Napa Valley — 4 sommelier picks and why

<p> Suppose you had one day to spend wine tasting in the Napa Valley and you wanted to make the most of your time. What better way to plan your day than to ask a sommelier?</p>

Published: 1/18/2017

<p> That’s what we did. We asked Julia Eklund, a certified sommelier and Napa Valley expert, where she would go and why. Here’s the itinerary.</p> <p> <strong>1| Beringer Vineyards, St. Helena</strong><br /> “Beringer is one of the pioneers of the Napa wine industry and offers a one-stop experience. Tour the wine caves and taste in the historic Rhine House.”<br /> <br /> SOMMELIER PICKS<br /> <strong>2013 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon </strong>“This wine is a blend of top vineyard sites and has an incredible track record for quality and ageability.”<br /> <strong>2012 Beringer Nightingale Botrytised Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc </strong>“A hidden gem. This dessert wine is made using a technique developed by a past Beringer winemaker where they expose the grapes to Botrytis cinerea in a humid winery, rather than waiting for it to develop on the vines.”<br /> <br /> TOURING & TASTING TIP<br /> Experience the rich winemaking and culinary arts history with the Taste of Beringer Tour and Tasting.</p> <p> <strong>2| Provenance Vineyards, Rutherford </strong><br /> “Provenance is unique to Napa in the sense you can have a casual and relaxing experience while tasting wines from some of the most sought after vineyards in the valley.”</p> <p> SOMMELIER PICKS<br /> <strong>2015 Provenance Wildwood Sauvignon Blanc  </strong>“Born in Rutherford, this wine has a mélange of citrus and tropical fruits that jump out of the glass. Fermented in oak, steel, and concrete to give it steely yet rich complexity.”<br /> <strong>2014 Provenance Malbec </strong>“You don’t find many good Malbecs in this region so this wine is a special treat. It’s a pure rendition of the varietal with purple fruit, violets, and spice.”<br /> <br /> TOURING & TASTING TIP<br /> The beautiful patio is a great place to enjoy your picnic lunch.</p> <p> <strong>3| Beaulieu Vineyard (BV), Rutherford</strong> <br /> “Beaulieu Vineyard is the home of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley with the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet, first made in 1936.”</p> <p> SOMMELIER PICKS<br /> <strong>2013 BV Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon </strong>“This wine is a Napa Valley icon. Since 1936 it has been painstakingly handcrafted sparing no expense, which shows when you taste it. The 2013 vintage is beautifully complex and will continue to develop for decades.”<br /> <strong>2014 BV Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon </strong>“Hands down the best value for a Rutherford Cabernet. I always have some on hand, whether it’s for a casual Tuesday night or to impress friends without breaking the bank.”</p> <p> TOURING & TASTING TIP<br /> BV is one of the only wineries in the valley where you can go without an appointment and taste a selection of vintage wines from the extensive library.</p> <p> <strong>4| Etude, Carneros</strong><br /> “Etude specializes in elegant expressions of Pinot Noir and is located in a great location, just five minutes south of the town of Napa.”</p> <p> SOMMELIER PICKS<br /> <strong>2014 Temblor Vineyard Pinot Noir  </strong>“This standout Pinot exhibits bright, elegant red fruit and a graham cracker spice that’s noted in all of the Pinots that come from Etude’s estate vineyard, Grace Benoist Ranch.<br /> <strong>2013 Etude Heirloom Chardonnay  </strong>“This wine is a small bottling of the best Chardonnay fruit from Etude’s estate vineyards. I admire its restraint, balance, and minerality. This is a Chardonnay that will age beautifully over the next several years.”</p> <p> TOURING & TASTING TIP<br /> For the Pinot lover staying in Napa, this winery is not to be missed.</p>

As seen in the issue Spring 2017 of Touring & Tasting Magazine.