The delightful Taste of Howell Mountain, a Wine Tasting and Auction event in upper Napa Valley, turns 21 this year on Saturday, June 18th. This is one party you should definitely consider RSVPing for: the afternoon’s festivities offer fabulous wines from the Howell Mountain appellation along with gourmet food pairings, live entertainment, and both Silent and Live Auctions at Charles Krug Winery (2800 Main Street, St. Helena). We’re talking about wineries such as Aloft Wine, CADE Estate, La Jota Vineyard Co., Robert Craig Winery and Rudius Wines all pouring tastes in one location.
At the 2016 Taste of Howell Mountain, between 12:00 and 3:00 you’ll enjoy a Walk-Around Wine Tasting, Food Pairings, Prizes, a Silent Auction and Live Music from The Hummingbirdz. Then, from 3:00 to 5:00 you can sit with friends (and/or newly discovered friends) and enjoy even more Howell Mountain wine and Strawberry Shortcake as you watch (and hopefully participate in) an active and festive Live Auction.
Robert Craig Winery
Howell Mountain is well known for its incredible Cabernet Sauvignon and you’ll have many wines to enjoy during the afternoon crafted from that varietal. But, there’s more to Howell Mountain than just Cabernet and at last year’s event we particularly enjoyed a Red Cap Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Robert Craig Winery La Fleur (Rosé of Zinfandel), O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery Merlot, Howell Mountain Vineyards Petit Verdot and Arkenstone Vineyards Syrah as well. Tickets for this year’s event are $150 per person and proceeds from the event will help benefit the Howell Mountain Education Foundation. You can also purchase an entire table for 10 if you are so inclined. But, no matter how many tickets you need please move quickly because this event will definitely sell out.
Pina Napa Valley
Over 40 premium wineries will showcase their wines that day including Bravante Vineyards, Bremer Family Winery, Charles Krug Winery, Cimarossa, Clif Family Winery, Cresta Velia, Duckhorn Vineyards, Dunn Vineyards, Howell at the Moon, Lamborn Family Vineyards, Notre Vin, Outpost Wines, Paravel Wines, Piña Napa Valley, Prim Family Vineyard, Retro Cellars, Robert Foley Vineyards, Round Two Wines, Saunter Wines and W.H. Smith Wines as well as the wineries already mentioned above. To see the complete list of participating wineries and/or to purchase tickets, please go here.
Taste of Howell Mountain Auction Venue
At the 2016 Taste of Howell Mountain the Silent and Live Auctions offer you a chance to bid on rare wines, winery experiences and unique excursion packages. To give you a sense of what may be available this year, some of the items offered last year were:
- Wine Dinner and Sunset Cruise– a wine tasting and dinner during a sunset cruise along the San Francisco Bay hosted by Howell at the Moon, Notre Vin, O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery and Robert Craig Winery
- Argentinian BBQ– an Argentinian Asado-style BBQ for ten people, hosted by the proprietors of Red Cap Vineyards (at their home) and the winemaker, in addition to a magnum of the winery’s 2012 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
- La Jota Library Vertical – a VIP Tour and picnic lunch for four people at La Jota Vineyard Co. combined with a set of three 3-liter bottles of their 2005, 2006 and 2007 La Jota Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery Chefs at 2015 TOHM: Chili-Braised Pork Taco
While we always enjoy tasting Howell Mountain wines, the food at this event reliably rises to the occasion as well. Winery Chefs will cater again this year and you will be able to enjoy small bites from a Pizza Station (made with House Made Sausage, Sweet Peppers and Onions, and Smoked Mozzarella), a Sopes Station (topped with Tinga de Pollo, Tomatillo Salsa and Queso Fresco) and a Heritage Hog Station (featuring a Heritage Hog raised in the hillsides of Napa Valley).
2016 marks the 21st Annual Taste of Howell Mountain Wine Tasting and Auction so come indulge (or re-indulge) in the wines made from grapes grown “Above the Fog.”
The 2016 Taste of Howell Mountain event is brought to you by the wineries and winegrowers who are part of the Howell Mountain Vintners and Growers Association. While rivers and property lines frequently define the boundaries of an American Viticultural Area (AVA), the Howell Mountain appellation is officially based on a 1400 foot elevation contour line around the mountain. The high altitude of the vineyards here provides cooler daytime temperatures, warmer evening temperatures, rocky and porous soil conditions and rainfall that is nearly twice that of the valley below. All of this translates into deliciously rich complexity and flavor in your glass.
(For something really special, the HMVGA is also offering the option of a VIP Table for Ten at Taste of Howell Mountain for $1750: for more details on VIP amenities and table availability please contact Sam Peters at sampeters_tohm@live.com or call 707-965-2665)