Cabernet Season in the Napa Valley

It's Cabernet Season here in the Napa Valley. From mid fall to spring, visitors come to the Napa Valley to enjoy Cabernet Season. Once the grapes are harvested and the temperatures are perfectly mild, the region becomes a haven for cozy getaways, hearty fare, and of course, the world's most spectacular wine. It's a time when a slower, intimate atmosphere emerges, creating personal experiences and a chance to explore all the culture (and Cabernet) the valley has to offer. During Cabernet Season we want to introduce you to three of our favorite wineries making this fine wine!

Robert Mondavi, 7801 St Helena Hwy, Oakville, CA 94562 (707) 226-1395

Robert Mondavi established his namesake winery in 1966 with a vision to create Napa Valley wines that would stand in the company of the world's finest. He chose To Kalon Vineyard in the heart of the Napa Valley as the home for Robert Mondavi Winery. This first-growth vineyard, located in Oakville, California, is renowned for producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the world. Mondayi believed that wines should reflect their origins, that they are the product of the soil, the climate, and the careful stewardship of those precious resources. He also believed in combining the newest techniques and technology with time-honored winemaking traditions. Originally planted in 1868, the To Kalon Vineyard has become recognized as one of the finest first-growth vineyards of the world. Ancient Greek for "the highest beauty," To Kalon is the historic vineyard that provides Robert Mondavi Winery with grapes for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignon. Explore their tasting notes archive on past vintages of Cabernet. We recommend the Exclusive Cellar Tasting: a private seated tasting in their To Kalon Cellar. Guests taste through 4 reserve wines, with a cheese and charcuterie accompaniment.

HALL Wines, 401 St Helena Hwy, St Helena, CA 94574 (707) 967-2626

HALL Wines represents critically acclaimed artisan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from two Napa Valley tasting rooms and winery locations in both St. Helena and Rutherford. Owned by Craig & Kathryn Hall, its vineyard collection features five Certified Organic estates producing classic Bordeaux varieties. HALL's highly rated wines include the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, selected as Wine Spectator's #18 of the ‘Top 100' in 2010. The HALL 2008 "Kathryn Hall" Cabernet Sauvignon that earned #2 Wine Spectator "Top 100" Wines, and its 2010 ‘Exzellenz' earned 100 points by Robert Parker. Collectively, over 140 HALL Wines have been rated 90 points and above. Through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards, they are able to express the unique and diverse character of Napa Valley's soil and climate. Known for their "Crazy Good Cabernet" the 2013 Vintage has received lots of accolades. Try their Ultimate Cabernet tasting: set in the Founder's Cellar of the historic Bergfeld building. The Ultimate Cabernet experience is a seated tasting of their most reserved and highest rated wines. The flight is determined by what Cabernets are in their peak for tasting, and can span the library wines and current vintages. If you're thinking of a Holiday Gift for the win lover in your life then you should check out A Perfect Score  by Craig Hall and Kathryn Walt Hall. You can order a copy of it here.

Silver Oak Winery, 915 Oakville Crossroad, Oakville, CA 94562 (707) 942-7022

Silver Oak began with a handshake between two friends with a bold vision: focus on one variety, Cabernet Sauvignon, aged exclusively in American oak and worthy of cellaring for decades to come. Today, they farm more than 400 acres of vines in Napa Valley and Alexander Valley with a leading-edge approach toward precision viticulture, allowing them to give their vines exactly what they need, when they need it. All of their estate vineyards are certified under California's Sustainable Wine Growing program. For 40 years, they've been producing exceptional, food-friendly Cabernets that are extensively aged to be drinkable upon release. Perfect for big dinners or impromptu celebrations, Silver Oak's Alexander Valley and Napa Valley Cabernet wines are as distinctive as they are delicious. The 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant representation of Napa Valley Cabernet from a cool vintage. It presents an opaque garnet hue in the glass and reveals aromas of sandalwood and roasted meats. Flavors of vanilla, coffee beans and raspberries are buttressed by dusty tannins, firm acidity and a mouth-coating texture. Given proper cellaring, this wine should provide drinking pleasure through 2029. We recommend Alexander Valley Cabernet Vertical Tasting. An experience a vertical tasting of their Alexander Valley Cabernet from six different vintages, beginning with the 2007 and ending with the 2012. This tasting is held in a private room and is limited to eight people.