The beauty of Beringer Vineyards is evident in the wines and fully realized when visiting its historic grounds. Beringer is the Napa Valley’s oldest continuously operating winery, with a winemaking tradition dating back 141 years. It was the first winery in the valley to offer public tours, and it remains at the top of the savvy Napa visitor’s list of places to tour and taste.
The winery’s grounds are magnificent. The entire property was designated a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Built as Frederick Beringer’s home in 1884, the stunning 17-room Rhine House sparkles with original Belgian Art Nouveau stained glass and features hand-carved woodwork. Today, the entire property is a fascinating place to investigate and learn more about Beringer wines.
And there is much to learn. Beringer is the only winery to win Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year for both a red and a white wine. Beringer wines are consistently highly scored, with the 2013 Private Reserve garnering 97 points from Robert Parker of The Wine Advocate, who in praising it noted, “One of the great e fforts of recent years and not surprisingly so, is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve...When all is said and done, this is an instant classic, the wine full-bodied with oodles of crème de cassis, pen ink, graphite, and baking spices. It’s multidimensional, layered, and one of the all-time great Beringer Private Reserves— and there have been many.” Winemaker Mark Beringer, great-great-grandson of the founder, upholds his family’s singular heritage and continues the exemplary Beringer winemaking legacy of crafting wines that highlight the best of the Napa Valley terroir.
Beringer hosts several tasting experiences including a Legacy Cave tour that explores the Old Winery, a Taste of Beringer tour that concludes with a sit-down hosted tasting, reserve tastings at the mansion’s ornate tasting bar, and hosted private tastings upstairs in the Rhine House featuring wines pulled from the library. For those eager to experience the legacy and terroir of the Napa Valley, Beringer Vineyards is the place to visit.
T&T: The historic Rhine House is an icon in the Napa Valley. Does it have special meaning to you as a member of the Beringer family?
MB: The Rhine House has always been a special place to me. When you grow up in St. Helena, you recognize that it is one of the most unique and beautiful buildings in the valley. It was something I wanted to feel bonded to when I was younger since I knew it had part of our family’s history. I actually worked there from 1983 to 1985 as a clerk to gain that sense of history. As special as the Rhine House is, there is another building on the property that means even more to me. The more modest Hudson House was my great, great grandfather’s home and was the original residence on the property.
T&T: You are Beringer’s eighth winemaker in 141 years. How is the number eight significant to you?
MB: Ironically the number eight has always had significance to me. I always felt it was my lucky number. My wife also shared that feeling with the number eight so we decided to get married on 08/08/08.
T&T: You seem to enjoy leading your Single Vineyard Tasting & Seminars. Why are they so popular?
MB: Having the opportunity to show a group of wine lovers what each vineyard brings to a blend is very exciting for me. Every site lends different characteristics to the finished wine, and you can actually taste where it comes from. The French call this terrior, which translates to soil. But it is far more than that. It is how that place expresses itself in the glass.
T&T: What do you envision when you think about the future of Beringer?
MB: I hope to continue the legacy established by my forefathers. To make my place in the lineup of the great winemakers who came before me. It is truly an honor to be listed among them. It is my goal to maintain Beringer as one of the top wine brands of the Napa Valley and the rest of the wine world.