Birds eye view of the Stags Leap District AVA in Napa Valley.
As spring rolls in, wine country events, tastings and winemaker dinners kick into high gear. Over the next few months Stark Insider will be on location in Napa, Sonoma, and other parts of beautiful Northern California, to capture sights and sounds: the people, places and stories. Tough work, we know! But if you’re like us, we just must scratch our eternal wanderlust, and explore.
The Stags Leap District (SLD) is one of our favorite AVAs (American Viticultural Area) in Napa. Somehow I suspect we’re not alone in appreciating the fine Cabernets produced by wineries here — developing that classic, rich and luxurious Napa Cab profile thanks in part to soils rich with loam and sediments from the nearby Napa River.
Officials tell us that approximately 90% of the 1,200 acres currently planted to grapevines are Cabernet Sauvignon or other Bordeaux varietals. SLD is located approximately 6 miles north of the city of Napa.
“Vineyard to Vintner” (April 24-25, 2015) offers visitors to taste SLD Cabernets while mingling with winemakers, and exploring historic properties and winemaking facilities.
Stags Leap District: Member Wineries
Baldacci Family Vineyards
Chimney Rock Winery
Cliff Lede Vineyards
Clos Du Val
Hartwell Vineyards
Ilsley Vineyards
Lindstrom Wines
Malk Family Vineyards
Odette Estate
Pine Ridge Vineyards
Regusci Winery
Robinson Family Vineyards
Shafer Vineyards
Silverado Vineyards
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Stags’ Leap Winery
Steltzner Vineyards
Taylor Family Vineyards
Terlato Family Vineyards
Per organizers, “the weekend provides personal and backstage access to vintners’ private homes and historic wineries, with tours and barrel tastings amongst the glorious vineyards and billowing Palisades of the Stags Leap District.”
‘Exclusive back stage passes to Stags Leap District Wineries’ This district-wide event gives visitors access to the most historic properties and the newest members of Stags Leap District. Attendees begin at a starting point of their choice and wind their way up and down the Silverado Trail from winery to winery. Their “V2V Pass” gives them exclusive access to the region’s vintners and winemakers. They can discover winery caves, enjoy special barrel tastings, explore cellars, and enjoy food and wine pairings not available to the public.
Sunday: April 26, 2015 // 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
‘Appellation Collection Sneak Preview and Vintner-Hosted Brunch’
Fare by Michelin-starred Meadowood Resort at Silverado Vineyards Visitors can meet and mingle with Stags Leap District vintners and be the first to sneak preview the exclusive release of the 2012 Appellation Collection of 19 world-class Cabernet Sauvignons. Attendees can also sip, swirl and stroll through Silverado Vineyards’ umbrella-filled plaza as they enjoy a selection of cold whites and exceptional brunch fare prepared by the famed Michelin-starred Meadowood Resort.
