Like Something out of a Storybook

For those of you who know me, it's no secret that I love wine. Being so close to wine country is a total bonus for snobs like me. Last week, I had the pleasure of going to Napa Valley for my Birthday…

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY GIFT TO ME!

If you've never been to Napa, you'd be surprised how long it takes to visit just one vineyard. We spent the entire morning coasting up and down the Silverado Trail and we only got to 3 companies. Here is the first installment of my three-part wine series!

Storybook Mountain Vineyard

Head Pruned

The trail to Storybook is like…well…out of a story book. About 4 miles past Calistoga on the beautiful 128, just when there are no signs of life, you stumble upon this little, mountainside vineyard. Founded in 1880, their Zinfandel tradition began on the red clay-loam hillside of the Mayacamas Mountain Range. Since then, they've utilized the terrain to their advantage.

Horizontal Wire

Firstly, being on the hilly cusp of the Napa and Sonoma boarder allows temperature control. Most vineyards close at 95 degree temperatures. At most, the hillside reaches 75 to 85 degrees. This is due to the cool breezes that run through their vines as well the consistent rain patterns.




They also have an interesting trellising system (this is the way in which they train their vines to grow). For their reds, they operate on both wire and non-wire Head Pruned technique like the ones you see above. As for their Zins and white varietals, they operate on Horizontal Wire.

What's an advantage for Storybook is the angles of the sun. With their horizontal wire trellising, the sun is able to hit the sides of the grapes instead of directly above. That way the grapes don't get dried out.  Second, the same family has been picking and maintaining the vines for over 3 decades. Their dedication and attention to detail allows for consistency in the wine making process. Third, their caves are a one of a kind way for them to store their barrels.

What I found most interesting was the history of this mountainside and their caves. Back during the construction of the trans-continental railroad, the Chinese used for chiseling through the mountainside were responsible for the caves now used by Storybook. Past the natural mold, you can see the marks still left by the pickaxes.

Now to the good stuff…the wine.

On our tour, we tasted their Rose Zin, 2010 Zin, 2009 Cab, 2007 Reserve, and 2012 Viognier. Although their blend was unique and their cab was strong, it was that Viognier that really blew my hair back. At first taste, it would appear as though it was a primarily fruity wine. After about two or three sips, you would see that it actually had a hardy base. It almost throws you off-gaurd the large shift in taste it gathers with each sip. My favorite part was it's smooth nature. Drinking their 2012 Viognier was like drinking silk. Problem is, it's hard to pair it with any kind of food. That didn't stop me from buying a bottle! I look forward to exploring just the right food pairing.

If you're looking for a great place to go tasting, Storybook is an excellent place to go. The owners are kind, their story is unique, and their wine is superb. Take a chance, get the Viognier. I give this place four stars!

Cheers,
K