Thursday, June 19, 2008

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).