa.com/

How to Throw a Cheese and Wine Tasting Party - Cheese Rules

It is time to get the party hats out! While you are at it, bring your friends and family together to taste and pair some of your favorite cheeses and wines. Don't forget the condiments!; honey and oils, as well as tapenade and fruit spreads, can take your pairing to the next level and beyond!

WeWine Napa In Service Notice

Clients & Friends,

WeWineNapa is back in full-swing, offering our tour-services. With 80-90% of the wineries & restaurants open, our returning guests are once again enjoying the Napa Valley experiences.

SAFETY is being adhered to at all times as our main focus. Complimentary CONCIERGE service is provided for winery appointments and dining options. We are accepting tour-reservations for both August & September.

Thank You all for your support & look forward to the opportunity of serving you.

Stay safe & be well.

Jim Gramlich
Owner/Proprietor

Visit our website at https://www.wewinenapa.com/

Veraison Season in Napa Valley - Cellar Angels Wine Education

It's late July and vineyards in Napa Valley are starting to enter veraison. Cellar Angels asked winemaker Elise Nerlove Rutchick of Elkhorn Peak Cellars to share an update from her small Pinot Noir vineyard in Jamieson Canyon in Napa Valley wine country.

See more about this winery at https://www.elkhornpeak.com/

Passion to the Last Drop - Cliff Lede Vineyards in Yountville CA

From sustainability to the precision by which grapes are sorted, it takes passionate attention to detail throughout the entire year to craft Napa Valley wines. Join Sunset magazine wine editor Sara Schneider as she learns more at Cliff Lede Vineyards.

See more about this Napa Valley winery at https://cliffledevineyards.com/

An active fermentation During our 2016 vintage

What a great vintage that was, solid sun lots of heat big clusters super juicy, spicy red fruit.

See more about Harvest Moon Winery at https://harvestmoonwinery.com/

Donelan Family Wines in the heart of Sonoma County

Everything we look for at Cellar Angels – passion, family, wine. An experience unlike any other.  Meet Donelan Family Wines. Cellar Angels interviews Cushing Donelan, Director of Marketing for Donelan Family Wines.

See more about this winery at https://www.donelanwines.com/

Taste the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockpile

Winemaker Chris Louton takes us high into the hills above Dry Creek Valley to the smallest appellation in Sonoma County, the acclaimed Rockpile AVA. Chris shows us where our 2017 Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon was grown and gives some insight into the artisanal approach he takes with this very special wine. Wine Club Exclusive: store.stfranciswinery.com/cabernet-sauvignon-rockpile-2017

July 2020 Rose Virtual Happy Hour

Join Mumm Napa Winemaker Tami Lotz for our Rose Virtual Happy Hour

Summer with Lynmar

Proprietor Lynn Fritz and Winemaker Pete Soergel are here to announce the inaugural release of our small-lot 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, plus our ever-popular 2019 Rosé of Pinot Noir. Bright, crisp, and refreshing, these delightful wines represent a spectacular value and perfectly accompany sunny days spent lounging poolside and family barbecues.

See more about this winery at https://lynmarestate.com/

What Our Customers Are Saying. . .

"Absolutely loved our WeWine Napa experience with Jim! Can't believe we didn't think of this years ago but as other reviews have mentioned it was worth every single penny!

Pros: Jim is awesome & was extremely helpful when it came to booking our itinerary. The fact that he drove our car made us feel so much more comfortable than previous visits when we had to navigate throughout Napa Valley ourselves. Something additional to
note - he is a very good driver!"
More Pros: The wineries we visited were truly second to none. Gorgeous, tasteful (pun intended), and friendly. Jim booked a winery that allowed us to bring a picnic lunch which he picked up from Oakville grocery which was so cool! He made the experience fun and had so many stories and interesting facts about wineries and the area to share which made our tour much more memorable.

If you're visiting Napa or surrounding areas for wine tasting do yourself a favor and reach out to Jim and his company WeWine Napa to discuss options. It was the best decision we made the entire trip and we will definitely use him again in the future!

More Reviews

Vintner Vignette: Cliff Lede

Cliff Lede Vineyard in Napa County's Yountville

is a beautiful property and they make beautiful wine too!

Happy Independence Day!

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, 

but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

--Nelson Mandela

July 1st Update - WeWine Napa

Clients & Friends,

As WeWineNapa has progressed through the last few weeks of re-openings, most of the wineries have welcomed our guests back with the safety protocols in place. Facial-coverings and social-distancing are being implemented. Our local restaurants have also adhered to the same format. Our continual “focus” here at WeWineNapa, is ensuring your SAFETY at all times. Each tour has disinfectant-wipes and hand-sanitizer within the vehicle for guests.

We offer complimentary CONCIERGE service for winery appointments & dining options. We are accepting tour reservations for both July & August.

Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to the opportunity of serving you.

Stay safe & be well.

Jim Gramlich

Owner/Proprietor

Travel humanitarian photographer Lisa Kristine interview

A storefront gallery on the Sonoma Plaza is more than just a collection of interesting photographs taken in far-flung places - it serves as a jumping off point for discussions about our world, from environmental degradation, to changes in world cultures to modern-day slavery. We sit with Lisa Kristine, San Francisco Bay Area-based photographer, as she talks about her work and the stories behind three of her iconic images.

Le Chanceux Winery in Coombsville, Napa Valley

Just 3 miles East of downtown Napa, Coombsville is Napa’s newest AVA and is now getting deserved recognition for their premium wines. Starting as a labor of love, Le Chanceux produces ultra boutique Cabernet Sauvignons in the region while giving back through charity fundraiser events. Proprietor Susan McNerney shares her emotional journey in our video interview. Welcome to Cellar Angels, your private gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase.

Clif Family Wine and Tasting Room in Napa Valley

If you are visiting Napa Valley and looking for the best wine tasting experience, check out the Clif Family Tasting Room in St. Helena. Cellar Angels conducts a video interview with Winemaker Laura Barrett and Marketing Director Efrain Barragan to learn the story behind the wine. From the Clif Family wine tasting room to the Bruschetteria Food Truck, to the Clif Family Napa Valley artisan food products, you'll get a behind the scenes look at how inspiration, passion, philosophy, and romance come to life at this experiential shop in St. Helena, Napa Valley. This video introduced a rare private offering wine purchase opportunity to Cellar Angels members.

Italics Winegrowers offers Wine Cave tastings in Napa Valley

We get introduced to a lot of wineries at Cellar Angels. Every now and then you have to go and see what all the hype is about! Meet Italics Winegrowers in the heart of Napa Valley's Coombsville AVA. Watch our interview with Founder Ken Martin, General Manager Taylor Martin, and Winemaker Marbue Marke for the story behind Italics Winegrowers and the uniqueness of the Coombsville AVA. With its unbelievable caves, wonderful hospitality and fantastic small-batch wines, Italics Winegrowers is worth the visit. Welcome to Cellar Angels, your private gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase. Buy Wine Online: https://www.cellarangels.com/wines/ *Learn more about Italics: https://www.italicswinegrowers.com

Frank Family Reopening Music Video | Neil Diamond Sweet Caroline Parody

Here's some fun!

Things have changed around here, but our love for wine and hospitality hasn’t. See how Frank Family is keeping you safe during your visit with us in our very first music video, inspired by Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. Grab a glass and sing along! Book your tasting with us at www.frankfamilyvineyards.com/visit Sound & Vocals by Patrick Davis of Songwriters in Paradise Written by Marisa McCann From the Original Music “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond Director of Photography - Tubay Yabut Choreography by Leslie Frank Produced by Rich and Leslie Frank

See more about this winery at https://www.frankfamilyvineyards.com/

Redmon Wines - Premium Quality In St. Helena, Napa Valley

VineCrowd.com presents Redmon Wines. Located in St. Helena, CA, in the heart of the Napa Valley,

Redmon produces premium quality, small production wines.

See more about Redmon Wines at https://www.redmonwines.com/

One of the most requested St Helena venues we receive from our guests is Redmon Winery. Lisa the winemaker & owner exudes passion & commitment to producing wines that are known to be some of the best in Napa Valley. One reason why is because they are located on the St. Helena bench. Their vineyard contains dry, rocky soil from the mountains, mixed with lush, volcanic soil from the valley floor. This unique soil combination results in the soft and elegant cabernets of superb quality.

Another is they use French oak barrels and unique winemaking practices that result in a truly handcrafted product. To increase the concentration, complexity, and quality of the fruit, they actually cut the historic yield of their vineyard in half! Each summer they perform what’s called a “green drop” meaning every other cluster of fruit is pruned back. This improves quality because the available nutrients go into half as much fruit as they would otherwise.

A final value add attribute worth mentioning for future guests is they are one of the few venues that allow outside food for picnics on the back patio which overlooks the estate vineyard. Needless to say, this is an experience that you should not miss when visiting St Helena and a must add to your next itinerary!

See more about our very personalized touring services at WeWinNapa.com

Wine Star Cristie Kerr

The world-champion golfer, who now has her own line of California wines, talks about her second career in the wine business at the 2018 New York Wine Experience.

See more about Kerr Cellars at https://kerrcellars.com/cristie-kerr-wines

The History of Carneros With Eileen Crane

Eileen Crane, Founding Winemaker, and CEO shares the history

of the establishment of Domaine Carneros, the Carneros AVA, and more!

See more at https://www.domainecarneros.com/

WeWine Napa Services Update For June 2020 and Beyond

June 1, 2020

Clients & Friends,

Here at WeWineNapa, we pride ourselves on providing the most current updates for our guests as we enter Phase-2 of COVID-19. Recent Napa Country directives have given our local restaurants and a few wineries permission to reopen. As a result, WeWineNapa is back in a “limited-format” operation for tours. We can assist our customers with ALL facets of your stay if so desired. We provide complimentary Concierge service for booking tasting appointments at the wineries as well as dining options for dinner as well.

We are currently accepting tour reservations for the upcoming months of June and July. Thank You all for your continued support and we look forward to providing you with a memorable experience.

Stay safe and be well. Hope to see you soon.

Jim Gramlich
Owner/Proprietor
WeWineNapa.com

Introducing Allomi Family of Wines

Allomi Wines from the Hess Collection

See more about the Hess Collection at https://www.hesscollection.com/

Napa Valley Wines With A Cause | Meet Senders Wines

Small batch wines from single, premium vineyard sources that are literally changing people's lives. You have to hear the story behind Senders Wines. Cellar Angels interviews Founders Craig and Karen Senders among the vines of the famous Oakville Station Vineyard. Welcome to Cellar Angels, your gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase.

See more about Senders Wines at https://senderswines.com/

Video courtesy of https://www.cellarangels.com/

Cellar Angels: Grgich Hills Estate Winery

Enjoy this video tour of the famous Grgich Hills Estate winery in Napa Valley, CA. Includes an interview with Mike Grgich's daughter and V.P. of Operations, Sales & Marketing: Violet Grgich; plus an interview with the company's winemaker (and Grgich's nephew), Ivo Jeramaz.

See more about this great winery at https://www.grgich.com/


Video courtesy of https://www.cellarangels.com/

Cellar Angels Presents: Maldonado Vineyards, Napa Valley

Each week we bring you stories of small, family-owned wineries that are in it truly for the passion and love of wine. Hugo and Lupe Maldonado chat with Martin Cody this week about how Maldonado Vineyards got started. Learn more about the featured winery: maldonadovineyards.com


Video courtesy of https://www.cellarangels.com/

Sparkling Winemaker Domaine Carneros Winery In The Napa Valley

Winemakers Eileen Crane and TJ Evans share their passion for making truly great Sparkling Wine and Pinot Noir. Please enjoy "Who We Are".

See much more about this elegant and not-to-be-missed winery on Hwy 12 in the Napa Valley at https://www.domainecarneros.com/

Chardonnay Love - Gundlach Bundschu Winery

Winemaker Joe Uhr and Katie Bundschu talk Chardonnay in the vines.

See more about Gundlach Bundschu Winery at https://www.gunbun.com/

Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Syrah - Red Wine Guide

Expert sommelier and wine educator Marnie Old guides you through four premium varieties of red wine: Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz or Syrah. Learn the difference between each variety, as well as how to choose the best bottle of red for your tastes.

Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris - White Wine Guide

Expert sommelier and wine educator Marnie Old guides you through four premium varieties of white wine: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris. Learn the difference between each variety, as well as how to choose the best bottle of white for your tastes.

Makers of Napa Valley: Helen Brown

Reimagining traditional treatments:

A spa director on instilling every treatment with a sense of place

Rombauer Vineyards – Davitto Ranch Vineyard

From the Rombauer website:

This is one of our family’s newest vineyards, located on the Sonoma side of the Carneros appellation. Prior to being purchased by Koerner Rombauer in 2013, the property had been in the Davitto family for three generations and previously served as pastureland for cattle and a home for fruit trees. In addition to the cool Carneros climate, the property’s varied landscape — with its sloping hillsides and flatland, Haire clay loam soil, and prolific artesian well — makes it ideal for Chardonnay.

See more about the Davitto Ranch Vineyard and Rombauer Vineyards at Rombauer.com

Spa In Place: Tips from the Fairmont for a home spa

Jane Fellows from the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa brings tips and tricks on how to create a spa experience at your home using essential oils, roses, or items from your pantry like salt, brown sugar, olive oil, bananas, and even tea bags. If you are on video calls all day, set your camera to "off" and don a robe while listening to the latest from the "office."

Napa Valley Winemaker Michael Trujillo | Trujillo Wines

From the Colorado Rockies to the Napa Valley, this talented winemaker has been wringing amazing wines since the eighties.  And now he has launched his own brand.  Meet Trujillo Wines Founder, Michael Trujillo.

Michael grew up in Colorado.  After high school, he went to school in Northwestern Colorado. Being a farm boy, he didn't feel destined to become a doctor or a brain surgeon.  He loved building and creating things with his hands.  So engineering was the direction for him. With a mathematical brain where architecture and engineering weaved together.  On a road trip with a bunch of buddies, they headed West for no other reason than to hit the ocean.  You get a bunch of farm boys that show up in Huntington Beach, LA and it was quite overwhelming.  We pull into Sequoia Grove in 1981, I was a junior in college, big hair, flannel shirts.  Jim Allen welcomed us with open arms.  Being farm kids, we all helped Jim establish and build the winery. WE worked like oxen.  That evening his wife put together this beautiful spread under the stars out on the lawn.  It was just like you'd see on tv.  This Napa Valley life.  I called my mom and said I just want to take one semester off.  Take a little more dose of this California thing, I like it. Well, 37 years later, I'm still taking that semester off. 

I didn't grow up with a wine culture.  In Colorado, we grew a lot of barley for Coors beer.  I grew up in a beer, whiskey sort of culture.  Fine wine wasn't in my veins.  Through the help of Jim Allen, my first job in California was established in a vineyard which is today Domaine Carneros.  Back in those days, it was all pasture,  all cattle.  His mentor is André Tchelistcheff.  Michael started working with him in the vineyard.

Fast forward a year or two, more of those dinners under the stars, enthralled by the Napa Valley lifestyle.  Drinking wine. Trying wine.  And he just got bit. 

He was one of the first winemakers to take the combination of Rutherford valley fruit and combine it with the spicier, more intense mountain fruit. It became known as the cult wine without the cult price. 

With his projects with Karl Lawrence and Sequoia Grove, he likely made wine from every square mile within Napa Valley.  When it was time for him to go out on his own, he had a vision an idea and dream of exactly what he wanted to do.  He knew which vineyards he wanted to continue working with - and the keyword is "continue". He knew his style.  Very varietal-expressive.  A polished wine.  Not over opulent.  Very focused, very varietal, very fruit-forward.  The texture is rich but not aggressive. 

Cheers to Trujillo Wine.  We have been following Michael Trujillo's decorated winemaking career for years.  When we found out he was launching his own wine brand we absolutely knew we wanted to feature him.  Thank you for your support!

Welcome to Cellar Angels, your gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase.

From Boeing to Napa Valley | Winemaker Chad Angelo of Angelo Cellars

After a successful engineering career with Boeing, Chad Angelo followed his passion for wine and the results have been phenomenal. Meet Angelo Cellars. Chad Angelo went to school in Missouri, where he discovered lots of wineries and first fell in love with wine. After his years at Boeing, he decided he wanted to make wine and headed to Napa Valley to focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, the grape he considers the best in the world. After joining a group that was making wine, he went right to the top and started with To Kalon Vineyard. His first wine, only one barrel, won a double gold medal in San Francisco Int’l wine competition. From there, he worked with a group to find other vineyards and started with a barrel or two each year. He is around 160 cases per year and earned 91pts on his 2010 Private Reserve. His goal is to grow to 300-400 cases max. Chad specializes in Cab Sauvignon but will throw in a Syrah or Zinfandel every once in a while. A self-proclaimed foodie, his wines are ready to drink and food-friendly. He notes that Napa Cabernet is not cheap in any form, but the goal of Angelo Cellars is to make wines you turn to for your special occasions. His winemaking philosophy? Good grapes. Without that, it is not going to work. He also blends Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc with his Cabernet Sauvignon, but in very small percentages to let the Cabernet Sauvignon speak for itself. He is now using new technology to silkscreen his brand new bottles, with copper as the main color. Angelo Cellars has a small clientele base and wants to keep them as the key customer. Chad is not interested in making 100K cases and likes to make wine that from year to year changes. Every year is different and every Cab is different; he wants to baby it and make it something special. And people have come to expect that.

Sonoma Meditation: Quarryhill Botanical Garden

Another wonderful eyes-open meditation for you to enjoy...

Come with us to the hills above Glen Ellen in Sonoma Valley, to the site of an old quarry that has been transformed into an oasis of Asian plants and waterfalls. Listen to the leaves gently rustling in the wind as the water cascades through the pools. Take a moment to really study the brilliant colors of a flowering tree. One of the most exotic and biologically diverse places in Sonoma Valley, Quarryhill is a wild Asian woodland, intentionally not manicured and featuring one of the largest collections of wild-sourced Asian plants in the world. It is also a serene, scenic place for peaceful recreation, open for all to enjoy.

Luxury Wine Cave Tasting Experience in Napa's Coombsville | Italics Winegrowers

We get introduced to a lot of wineries at Cellar Angels. Every now and then you have to go and see what all the hype is about! Meet Italics Winegrowers in the heart of Napa Valley's Coombsville AVA. Watch our interview with Founder Ken Martin, General Manager Taylor Martin, and Winemaker Marbue Marke for the story behind Italics Winegrowers and the uniqueness of the Coombsville AVA. With its unbelievable caves, wonderful hospitality and fantastic small-batch wines, Italics Winegrowers is worth the visit.

See more about Italics Winegrowers at https://www.italicswinegrowers.com/

Drinking Wine in the Pantry: Sonoma Wines and Your Canned Foods

We're with Paul Giusto of Highway 12 Wines to talk about what to pair with choice foodstuffs from the back of the pantry. Canned jokes, canned food. You know you are staring at that can of tomato paste and wondering what the heck you are supposed to do with it. We don't know. But we do know what to drink with it.

Tamber Bey Vineyards: Napa Valley Award-Winning Wines and World Class Equestrian Center

Welcome to Cellar Angels, your private gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase. Learn more about the winery: http://bit.ly/timber-bey-vineyards

Blog: https://www.cellarangels.com/blog Buy Wine Online: https://www.cellarangels.com/wines/

Coveted Napa Valley Estate Wines From Spring Mountain's Schweiger Vineyards

Schweiger Vineyard's mission is to give the consumer the experience of a lifetime every time they visit. Cellar Angels' CEO Martin Cody interviews Co-Founder Fred Schweiger and Winemaker Andy Schweiger to explore the story behind the family's breathtaking estate vineyards on Spring Mountain. Welcome to Cellar Angels, your gateway to a world of wine wanderlust! Become a complimentary Cellar Angels member and enjoy exclusive access to Napa and Sonoma’s highest caliber, limited production wines rarely available in the market while supporting your favorite cause with proceeds from every purchase. Buy Wine Online: https://www.cellarangels.com/wines/ *Learn more about Schweiger Vineyards: https://www.schweigervineyards.com

Gundlach Bundschu - The Oldest Family-Owned Winery In California

It's hard fitting 160 years of history in a condensed video, but we tried!

For six generations and over 150 years, our family has farmed our Rhinefarm estate vineyard at the crossroads of the Sonoma Valley, Carneros, and Napa Valley appellations. Today, we focus on making small lots of ultra-premium wines from this distinctive and historic property.

See more about this great winery at https://www.gunbun.com/

Sonoma Meditation: Safari West Wildlife - Lemurs, Flamingos, Cheetah and Some Prickly Porcupines

Shhh... come watch the lemurs of Safari West as they chill out, while some porcupines get prickly with each other and the flamingos do what flamingos do (flamingle?) Stick around for the cheetah - she is our laze-around spirit animal.

WeWine Napa recommends as much peace and serenity as you may find during this challenging time. All our best to you and yours!

WeWine Napa COVID-19 Announcement

Clients and Friends,

Due to the directives issued by Napa County and the state of California in regards to COVID-19,
WeWineNapa is currently closed for tours. We sincerely hope, that you and your Family’s health remains safe and everyone stays healthy as well. Currently, the orders are issued until May 1st. We are hoping that this pandemic will have passed and the Napa Valley wineries can reopen. Should that be the case we are accepting bookings for May and beyond. Should these orders be extended, full refunds will be issued if your tour date is compromised. We are hoping to be open again soon and offering a unique and safe wine tasting experience. We will be offering 10% off for any future tour booked in the month of April. We appreciate your business and support and wish that everyone stays safe.

Thanks,
Jim Gramlich Owner/Operator

Napa Valley Rocks: History of the Napa Valley Wine Industry

Although Napa Valley is a "new world" wine region, it has a rich and intriguing history. Watch this video to learn more about Napa Valley's past.

Sonoma Meditation: Duck pond in Sonoma Plaza

Join us pond-side at the Sonoma Plaza - we're at the duck pond for our Sonoma Valley moment. Looking southwest across the plaza, the pond is a popular spot to sit and relax and enjoy the family of ducks who swim, dive, and otherwise entertain visitors. (And if you look closely, you might see a Sonoma toddler participating in the ever-popular duck chase through the Plaza.)

The Sonoma Valley is right next to the Napa Valley and has long been a great wine area. WeWine Napa offers tours customized for you and the Sonoma Valley region is not only beautiful but rich in great wineries. In fact, Sonoma has one of the oldest wineries.

Because we are not doing tours at this time due to the Corona Virus, we thought we would share another bit of peaceful pleasure in this delightful meditation. Love the sound of the water too! Feel free to enjoy it and give thanks for Experience Sonoma Valley's YouTube channel and their perfect sharing and allowing us to share with you during this challenging time.

Bless you, all and stay safe!