A JEWEL IN NAPA VALLEY

By John Olney
August 30, 2008, all rights reserved, Wine Country Marketing and Promotions,

1325 Imola West, #409, Napa, CA Phone: 707-299-9548
Web site: www.twccwcmp.blogspot.com E-mail: winecountrypromo@aol.com

At the request of John Naab and Adrianne Love, on Sunday, August 17, 2008, I escorted their friends around Napa Valley for a little wine tasting, site seeing and lunch. The group included: Massimo Gareri, Jewel Di Paolo, Jennifer Liang and Savio Au (Shown from left to right below) Simply click on the pictures for enlargements.

They got a little lost coming to Napa from San Francisco, but not too badly. I suggested we meet at COPIA which has been tilted “The America Center for Wine Food and the Arts.” However, due to a lack of any serious attendance by local residents and out of area tourists, COPIA has had to drastically cut back on expenses. The first are of cuts was in the arts, followed by the food programs.

I walked them around the first floor area and they were not very impressed with what they experienced. There were only about 40-50 people milling around the displays, wine dispensing machines, the gift shop and the restaurant. They had seen enough so we moved on to our first winery - Silverado Vineyards located along Silverado Trail near the city line between Napa and Yountville.

I drove my car and they followed in theirs. I called them on the cell phone to provide tidbits on buildings, etc. as we drove north on the Trail. Jewel translated into Italian for Massimo and Jennifer translated in Chinese for Savio. This system worked quite well.

Our first stop, Silverado Vineyards (www.silveradovineyards.com/), is pictured below at the main entryway to the tasting room.

We then proceeded into the tasting room where I found Tom, who I worked with when I was employed at this winery back in 2000.

That’s me in the center being the ham that I am! We’re on the deck outside the tasting room looking north towards Mt. St. Helena which is above the head of Savio on the left.

From Silverado Vineyards I took the party to a site that very few tourists ever visit, but which I feel is very important since it commemorates the site where the first Caucasian settler, George C. Yount, who received the first Mexican Land Grant, established his home in Napa County. The town was originally named Sebastopol” but later was changed to “Yountville” about six years after Yount passed away.

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Here is a blowup of the plaque:

We then left for the next winery, Mumm Napa (www.mummnapa.com/ ) at which I also had been employed.

Jewel couldn’t wait to get to this winery and taste the bubbly.

Then it was off to lunch at Rutherford Gill (a.k.a. Hillstone's chains including "Houston" - www.hillstone.com/#/restaurants/rutherfordGrill/ )

Boy, were they all very hungry! And where did they put all that food?

As we conversed during our late lunch, I found out that Jennifer lives in my hometown of San Leandro, California, located across the bay from San Francisco. So we compared notes on streets, restaurants and bars that I knew about when growing up in the town and I found most of the bars & restaurants were either gone or she just didn’t know anything about them.

As it was getting late and they all had to return to San Francisco we said our goodbye’s at the Grill. Believe me, this was a great group to be out touring with and I look forward to being with them again.

Just some general snaps:

A TOUR OF LUNA VINEYARDS

THIS SITE ENTRY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

March 21, 2009

Text & photo's By John M. Olney & John Naab June 19, 2008
Copyright all rights reserved, Wine Country Marketing and Promotions.
1325 Imola west, #409. Napa, CA 94559 jjolneytwcc1@aol.com

Background
My first experience at this site was back in 1987 when I was collecting labels for my second wine label poster-map on Napa Valley wineries. At that time this was the site of St. Andrews vineyards and winery. The buildings were unimposing structures designed as a “working winery site.” In the early 1990’s the business collapsed and shortly thereafter Clos Du Val, located just a few miles north also on Silverado Trail, took over the facility for use as increased production and wine storage.

In 1995, Michael Moone and George Vare began their plan to produce quality wines on a much smaller scale than their previous endeavors in Napa Valley by purchasing the former St. Andrews property and renaming the property “Luna Vineyards.” Web site: www.lunavineyards.com

Mr. Moone brought extensive experience and talent to the Luna investor group having previously being an executive with the St. Helena based Wine World Estates owned by Nestle Enterprises Inc. (American subsidiary of Nestle N.A. of Switzerland) since the mid 1970’s and rising to become its President. Wine World Estates had owned Beringer winery since 1972 and Mr. Moone is credited with being the instrumental figure to have turned the winery, built in 1876, into a giant within the national and international wine industry. Along with others, he formed Silverado Partners, the group that would buy Beringer from Nestle in 1996. Then at Silverado Partners and other partnerships , he masterminded the sale of the Beringer holdings to Fosters of Australia in 2000.

Mr. Vare began his career in the wine industry in 1972 by buying Geyser Peak Winery for Schlitz Brewing Company. He built it into a 700,000 case operation before leaving in 1979. He then started a number of other wineries and wine-related companies. In 1991 he became president of the Henry Wine Company (wine wholesalers). In 1995 he was part of the group that formed Silverado Partners. Mr. Vare was President of Luna from its founding until 2001 when he “retired” to manage his own operation, “Vare Vineyards.” Web site: www.varevineyards.com

John Kongsgaard was brought in as the first winemaker. Mr. Kongsgaard, is a fifth-generation Napan, and has grown grapes in Napa since 1975. He began his winemaking career 1979 at Newton Vineyards where he remained for 13 years. In 1995 he became a partner and vice president in Luna in addition to being its first winemaker. In 1996, he along with Fritz Hatton founded Arietta. Web site: www.arietta-wine.com He now works the 20 plus acres his family has owned since 1920. Web site is www.kongsgaard-wine.com/.

My 2nd visit to this winery site
The next time I visited this winery site was in 2002 when I was working in the tasting room at Silverado Vineyards and my Manager brought me down the trail to taste the Sangiovese made at Luna because he thought it was as good at that made at Silverado and wanted me to compare the two. And, just as he had said, it was certainly as good if not just a little better than Silverado’s.
On June 7th, I drove Mr. Moone and Luna’s President, Mary Ann Tsai, to attend the 2008 Wine Auction. During the drive the conversation somehow brought up what I was beginning to implement in providing very specialized wine country tours focusing on wines of distinction and the history behind the development of the wine industry in Napa Valley. They both suggested that what I am implementing coincides in many ways with their market development plans. They suggested that I come to their Luna winery to see the extensive remodeling they had recently completed and to once again taste their wines. I was obvious thrilled by their suggestion and during the next week made an appointment to visit the winery.

My associate, John Naab, photographed the compound during our visit.

We first headed for the tasting room to check in for our tour. Indeed, the owners had totally remodeled the existing facilities developing a true showcase winery operation exhibiting an elegant simplicity but done with expensive touches that provide the visitor with a comforting atmosphere in which to enjoy the wines.

The tasting room has the familiar wine bar. The glass doors to the left on the above photo lead out to the winery weight station, crusher and the barrel storage building.

Now the room also includes lounge areas near the entry way seen in the back of the picture above.

We were greeted by Patrick Jefferies, Director of Retail. I first met Pat when he was the floor manager at Cole’s Steakhouse in downtown Napa a few years back. After the exchange of updating information on what we both have been doing since we last met, Pat began walking us through the facilities starting with the expansive private tasting room located behind the general tasting room

Here he is shown on the left as he explains to me what the finishing decorative touches will be to complete this special tasting room designed for parties of up to eight. As you can see, the owners have designed an elegance into the room that will convey to those who will be tasting the Luna wines a graceful lifestyle that will make their wine tasting experience a moment to remember.

Pat then led us out to the expansive courtyard located between the tasting room and tank/barrel storage facility.

You can see the reddish umbrellas in what was the makeshift tasting room while all the remodeling was being completed in the tasting room building.






Pat talked about the various uses they are thinking about for this area. One of the first possibilities was their wine club which previously was named “Lunatics” but has recently been dropped.

We then followed Pat into the wine cellar for look at all equipment and barrels slowing aging the Luna wines awaiting their pending release to the consuming public.





Tasting Time
We then returned to the tasting room where Randy Hester, winemaking staff, would pour some selections for us. By the way, that’s when we noticed the ceiling and admired the gold foil vine imprint on the beams.

The white wine I wanted to taste first was the Luna Pinot Grigio (vintage was 2007). What a wonderfully refreshing hit this wine made on my palette! Randy explained to us that Luna produced about 60% of its wines from the Pinot Grigio grape. It is 95% PG and 5% Chardonnay.

Next we tasted the 2007 “Freakout,” a blend of Chardonnay (35%), Sauvignon Blanc (25%) PG (33%) and Ribolla Gialla (7%), the latter of which I had not heard of before. It comes from the George Vare vineyards and the Luna literature says that Vare is the only place in America where this Italian varietal is grown. This wine caused a slight tingle on my tongue. I probably liked it so much because there was sufficient amounts of PG and SB to override the taste of Chardonnay which I feel out with a few years back because so many wineries were using too much malolactic fermentation for my palette. I still have not learned why Luna named it what they did but I’ll go back and get the answer soon - By waiting it gives a reason to try their wines some more!

As we needed to start wrapping things up and getting ourselves to our next destination, John and I asked to taste the Sangiovese (2006). It is composed of 75% Sangiovese, 18% Merlot and 7% Petite Sirah. And as before, it was smooth with a delicious rich fruit flavor and not heavily oaked.

In addition to the three wines tasted, Luna offers a number of reds: Merlot (2004), Canto (2005), NV Cabernet Franc (2005), NV Sangiovese Reserve (2005) - which I will have to try on my next visit -
Howell Mtn Merlot (2004), NV Cab. Sauv. (2005), and NV Cab. Sauv. Reserve (2004)


John and I were fortunate when we were able to talk to Mr. Moone as he was heading out for his luncheon engagement just before we were about to leave the tasting room. After introductions and pleasantries, John went on outside to conduct more photography of the grounds.

As I was about to finish my conversation with Mr. Moone when the president Mary Ann Tsai came into the tasting room with the winemaker, Mike Drash. She was moving along to meet her daughter for lunch as we again discussed our mutual marketing strategies.

Here you see us as we walk to the outer parking lot. Prior to joining Luna, Mrs. Tsai was employed at Beringer Wine Estates for twelve years Her last position there was vice president of marketing.

Mr. Drash came to Luna following ttenures at Sonoma’s J Vineyards and Napa’s Far Niente winery located in Oakville.

About the site Itself
Luna is over a 50,000-case wine production compound including a 42-acre estate vineyard. They also receive garpes from a 7-acre vineyard owned by Vare. All the Luna vinyard land is planted to Pinot Grigio (also known by the European spelling as Pinot Gris).

----------BRIDGET NOLAN’S BIRTHDAY & ------WINE TASTING PARTY

Photo's and text by John M. Olney Saturday, April 19, 2008

Copyright, all rights reserved, Wine Country Marketing and Promotions,
1325 Imola West, #409, Napa, CA Phone: 707-299-9548

Web site: http://www.twccwcmp.blogspot.com/ E-mail: winecountrypromo@aol.com

The day began about 10 am at the home of Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd located just a few home lots away from the gorgeous Silverado Resort and Country Club in the eastern hills outside of the city of Napa. Bill’s wife, Mary, and her two daughters Georgia and Bridget Gann Dodd were busily preparing a picnic lunch for the party of six college students organized to celebrate the 22 birthday of Bridget Nolan. Already at the house were two of the three young men, Stevo Ostrow and Elliot Hayes, who escort the girls on the wine tasting outing. The last young man to join the group, Greg Mason Green would join the group along the tasting trail. Bridget Gann would wait for Greg to come up from Berkeley and then she and Greg would travel up valley to join the others.

To accommodate the party of six, Bill contacted Wine Country Marketing and Promotions and asked its founder, John Olney -who Bill has known for a number years - to design a full day’s activities for the group and drive them safely around tasting wine. The plan was to use two cars to transport the group from winery to winery.

The First Stop - Andretti Winery

Below, Georgia Gann flanked by Stevo Ostrow (left) and Elliot Hayes in the entry parking lot at famed race car drive Mario Andretti‘s Winery. (CLICK ON PHOTO's FOR ENLARGEMENT)

Back in the mid 1980s this site was know as Mallard Winery, owned by a hippie-like couple who conducted their business out of typical two story California Ranch style home with an out buildings and small rental home. In 1996, Mario and his partner, Joe Antonini, former Chairman of the Board of K-Mart, found the property available and purchased it with the thought in mind to remodel the complex to look as close as possible to Mario’s home in Montona, Italy when he was growing up.

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Birthday girl Bridget joins the others under the archway entry in front of the courtyard fountain that leads to the tasting room.

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The tasting room was filled with quite a large crowd of people such that Bridget’s gang was unable to squeeze up to the tasting bar. The party reviewed the tasting menu and saw that they were going to have a wait before they could experience the wines and finally elected to move on to the next itinery stop.

The Second Stop -
Silverado Vineyards & Winery

Next on the wine tasting schedule was the Silverado winery (www.silveradovineyards.com/ ) constructed by the widow of Walt Disney, Lillian, her daughter Diane and her husband Ron Miller. Mr. Miller is a former football star at USC and the L.A. Rams, and head of Disney Studio products.


<<<-- The fountain and stairway entry leading to the tasting room

BELOW: The tasting bar .

The three purchased the third vineyards planted in what would become the famous Stag’s Leap Appellation District which were originally planted by Harold Sees of the candy production fame.

<<<-- Birthday girl Bridget and Greg experience the wonderful aroma associated to the massive barrel storage rooms. Below: The fabulous view from the tasting deck with Mayacamas mountain range on the left leading to Calistoga and Mt St. Helena, the highest peak in Napa County

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Off to the Third Stop - Mumm Napa

Time for some Mumm bubbly (www.mummnapa.com/) is a serene setting on the deck overlooking vineyard land of the Rutherford Bench viticulture area.

<<< - Wait staff sets up the glasses and identifying mats. Below: The six different bubbles are ready for tasting.

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Let the tasting begin, and begin and…..

Now they are ready to take the 45 minute tour and learn how the sparkle develops in the wine.
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Below: After the tour they view the Ansel Adams photography collection and the Mustard Festival Photo Contest selections before exiting the winery and heading back for more tasting.

At the beginning of the tour Elliot had answered a prize question correctly and their tour guide pours their reward.

Meanwhile their other driver is working his way back from the Dodd’s home bringing the other Bridget and Greg up to Mumm to join the birthday party and tasting.


Finally Bridget Gann and Greg Mason Green arrive on scene.


A finale tasting with all six of the birthday party together enjoying a good time with their tour guide and then it’s off to picnic lunch.




Off to Lunch - The Fourth Stop

Jst a short drive northwest off of White Sculpture Springs Road is Crane Park named after one of the earliest settles in St. Helena who developed a large vineyard and winery. He donated much of his land to the city and part of that donation is the site of a large park named in his honor. Another portion of the donated property contains the St. Helena High School.


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Franciscan Vineyards & Winery - Stop #5

Although Bridget Gann works at Franciscan (www.franciscan.com/ ), she lets an on duty tasting room staff member give some background on this fabulous winery before Bridget takes over and gives the group a walking tour of her employment facilities. Then they sit in the courtyard and enjoy some well spent time together as for some of them their graduation from college nears.

It’s not always easy to get six people ready for a posed picture in front of the massive entry way fountain at Franciscan


BUT, TIME PEVAILS and they come together!







STOP SIX - RUBICON

The final winery to be visited is one of the oldest and most gracious stone wineries in the nation. Build in 1879 the Captain of the great Alaska Commercial Company fleet of seal hide sailing ships, Gustave Ferninand Niebaum purchased the vineyards and small winery named “Inglenook,” which loosely translates into something similar to “beautiful corner.” Niebaum retained the name. He completed construction of the winery some eight years later in 1887. While the construction was on-going he and his five partners amassed fortunes from their exclusive hunting rights gained after Alaska was sold by the Russians to the USA.

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Movie mogul Francis Ford Coppola, over a period of 15 years, meticulously re-established the entire estate depicted in this drawing displayed above many doorways as you walk through the complex. He renamed it "Rubicon" (www.rubicon.com/}.

The girls take a minute and reflect on their friendship.

And the boys contemplate their next Executive Officer responsibilities in the business world

With a staircase like this, how could one not gather the beauty of these young women and capture their moment?







The sun begins to fall and the wine tasting journey draws to an end.
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SPECIAL NOTE FROM WINE COUNTRY MARKETING & PROMOTIONS

We could only hope that all our clients would be as much fun and enjoyable as this group of simply great young men and women. My co-host/driver, Larry Cancelose, and I thank Mr. & Mrs. Bill Dodd for giving us the honor to escort these great youth of tomorrow around our Napa Valley. Best wishes in all their future endeavors.

signed: John M. Olney, Founder