Experience. It’s the soul of a business. St. Francis Winery gets this. Experience can create indelible and everlasting memories. If done right it becomes a megaphone for a winery. Anyone can pour a glass of wine and say what they taste. It’s not always transferable. It takes special kind of people draw out of others, what they experience in a wine. St. Francis has mastered the making of wine, and they’ve brought to the table an extraordinary experience with food. Add to that the ability to regale others with a good story and the memory of this place, the experiences of this destination will stay with you. My experience with St. Francis Winery began on a Saturday morning. I left Napa and headed up the valley from Oakville on the Oakville Grade Road. This road is a crazy windy road right over the Mayacamas. It’s the fastest way from Napa to the winery. You will encounter two types of travelers on this path. The one who travels this road daily and mimics an experienced race car driver. And the one like me, who has gone this way a couple of times and rides the brakes more than they coast or speed. Once or twice I couldn’t see the road alongside me, just the deep dark valley of trees, rocks, and flora. I’ll avoid this route at night. File that!
While the food and wine pairing are notable at the core of the St. Francis experience is the wine. I sat down with the winemaker, Chris Louton. Louton has a pedigree in wine that includes time with Beringer & Schramsberg. He continues to create masterful Bordeaux style wines at St. Francis.
{VIDEO} Get an insider’s view of winemaking at St. Francis here with Chris Louton:
Onto the pairing menu! This baby is Zagat-rated, and people rave about it. I can see why.
The menu as I experienced it was a pairing of mastery and refinement without being stuffy. Two disciplines are coming together to create an unforgettable pairing.
Chef Bryan Jones is expert at bringing award-winning wines & unique dishes together. The goal? To create the ultimate experience in food & wine pairing. For me, I tasted the wine first. Two sips are what it takes for me to get my palate comfortable to register the taste of a wine. Then I took a small bite of the dish and savored the moment. Each ingredient selected for its compliments to not only the plate but the wine. The plating is beautiful and the attentive staff makes you feel like you are the only one there.
From the people to the wine and vineyards, there is something for everyone at St. Francis Winery.
Insider Information: The wine we were sipping on the video was St. Francis Anthem a delightfully bold Bordeaux blend with delectable dark berries, with lite vanilla and pepper on the long smooth finish.
Alice Tetienne of Champagne Henriot Organic is important, but not necessarily the best. It is but one part of the equation. We have to be
Barodlino has a rich history in both wine and culture. There is no better Rosé that takes the beauty of the region and expresses it than Chiaretto Rosé.
Could it be that this region, today known as the Fastest Growing Wine Region in the United States is the world’s next Napa Valley? This is Idaho Wine Country.
All I want to do... is have some fun @tressabores #NapaValley check them out. Absolutely outstanding down to earth vibe and wine that`s better for you and planet earth. Sustainable, organic & truly killer wine! #certifiedsustainable #certifiedorganic
I know no joy as great as a moment of rushing into a new love, no ecstasy like that of a new love.
~ Anais Nin
The words say it all. Magnificent drink. If you can get it. @turleywine 2015 Napa Valley Library Block Petite Syrah
Dark, brooding with a side of magnificent freshness.
And now back to Paris for a formidably fabulous Friday! Michelin-star restaurant- check! Fabulous dark and exquisite library for enjoying cocktails, a breathtaking entrance of a French hideaway from years ago...
Stunning Michelin star restaurant and beautiful bibliothèque with Parisian friends.
Bookmark this spot! I don’t often share where I dine unless I am out of the country, but because so many people ask 💋🍷💋#TheWineSiren I am going to change that. Take my favorite brunch and Fried Chicken spot! @southsidenapa offers not only some of the freshest most inviting dishes in Napa, they also have a wide array of coffee, tea, wine and bubbles to pair your dishes with.
Its one of the few #petfriendly places with great food and an inviting team. Lots of talent here in the food arena and the outdoor seating area is equipped with swinging chairs, a fire pit and comfortable seating inside and out.
Fried Chicken you ask? Yes! Pairs perfectly with your Napa Valley Sparkling and #Champagne.The best in Napa Valley. Make sure and call ahead, they often sell out.
Hours are 8am-2pm
Breakfast served all day and an expanded lunch menu.
With over 30 years of sustainability under their belt, Domaine Carneros has a big headstart in the way of sustainability. They built the first significant solar installation, recognized as the largest in the world at the time. Far beyond complacent, Domaine Carneros continues to push the limits and try new techniques and strategies to improve their abilities.
Domaine Carneros
An incredible indulgence and the ultimate experience.
It’s in my neighborhood. Two miles away door to door. Why do I find myself returning again and again? Because this is one of the most stunning destinations in Carneros and Napa Valley. Stunning in both taste and views.
The skies, the ultimate blue, the vineyard hills throughout the landscape. It’s a breathtaking pinch yourself situation no matter how often you visit.
The team is so welcoming and the sparkling wine is world class and made sustainably. If you’re ready to step up your sparkling wine game this is where you need to be.
The wines tasted:
2016 Estate Brut Cuvée (late disgorge) ripe pear, white flowers, creamy, beautiful structure.
2019 Brut Rosé Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, incredible well poised, citrus, red berries, almonds and floral notes
2015 Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs Tête de Cuvée The dream. A signature must taste from the most prized blocks of Chardonnay. Evocative of citrus curd, pie crust, a nuance of ginger and tart lemon. I could drink this all day every day!
2017 Ultra Brut Tropical fruit, lime, lemon zest, crisp, lovely palate and exquisite finish.
The ultimate indulgence, featuring three of Tsar Nicoulai’s finest caviars:
Classic, Select, and Golden Reserve
Served with potato chips, toast points, and Cowgirl Creamery crème fraîche.
Make your reservation today!
Domainecarneros.com and ask for the caviar experience!
#TheWineSiren #DomaineCarneros #CertifiedSustainable #NapaValley #WinePairing #SparklingWine
Incredible experience and it keeps on getting better every time I visit. Have you been to @goosecrosscellars ?
Fantastic red white and Rosé wine. There is absolutely something for everyone. Including clothes for the shoppers amongst us.
#rosé #roséallday #napavalley #winetasting #winelife #summervibes #bestday #goosecrosscellars #visitnapavalley
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