What to Buy
'04 Royal Escort Port Sweet black cherry, cedar, hint of clove $72
'05 Tomas Port Candied cherries, orange zest, caramel, spicy plum $52
Noble Companion Tawny Port Seven vintage blend, nut and caramel, candied orange zest, vanilla $65
'04 Aria White Port Caramelized apple, dried apricot, vanilla, hazelnut $48.50
Getting There
From St. Helena, take Hwy 29 S to Lewelling Ln. Turn left on Lewelling Ln.
|
The fruitful antidote to for-mer insurance broker Jim Prager's "severe attack of mid-life crisis," Prager Winery & Port Works in the Napa Valley's St. Helena, has been the perfect prescription for Port lovers since 1979. Along with his wife, Imogene, Jim was determined from the beginning to bring exceptional Port wines to the people. Three decades later, five distinguished Portuguese varietals and Petite Sirah flourish on ten acres of vineyard in Calistoga along with Touriga grown on the winery's estate.
Prager harvests its grapes at sugar levels only slightly higher than those used for red table wine, resulting in Ports to please the most discriminating palates. Although limited in production (fewer than 800 cases of each) these Ports have unlimited potential in the kitchen and at the dinner table, reflecting Winemaker Peter Prager's mantra that Port goes well with almost anything. From the Best of Class Royal Escort (produced from Petite Sirah) to four star Gold Medal winner Aria White Port (made from Chardonnay), there is a Port to accompany an impressive variety of cuisine. The award-winning collection is completed with two Late Harvest Rieslings: Sweet Claire, which garnered 91 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine, and Madeline, a lightly fortified dessert wine.
|
){kind=link}