Tag Archives: Napa Valley

4th of July Wine: Domaine Chandon Etoile Brut NV

Posted on July 4, 2016 by waywardwine

This 4th of July, while children (and/or yourself) blow things up, there is only one choice of inebriation that pairs perfectly with pyromania: bubbly. Not just any sparkling wine, not even Champagne, but all American sparkling wine.

In past, Wayward Wine has kept it cheap and cheerful with our patriotic petillance (read here: ‘Merica). This year, we get serious and go for Napa’s founding fizzy father: Domaine Chandon. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged America, Chandon, drink, Fourth of July, Napa, Napa Valley, Sparkling wine, wine | 2 Comments

Domaine Chandon Winery Review Napa Valley California

Posted on June 6, 2016 by waywardwine

Winding down our eight year anniversary trip to Napa Valley, we start our last day with bubbly for breakfast. Yesterday, Stags’ Leap stained us with their cabs (read here). So we may be a bit biased with fizz in our future.

Our rainy drive South finds Yountville and Chandon’s first vineyard: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bubbly, California, Champagne, Chandon, chardonnay, drink, drinks, France, moet, Napa Valley, parklarkr, Pinot meunier, pinot noir, tasting, travel, wine, Winery | 2 Comments

Stags’ Leap Winery Review Napa Valley

Posted on May 23, 2016 by waywardwine

Back to beginnings this week with one of Napa’s originals: Stags’ Leap Winery (not to be confused with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars).

The Chase family built the stone Manor House in 1890 and planted vineyards in 1893.

Stags Leap PatioOur visit feels part historic home tour, part winery tour. We enter and get a glass of 2014 Viognier (dry, pale, soft pear, white peach, lemon blossom: very good 4 of 5 $32). Stags’ interior oozes Victorian oak and moodiness. I feel like I forgot my top hat, pipe, and misogyny.

Stags Leap Victorian StaircaseIn 1913, widowed Mrs. Frances Grange bought and turned Stags’ into a resort for Hollywood elite. Prohibition halted wine-making but didn’t halt Frances. She sold fruit to other producers and turned Stag’s basement into an underground speakeasy with a trap door.

Stags Leap Prohibition CellarTo absolve patrons’ sins, both lawbreaking and religious, widow Grange built a non-denominational church. Today, church Grange serves as winery: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, drink, historic home, Napa Valley, Stag's Leap, travel, Victorian era, We started our 8th anniversary with Freemark Abbey (read here). Like Stags' Leap, Freemark shares fame for breaking the French 40 years ago this Spring at the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Since then, both , wine | 4 Comments

Winery Review Mumm Napa Valley

Posted on May 16, 2016 by waywardwine

These weekly(ish) recaps of our Napa Valley, eighth anniversary, wine whirlwind tour continue to Mumm. We already enjoyed a light breakfast of Pinot Noir at Etude (read here), but actually hungry now, and already late for lunch reservations, we bomb North. Then something surprises our bleary eyes… Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged California, Champagne, chardonnay, France, grapes, mumm, Mumm Napa, Napa Valley, pinot noir, Sparkling wine, travel, wine | 4 Comments

Etude Winery Visit Napa Valley Carneros

Posted on May 2, 2016 by waywardwine

After an unnecessarily ostentatious day-long tour from Mt Veeder to Howell Mountain with Cardinal (read P1 here read P2 here), we somehow wake up early. Our mouths blackened and livers tested by endless Cabernet, Merlot, and Malbec, we rejoice knowing that today, after four days of monster reds, we try Napa Valley Pinot Noir.

We bomb down to Carneros, Napa’s most southerly AVA.

Carneros Napa Valley Map Continue reading →