![]() The fact that the winery supports a great cause is really the cherry on the sundae.” They are dense and rich, but also fragrant and spicy. "Ehlers bottles wines that are impeccably balanced. "As a sommelier, wine quality is also extremely important when thinking about wineries to visit," says Martin Sheehan-Stross, Chaine Des Rotisseurs Best Young Sommelier International 2016. Here, the best wineries in Napa Valley, according to experts. ![]() We sought out renowned sommeliers to give us their picks for the best wineries in Napa, along with a few staff recs to curate the must-see destinations for every type of visitor to California's wine country. In the face of stiff competition and sizable opportunity, Napa Valley wineries are stepping up their offerings beyond the typical tastings with luxe experiences that range from sensory garden tours to private dining with Michelin-starred chefs. And tourism to Napa Valley has only continued to grow as more Michelin-starred restaurants, luxurious hotels and resorts, and elevated wine experiences have become tentpoles of tourism to the area. So when it comes to choosing the best Napa Valley wineries to visit, the setting is almost as important a factor to consider as the grapes themselves.Īnd the competition for wine tourists is fierce: Today, there are more than 400 wineries to choose from in Napa and Sonoma counties alone, which is up from just 25 in Napa in the 1970s. Romantic ambience, historic architecture, lush scenery, and golden light there is so much more to wine tasting in California's Napa Valley than simply sipping a glass of vino. Retrieved from Baron Philippe de Rothschild. ![]() 10 Things You Should Know About Opus One Winery. The Rothschild Dynasty of Wine Production.How Robert Mondavi Changed American Wine.Therefore, it is tough to hoard your Opus One vintages. One limitation of buying an Opus One vintage is that the winery has put a purchasing threshold for the clients – i.e., four 6-bottle cases or six individual bottles. For instance, some vintages can cost up to $360 per bottle. Thus, it can be imagined that the cost of such a cutting-edge winemaking facility can only be maintained with a sizeable price of Opus One wine bottles. The quality assurance process of Opus One is intriguing, as the final blend is tested for taste in an advanced laboratory by Michael Silacci – a winemaking expert with 20+ years of experience. The company yields up to a thousand barrels annually. Finally, these grapes are fermented in different oak barrels. The sorting process of grapes is based on cutting-edge technology, where each grape is individually evaluated through optical sensors to assess their sizes, colours, and shapes. Next, each lot of grapes is assorted and fermented distinctly – requiring more than 30 substantial fermentation tanks. First, the grapes are picked by hand and collected in distinct lots in an advanced winemaking facility. The manufacturers go through a highly tedious and lengthy process to achieve the quality of Opus One. Overture refers to a piece of music the orchestra plays at the outset of a musical composition. The second variety of Opus One is known as Overture, and it is produced from grapes that are of lesser quality compared to Opus One. The first variety is a red Cabernet-rich Bordeaux style wine, including small quantities of Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, etc. Although Opus One has always remained a trendy wine brand, it manufactures only two varieties. For instance, a case of 12 bottles was sold for $24,000, an unprecedented price for a Napa Valley wine. Opus One wines were costly – even in the 1980s. Both parties agreed to a 50% partnership after a mutual agreement. In 2004, Robert Mondavi’s winery was taken over by Constellation Brands. On the other hand, Baron Philippe believed that wine transcended humans and never perished after its birth. Wine brings together our near and dear ones, friends and families. For instance, Robert Mondavi believed that winemaking represents the generosity of spirit and heart’s passion. Both Mondavi and Baron Philippe had some interesting views about wines. The vineyards of Opus One spanned more than 50 hectares. Later, the new vintage was labeled as Opus One in 1982. Nonetheless, this first vintage was officially launched in 1980. This unique label represented the symbol of Franco-American winemaking traditions. In 1979, Timothy Mondavi (Robert’s son) and Lucien Sionneau (Baron Rothschild’s winemaking expert) teamed together and produced their first vintage – Napamedoc. The origins of the term Opus One came from an ancient Latin terminology, Oper, which implies the first masterpiece of a musician. Baron Philippe de Rothschild (left) and Zino Davidoff (right) Claude Richardet, CC BY-SA 4.0Ĭonsequently, their venture was named Opus One – regarded as first-of-its-kind growth in California.
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