By Kent Higginbotham Winery, Vineyard or Cellar… What’s the difference? My name is Kent Higginbotham, and I’ve watched Napa grow from 9,000 to 80,000, and have great love for what this valley was and has become. Living here my whole life, I’ve worked in every part of the indus- try, and now plan visits to wine country, and drive the roads less traveled every day. Through this column, I’ll be sharing with you what these years and miles have taught me. blend of estate and cellar wines blended with Winery: Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet and Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc,” says Johnson of A bonded winery is a licensed building or property Tres Sabores. “At one point we had people lined that produces wine. Some have permits for tasting up three deep, and my husband was opening rooms and others do not, but you’ve been to plenty, so bottles as fast as he could.” no need for an example here. “This was our fourth year at the festival,” says Vineyard: Chris Hall, VP/GM of Long Meadow Ranch. “It’s A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines really a great way to meet both new and old grown mainly for winemaking. Some wineries, like fans of what we do. It’s also great when musi- Caspar Estate (a fantastic new find), lack wineries, so cians come through Wine Lands.” Long Meadow they take grapes to another facility, such as Hunnicutt Ranch poured its more traditional offerings – Winery (another great stop, by the way), and make but featured them on draft. “Having every pour their wines using the equipment and bonding/license perfectly fresh has been a great opportunity of the host winery. The vineyard owners often play to educate people on the quality of wine from a pivotal role in the direction of the wine, and when kegs,” says Hall. the wine is made, are responsible for the marketing, sales, and success of their brand. This process can save “It’s really quite something to see a tent full of vineyards money and get better wine to the consumer young people so enthusiastically engaged in at a lower price. Casper may not have a winery, but the wine experience,” says Hess’ Shabelman. they make tasty wines and have a spectacular vineyard “They’re talking about what they’re finding, try- home with a view to rival any in the valley. ing new things and not hesitating to ask ques- tions.” “Last year, I watched a fellow propose Cellar: to his girlfriend right outside the Wine Lands tent in a big circle of friends,” adds Hess’ Kris- By definition, a wine cellar is a storage room for wine tina Tarazoff. “She said yes, started crying, and in bottles or barrels, or more rarely in carboys, ampho- everyone cheered. It was so cute – I cried, too!” rae or plastic containers – by definition, that is, but not Most music festivals offer wine as a second necessarily in practice. A cellar is basically just a cute thought. Outside Lands prides itself on tak- name used for business purposes at this point. A good ing the wine experience to an entirely different example of a cellar is Broman Cellars on Howell Moun- level, and the response is very positive. You can tain. Although they are a Bonded Winery, as family check the website for more details and photos member and owner Lisa Augustine told me over coffee at www.sfoutsidelands.com. this morning, the winery is located off their property. While they have some vineyards at their home, where Julie Fadda is editor of NorthBay biz magazine and they occasionally host special wine club events, they writes regularly about food, wine and music. She also chose to use Broman Cellars as their company identity. thinks Outside Lands gets better every year. You can reach her at juliefadda@gmail.com or connect with her Have more questions? Contact Kent via on twitter @juliefadda. mischievousink on facebook or kent@squirelivery.com 5 Image: Casper Estate
NVLife_SeptOct_2012
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