2013 Mount Veeder Appellation Wine Tasting
Two weeks ago, we had the pleasure of attending the 14th annual Mount Veeder Appellation Wine Tasting. We also learned what it’s like to attend a wine tasting event held outside in the rain (well, light mist). After event organizers threw some tarps over the arbors, and the rain stopped for the most part, it wasn’t that big of a deal. The wine still tasted good, the ground was a little muddy, but the show went on and the happy (but slightly damp) crowd enjoyed themselves.
The Mt Veeder appellation has been producing worthy wines since the 1860s and Mt. Veeder is the only hillside appellation in Napa Valley that adjoins the cool bayside Carneros, benefiting from the cooling influence of San Pablo Bay. Out of this climate comes some of our favorite Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley.
Hess Collection, Venue for the Tasting, and open to the public for tasting 7 days a week
Keep reading, and we’ll tell you which of the wines from this appellation we enjoyed the most this year at the event, and recommend you seek out. If you want to go wine tasting, we’ve included the street addresses for the wineries’ tasting rooms that are open to the public (and also noted if you need to have an appointment).
Favorite Wines at the 2013 Appellation Wine Tasting
Fontanella Family Winery (1721 Partrick Road, Napa, 707-252-7017, reservation required for tasting) – 2011 Mt. Veeder Chardonnay, 2010 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Godspeed Vineyards (3655 Mount Veeder Road, Napa, 707-254-7766, reservation required for tasting) – 2010 Chardonnay
The Hess Collection (4411 Redwood Road, Napa, 707-255-1144 x226, open daily for tastings) – 2009 19 Block Cuvée (Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot), 2010 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Lagier Meredith (Napa, 707-253-0653) – 2011 Tribidrag (Zinfandel)
Marketta Winery (Napa, 707-226-5944) – 2006 Chardonnay, 2012 Chardonnay
Mayacamas Vineyards
Mayacamas Vineyards (Napa, 707-224-4030) – 2011 Chardonnay
Mount Veeder Winery (tasting daily at Franciscan Estate, 1178 Galleron Road, St. Helena, 707-967-3830) – 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Robert Craig Winery (625 Imperial Way, Napa, 707-252-2250 x1, reservation required for tasting) – 2010 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Rubissow (Napa, 707-253-8605) – 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Trinchero Napa Valley (3070 North St. Helena Highway/Highway 29, St Helena, 707-963-1160, open daily for tastings) – 2009 Cloud’s Nest Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Yates Family Vineyard (4723 Redwood Road, Napa, 707-226-1800, reservation required for tasting) – 2009 Fleur de Veeder Merlot
Y Rousseau Wines (902 Enterprise Way, Suite O, Napa, 415-713-4203, reservation required for tasting) – 2010 “Milady” Chardonnay, 2010 “Le Roi Soleil” Cabernet Sauvignon
Charcuterie Plate at Wine Tasting
If you weren’t at this year’s Tasting, we highly recommend considering going next year to enjoy an afternoon of wine, food, and music. In addition to the great wine, small nibbles were presented by Hess Collection Executive Chef Chad Hendrickson as well as Charcuterie, Nuts, and Cheeses (including Beehive Cheese’s Barely Buzzed, Cypress Grove’s Truffle Tremor, and Bellwether Farms’ Carmody). Eventgoers also had the pleasure of listening to live music from The Hummingbirdz.
The Mt Veeder Appellation Wine Tasting was presented by the Mount Veeder Appellation Council, a coalition of 44 wineries and growers. To learn more about the appellation, the Council, or future public events, please go here.