Napa Spring Report

Nancy and I stopped by Ehren Jordan's Failla Vineyards this weekend to pick up a few bottles of his GREAT wines and to see his new hillside cave.There is nothing quite like Napa Valley in the Spring: the incredible wysteria at Merryvale (above), the annual Mustard Festival or just kicking back on top of Spring Mountain. Read on...

I first heard of Ehren Jordan of Failla Vineyards in 1989 from my old friend David Hart at Nashville Wine and Spirits. I had remodeled David's outstanding wine store and built his country home. Ehren is the head winemaker for Helen Turley at Turley Wine Cellars and a partner with mutual friend, Bruce Neyers of Neyers Vineyards/national sales director of Kermit Lynch Wine Imports. The wines from all these well known vintners is of the highest quality. Now, thank goodness, Ehren and his wife Anne-Marie have tackled their own winery at 3530 Silverado Trail. He has been boring through the backyard hillside for a state of the art cave which should be completed this year. PLEASE treat yourself and visit their website and winery and experience their Alban Vineyard Viognier, Keefer Ranch and Pearlessence Vineyards Pinots or the Phoenix Ranch Syrah.

I just finished up a wine cellar for dear friends who live next door to Grace Family Vineyards, off Hwy 29 just north of St. Helena. Their cabernet grapes have been going into Dick Grace's sought after wine for years. Soon they may be bottling their own cab and I can't wait. As soon as the floors are stained, I'll post some images of my redwood and copper cellar.

Our friends have old Napa roots and the original family land of 1000's of acres caps Spring Mountain above the town of St. Helena. This area spans the Napa/Sonoma ridge and is well known for its slow maturing cabernet. Cain, Spring Mt., Pride and many others are creating long lasting, firm, old style wines. When we are in St. Helena they are kind enough to let me stay at their cabin which is 20 minutes down a one lane, wildflower covered road through vineyards and a few locked gates. But when you get there, everything slows down. Its a one room cabin with decks, woodstove, solar power, outdoor shower and lots of peace and quiet. Needless to say, I take plenty of wine along. Man, I have a rough job! See the slideshow in the blog sidebar for pictures of Failla and Spring Mountain retreat.