A Luxurious Napa Valley Wine Tasting Experience

Promontory is the first Harlan-owned winery to offer unique one of a kind tasting experiences.

View from of Napa Valley from Promontory Winery, Photo by Kelly Mitchell, The WIne Siren
View from Napa Valley's Promontory

This is one of the views H. William Harlan aka ‘Bill’ saw of Promontory back in the 1980s. When he first set his eyes on what would be one of the best places to grow his coveted wines. Untamed, wild, and undiscovered, this would be a place he’d return to again and again. 

The very first wine endeavor Bill Harlan was Merryvale. His first personal wine project was Harlan. His goal was to create 1st growth or Cru of California. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Bond encompasses five single vineyards around the valley, grape properties are on long term lease. Vine Hill Ranch is part of it. The goal of Promontory was to create a relatable experience. The acquisition of 800 acres took 3-4 different time periods. The Harlan vineyards consist of less than 10% under vine allowing this property to truly stay connected with nature. 40% of the vine growth is directly for Promontory.

A tasting room at Promontory with views, photo by Kelly Mitchell The Wine Siren
Just one of the private tasting rooms at Promontory

The Promontory tasting rooms are a study of meditation of Napa Valley.

Austere, peaceful, and private you may feel like you are the only one at this luxury wine destination.  Some may call this a “Cult Wine”, but it’s so much more than that. This wine is iconic. Much like the man that built this dynasty. 

In the cellar of Promontory with three large wooden barrels holding the latest vintage
For our barrel tasting at Promontory we tasted out the latest vintage from these barrels.

The design harkens from a no-nonsense industrial aesthetic. When you’ve experienced the ground shaking in any wine region, protecting wine is a non-negotiable goal. And the rock-solid nature of the winery, as well as the barrel room, attests to this.  But this takes it a step further. Views from almost every angle of the vineyards under not only the Promontory watch but Bond and Harlan as well. 

A big part of Napa Valley legends in wine, many dream of tasting wines from Bill Harlan and his family. The brands are legendary. Bond, Harlan, and the latest adventure, Promontory.

The massive fermentation tanks in the winery. Photo by Kelly Mitchell, The WIne Siren
These are the fermentation tanks at Promontory.

Promontory stands at the top of a series of ridges on the Mayacamas in Oakville. The lookout has views of each of Harlan’s adventures in wine. Bond and Harlan Estate are a stone’s throw away. These spectacular views and vineyards are part of the Mayacamas prefecture. The Mayacamas in the Western mountain range of Napa Valley runs parallel to the Sonoma Coast. The coast is less than 50 miles as the crow flies and has a distinct impact on the grapes. Combined with the San Pablo Bay climate influences (just 11 miles from the marsh)  also impacting Napa Valley weather and you have the formula for Napa Cru wine. 

View of Harlan and Bond Wineries vines grow

Nothing happens by accident under the watch of Bill Harlan. The planning, execution, and care of these wines and the wineries is hands down one of the best I’ve seen to date. From selecting vineyards decades ago to growing vines without releasing a wine for 8+ years. It’s all by design and the desire to create some of the most coveted wines in the Valley. 

A perfect palate cleanser. Davide Cilli, wine maker at Promontory pouring the 2006 Dom Pérignon, Photo by Kelly Mitchell The Wine Siren
A pouring of the 2006 Dom Perignon to cleanse the palate.

I’m with David Cilli, winemaker for Promontory. Our tasting begins with a sip at the precipice of Promontory and its expansive view of Oakville and the Harlan and Bond wineries. Ensuring a proper palate-cleansing, Cilli opens a stunning bottle of Dom Perignon.

The Acquisition. 

Bill Harlan’s phone rang in 2007. It was a friend telling him that the property now known as Promontory was likely coming on the market . The property in May of 2008. The acquisition was for the second generation of the family. This is where the Director of Promontory, Will Harlan steps in.

The growing philosophy for these special wines is predicated on an 8 year minimum growth time, before release. Hence, 2008 was the first vintage.  The team who works these lands has been together for almost 20 years.  That’s running a tight ship of experience that is paying off in the production.

Visit https://Promontory.Wine

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When great viticulture is an obsession you chose wisely and well. @vitnerd for @lecole41 on sustainability, great viticulture and award winning passion for vines.

WATCH WITH LINK IN BIO: SADIE DRURY - VINEYARD MANAGER
Sadie Drury is a Walla Walla native who has been passionate about agriculture since her first job of picking strawberries at the age of 12. In 2007, Sadie decided to combine her passion for agriculture with her love for wine by attending the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College and pursuing a career in viticulture. In 2008, Sadie started an internship at Ciel du Cheval Vineyard where she moved up the ranks to Assistant Vineyard Manager. Sadie joined the North Slope Management team in early 2013 and took over the reins as GM later that year. She currently manages 6 vineyards including the famed Seven Hills Vineyard. Sadie is the current Chair for the Washington State Wine Commission. She is the 2019 Power’s Sabbatical Recipient, the 2020 Washington Winegrowers Erick Hanson Memorial Grower of the Year, and a 2021 Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker.

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A Luxurious Napa Valley Wine Tasting Experience

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