Vino Ventures

Happy Valentine’s Day! 2024 is the 30th anniversary of the year I fell in love—with Napa Valley and the world of wine.

For a quarter century, I visited California wine regions at least twice a year. The lapse wasn’t intentional. My most recent visit to Napa Valley was almost exactly five years ago, 18 months after the Atlas Fire ripped through the area. Then life got in the way. First COVID struck in March 2020, and then later that year the Glass Fire further devastated both Napa and Sonoma. By the time it was possible to travel safely once again, I had largely shifted my attention to my new love, Italy.

It’s great to be reunited! A few visible signs of those fires remain, and a few masks appear hear and there, but almost everything is back to normal.

Truffle Shuffle “Napapalooza”

However…I would say that the “Napapalooza” weekend hosted by Truffle Shuffle during Super Bowl weekend was anything but normal. A young company started by Chefs Jason McKinney and Tyler Vorce, Truffle Shuffle’s motto is “unleash your inner Michelin star chef at home.”

“Connecting the world together through food by combining chefs from all cuisines teaching the most authentic version of their recipes to people all over the world in a seamless, interactive, and entertaining environment.”

Truffle Shuffle Mission Statement

That certainly describes “Napapalooza,” a three-day extravaganza of cooking, learning, eating, and enjoying wines from the Charles Krug Winery owned by the third (Marc, Peter Jr.) and fourth generations of the Mondavi family. From a caviar tasting to mastering chocolate lava cake, from a personal DJ to a performance by Broadway singer/actor Lianne Marie Dobbs with partner Luke Darnell, the weekend was masterfully orchestrated by a team of chefs and more than a dozen capable staff (plus a few long-time members who volunteered to keep a room full of 150 guests happy!).

There was even time to walk over to the Charles Krug tasting room to sample limited release 100% Cabernets from Slinsen, Voltz, and Cold Spring Vineyards, plus an amazing blend of the best grapes from all three vineyards (2018 Vintage Selection).

Check out the Truffle Shuffle website for a huge array of classes and culinary programs for members. Membership registration is free, but paid membership for a modest $95 annual fee significantly expands opportunities to experience a bubbling array of cooking experiences.

And then there’s wine…

It would be impossible to visit Napa without a serious schedule for visiting at least two wineries a day! I’m often approached by friends wanting suggestions for Napa and Sonoma winery experiences. Well, after the three extra days we planned to bookend “Napapalooza,” I can now say with assurance that this short list of wineries (in order of appearance, not priority) will be sure to please.

Personal visits to these wineries will reward visitors with a selection of wines for tasting that can only be purchased at the winery tasting room or online. Consider wine club memberships from these wineries to snag extra benefits — free wine tastings, special chef tastings, shipping discounts, etc. — during in-person visits.

The links for each winery description will lead you directly to more information about the winery, visiting hours, reservations, and other contact information.

At least one welcome-winery visit along the drive to Napa from SFO is required! We chose Domaine Carneros for its sheer beauty and delicious sparkling wines. Founded by Champagne Taittinger in 1987, D. Carneros added Pinot Noir to its brand in 1992 and recently began importing luxury brand Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs from Champagne. A grouping of four sparklers accompanied by charcuterie and cheese is sure to signal that you have arrived in wine country!

We happened to arrive in the late afternoon at Groth Vineyards & Winery just in time to say hello to Suzanne Groth, 2nd gen president of the family business. Situated on Oakville Crossing, between Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, Groth specializes in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a proprietary red blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. In honor of the winery’s 40th anniversary in 2024, Groth partnered with neighboring vineyards to produce the “Neighborhood Series” of three special Cabernets (all 2020 vintage): Game Farm, Highway Block, and Laura’s Vineyard. This small production of wines won’t last long. Order yours now!

Venge Vineyards offers elegant seated tastings on the veranda of a new building dedicated to tasting and led by the winery’s hospitality staff. The family offers a wonderful American success story. Winemaker Kirk is the third generation in the Venge family to be fascinated by the art of making wine. After his great-grandfather (Knud) emigrated from Denmark to the U.S. in the early 1900s, his father, Per, got the wine bug and started Vencom Imports specializing in fine wines and spirits. Per’s son Nils opted out of the family business to study viticulture at UC Davis, start a winery, and inspire his son Kirk who then gained full ownership of the winery in 2008. Tastings are available 10:00 am – 4:00 pm ($45) by appointment only.

By far the largest of the wineries we visited, Jordan Vineyard & Winery sits on 1,200 acres in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County near Healdsburg. Specializing in Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon since it was founded by Tom and Sally Jordan in 1972, Jordan’s full guest experience promise includes hospitality as well as great wine. From a Taste of Jordan including small bites from Jordan’s executive chef, Jesse Mallgren, to an estate tour and Chef’s Tasting paired with beautiful cuisine, vistas from the chateau to the highest point of the estate are sure to charm and delight.

Pine Ridge Vineyards was one of the first wineries I visited in 1994, and my first introduction to Viognier in an unusual blend with Chenin Blanc (still made). At the time, Pine Ridge was a random selection along Silverado Trail; this time it was a targeted destination. Without a proper sign announcing our arrival in the general area I remembered from so many years ago, I would never have recognized it. So much has changed.

Founded in 1978 by Gary Andrus, the winery was sold in 2000 to Crimson Wine Group, a company focused on sustainability. Pine Ridge includes 160 acres of vines across five districts, including 47 in Stags Leap. Our tasting at Pine Ridge was the only one to include a Malbec (88% blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Sirah) and a 100% Cabernet Franc. We also tasted Cabs from Carneros, Atlas Peak, Oakville, Rutherford, and Stags Leap.

On December 13, 2023, the world of wine lost an icon. Miljenko “Mike” passed away at age 100. His legacy dates back to the 1976 Judgment of Paris in which an American Chardonnay—the 1973 Montalena—beat out some of France’s most famous bottles. It was Mike Grgich who made that wine.

In 1977, Grgich partnered with Austin Hills of Hills Bros. Coffee, to launch Grgich Hills Estate. They combined business acumen and winemaking skills to make the great, successful winery we know today run by Mike’s daughter, Violet. His lifetime of amazing experiences is chronicled in a wonderful book published in 2016, “A Glass Full of Miracles,” which is available on Amazon and on the winery’s website.