Come celebrate Spring and the joy of Napa Valley wines at a lovely outdoor wine tasting event in two weeks: the Napa Valley Wine Library Association (NVWLA) Annual Tasting. This relaxing walk-around Tasting will be held under the sheltering oaks of The Grove at Silverado Resort & Spa (1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa) on April 24th between 4 and 6 pm. For 2022, fifty wineries have been encouraged to pour two wines each, so you can explore many of the varietals and regions of Napa Valley all in one location. The cost for attending the Tasting is just $25 if you are already a NVWLA member, or you can purchase a ticket and membership at the same time.
Baldacci Vineyards Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Are you a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon? If so, you will be able to explore the various terroirs of Napa Valley at the NVWLA Annual Tasting. Wineries will be sharing wines crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in Calistoga (Barlow Vineyards), Chiles Valley (Castlevale), Coombsville (Scalon Cellars), Diamond Mountain (Vineyard {511}), Howell Mountain (Lamborn Family Vineyards), Mount Veeder (VGS Chateau Potelle), Oak Knoll District (Okapi Wines), Oakville (Groth Vineyards & Winery), Spring Mountain (Terra Valentine), St. Helena (Spottswoode Estate), Stags Leap District (Baldacci Family Vineyards) and Yountville (Rocca Family Vineyards).
Annual Tasting attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy many different varietals, including:
- Viognier: Pride Mountain Vineyards 2021 Viognier
- Sauvignon Blanc: Green & Red Vineyard 2020 Catacula Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay: White Rock Vineyards 2018 Old Vines Chardonnay
- Pinot Blanc: Saddleback Cellars 2020 Estate Pinot Blanc
- Kerner: Silverado Vineyards 2021 Borreo Ranch Kerner
- Pinot Noir: Hyde Vineyards Estate 2017 Larry Hyde Pinot Noir
- Malbec: Crocker & Starr 2019 ‘Casali 12’ Malbec Blend
- Merlot: Paloma Vineyard 2016 Merlot
- Cabernet Franc: Antica Napa Valley 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot: Romeo Vineyards & Cellars 2017 Petit Verdot
- Petite Sirah: Turley Wine Cellars 2019 Turley Estate Petite Sirah
- Zinfandel: Robert Biale Vineyards 2019 Royal Punishers Petite Sirah
- Syrah: Truchard Vineyards 2020 Estate Syrah
2018 “Insignia” (one of the wines at NVWLA Annual Tasting)
Other fun experiences available at the 2022 NVWLA Annual Tasting include sampling 2021 Rosés from Pinot Noir grapes offered by both Cakebread Cellars and Vinoce, the 2018 Brut Rosé from Schramsberg Vineyards and the 2018 “Insignia” from Joseph Phelps Vineyard. Or, you can compare Cabernet Francs over the years when McKenzie-Mueller Vineyards and Winery pours both their 2007 and 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Francs. Or, you can help celebrate ZD Wines’ 50 years in business with their 2018 Napa Valley 50th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon.
If you haven’t already reached for your credit card, you should know that these other wineries will be participating at the Napa Valley Wine Library Association Tasting as well: Alpha Omega Winery, Arns Winery, Artesa Vineyard & Winery, CAMi Vineyards, COLLATERAL, Di Costanzo Wines, GRO Wines, Marketta Winery, Markham Vineyards, Materra|Cunat Family Vineyards, Nicholson Jones, Seavey Vineyard, Signorello Estate, St. Supery Vineyards & Winery, Summit Lake Vineyards, and Ziata Wines. To see the complete list of confirmed participating wineries (and the wines they will be pouring) please go here.
The Napa Valley Wine Library Association (NVWLA) Tasting is $25 for members. If you are not a member, a ticket will cost $175 but that includes an annual membership in the Association (and your contributions help support a worthy local cause). NVWLA benefits include discounts on courses and seminars throughout the year and the association’s Wine Library Report. To obtain tickets (and/or NVWLA membership) you should move quickly and go here to purchase because this event will sell out, and soon.
In addition, there will be a Wine Seminar on Thursday, April 21, where wine professionals will discuss the importance of mentor/mentee relationships and their personal experiences. Tegan Passalacqua (of Turley Wine Cellars and Sandlands) will moderate the discussion with panel members of Warren Winiarski (Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars) and six former mentees of Mr. Winiarski: John Kongsgaard, Françoise Peschon, Nicki Pruss, Abe Schoener, Michael Silacci and John Williams. The Seminar starts with a Reception at 5 pm at Frog’s Leap Winery (8815 Conn Creek Road, Rutherford), and the program begins at 5:30 in the Main Building. Seating is limited, and costs $60 per person ($50 for NVWLA Members). Alternatively, you can attend the session virtually (over Zoom) for $25 per person. You can enroll online at the NVWLA website, or you can email Rick Brennan (rick@napawinelibrary.com) for registration questions and assistance.
The Napa Valley Wine Library Association (NVWLA) was founded in 1963 as a resource for information about wine. Today, the Association hosts seminars and other educational events, and funds an extensive collection of books, interviews, newsletters, technical journals, and other wine-related materials about wines and wine growing. The Association’s collection offers incomparable resources for students, wine enthusiasts and professionals involved in all aspects of the wine industry and is available at the St. Helena Public Library. Your membership in the NVWLA will help support the mission to collect and preserve these treasures for generations to come.