Stags Leap District Celebrates 25 Years as the Birthplace of Iconic American Cabernet Sauvignon

Stags Leap District, the birthplace of iconic American Cabernet Sauvignon, today announced that 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of this world class region as one of the first sub American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in the Napa Valley. Recognized as an official AVA in 1989 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the Stags Leap District was the first sub-AVA to be defined completely by soil, climate and natural barriers. Its AVA status and distinctive terroir are a result of the combination of rolling hills, cooling wind, loam and clay soils, and the west-facing range of the Vaca Mountains.

The Stags Leap District is the smallest producing Napa AVA by acreage, and wines from this region remain limited, highly allocated and collected. Approximately 90% of the 1,200 acres currently planted to grapevines in the district are Cabernet Sauvignon or other Bordeaux varietals.

"The Stags Leap District produces some very age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines," said Kelli White, Sommelier at PRESS Restaurant in St. Helena. "The region is truly a place of distinction. The geography of Stags Leap District makes it different than any other place in the Napa Valley and results in the seductive, soft tannins for which Stags Leap District wines are highly regarded."

While 2014 marks the silver anniversary for the AVA; Stags Leap District has been a grape-growing region since the mid-1800’s. The first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in 1961 by pioneer Nathan Fay. His fruit was in high demand and sourced by winemakers throughout the valley in the early 1970’s. In 1976, the famed Tasting of Paris catapulted the region into the global spotlight when French judges awarded a 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars first place over legendary Bordeaux producers.

Ten years later, when the same wines were tasted blind a second time, top honors again went to a Stags Leap District wine, the 1972 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Stags Leap District is represented by one of only two American wines in the Smithsonian National Museum of History.

"The beauty and lushness of the wines produced in this region were around long before Stags Leap District was named an AVA," said Doug Shafer, President of Shafer Vineyards. "It was a privilege to be here in the early days when my dad, John Shafer, helped organize our neighbors to pursue official recognition. Over the past 25 years the appellation has continued to evolve and is now widely recognized as a special site for world-class wines. Even so, it really feels like we're just getting started."

"Stags Leap District was the first area to be recognized for its world-class American Cabernet Sauvignon and really was the birthplace of America’s Cabernet culture," said Michael Beaulac, General Manager and Winemaker at Pine Ridge Vineyards and President of the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association. "Stags Leap District is one of only a handful of Napa Valley appellations that matter and the producers in this region continue to be visionaries committed to crafting the best quality wines."

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Inn on First Offers New Fly Fishing Package in Napa CA

The Inn on First is proud to be the first providers of a new fly fishing package in Napa Valley. For the outdoorsman and outdoorswoman, The Inn on First wanted to provide new and varied experiences to enhance guest visits.

The Inn on First works hard to add value to guest stays in Napa Valley, including adding new activity packages so guests can enjoy the outdoor beauty of the valley outside of the traditional wine activities. Adventurous guests can also spend time hiking, bicycling, golfing and fishing with the gorgeous Napa Valley scenery as the backdrop.

For couples, these outdoor excursions will certainly enhance any romantic interlude at The Inn on First. The fly fishing package is $525 per couple and $325 for one person. The inn needs three days notice to reserve the space, 50 percent deposit and has a 72-hour cancellation policy.

Guests will begin their day at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of the inn where they will meet the guide, Richard Loft, who will offer an early morning continental breakfast. Guests will need to sign all the necessary paperwork, Loft will hand out a map, and guests will follow him for 45 minutes up into the hills beyond the Napa Valley.

Upon arriving to the river, Loft will suit guests up in waders and boots and explain the basics of fly fishing. After a few lessons of casting and reeling, the real fun begins! Wading out into the river, guests begin the process of catch and release and should plan on a minimum of two to three hours in the water. Snacks and water will be available during the time fishing. When guests are finished, they can sit down to enjoy a sandwich lunch and soak up the beauty of Napa County wilderness.

In general, guests can plan on returning to the inn no later than 1 p.m. which still leaves time for wine tasting in the afternoon. (Disclaimer: As with all fishing excursions, expect to have fun, but catching of fish is not guaranteed.) Fishing in the State of California requires a license, which can be procured from the California website or guests can visit Sweeney’s in Napa, located at 1537 Imola Ave West. Guests may also call Sweeney’s for information, 707 255-5544. Their store hours are as follows: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sun 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Inn on First provides romantic getaways in the Napa Valley that will surpass all expectations. They can offer landscapes of rolling hills and beautiful vineyards of the entire Napa Valley. With a location that is one of the most sought after destinations in the country, the Inn and rooms are the perfect complement to a Napa Valley experience and make for a romantic atmosphere for loved ones. For more information, please visit their website at TheInnOnFirst.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Unveils the Design for its New Visitor Center with Sweeping Views of its Historic Estate Vineyards

Napa, CA – Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, one of Napa Valley’s most iconic wineries, unveiled the design for its state-of-the-art Visitor Center at an official ceremony with winery principals Ted Baseler (President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates) and Marchese Piero Antinori (President of Marchesi Antinori of Italy). Earlier this year, the winery broke ground on the new Visitor Center which will overlook its historic estate vineyards – FAY and S.L.V.

At the ceremony, Ted Baseler and Marchese Piero Antinori were joined by Barcelona-based designer Javier Barba and local architect Dan Macdonald to reveal the watercolor rendering of the new Visitor Center by artist Clayton Perry, which they signed at the ceremony to commemorate this major milestone. The signed artwork will be displayed in the current tasting room for visitors to enjoy until the new 6,000 square foot Visitor Center is completed during the 2014 harvest.

“Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is one of the world’s most highly regarded winery estates,” said Ted Baseler, President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “When we purchased the winery in 2007 in partnership with Marchesi Antinori, our focus was on enhancing the quality of the wines and preserving the legacy of this benchmark producer. We have been investing in every aspect of the winery including enhanced temperature control in the cellar and technology like the Mistral berry sorting system, as well as undergoing vineyard replanting – all with the goal of crafting exceptional wines. With these pieces in place, we believe it’s time to continue our investment in the winery and to Napa Valley by giving our customers a tasting experience that matches the world-class wines being produced.”

Marchese Piero Antinori, whose family has been a leader in the wine business for more than 625 years, believes that quality, passion and innovation are all critical elements in a winery’s success. “There’s no question that the significant investments and enhancements we’ve made are being reflected in the current and upcoming releases,” said Marchese Piero Antinori. “We are very proud that visitors to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars will soon have a visitor center experience worthy of the wines of this historic estate.”

World-renowned Barcelona-based architect Javier Barba, created the design for the new Visitor Center to take advantage of the stunning views of the estate vineyards and the Stags Leap Palisades as the mountain and its legend are central to the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars story. Using plenty of glass in the design for natural light, the space is bright and natural. More importantly, Barba said, it also allows you to witness the changes the seasons and climate have on our vines in a way that has never been seen before.

Barba also designed and oversaw the building of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Arcade, the Great Room and the Round Room in the wine caves (34,000 square foot) – a four-year project that was completed in 2000. The new Visitor Center will have a similar contemporary look and uses materials that blend with the winery setting and elements from the land. Dan Macdonald of Daniel Macdonald AIA Architects, Inc., and Landscape Architect Sandra Reed of ZAC Landscape Architects are bringing Javier Barba’s vision to life.

The design team plans to source all of the stone for this project from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars land so that visitors can appreciate the natural beauty of the earth occurring in the cliffs of the palisades up close. Each of these design elements will ensure the visitor experience is architecturally harmonious and true to the natural surroundings.

The new Visitor Center will cost approximately $7 million to build; a financial commitment shared by the joint venture partnership of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Marchesi Antinori. Together, they purchased Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in August 2007 for $187 million. The sale included the estate’s historic brand, spectacular Napa Valley winery, and its signature Napa Valley estate vineyards, S.L.V. and FAY.

The winery’s story today is one of Renaissance. Since acquiring the winery in the summer of 2007, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Marchesi Antinori have worked tirelessly to enhance the legacy of this iconic Napa Valley winery. The partners have brought tremendous resources together – not just financial, but also technical and historical expertise plus a passion for innovation and making the very best wines possible.

The 2007 vintage represented the first releases made under the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates/Marchesi Antinori partnership. The 2008 vintage marked the first wines crafted from bud break to bottle. The 2009 CASK 23, S.L.V. and FAY show a stylistic enhancement to even more upfront fruit character and sense of place. They have a beautiful purity of fruit while retaining the balance, elegance and restraint that is the winery’s hallmark.

The 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon, produced from the vineyard’s first commercial crop, stunned the wine world when it bested four top-ranked Bordeaux wines, including two First Growths, in a blind tasting held in Paris. At that time, California wines were considered curiosities, hardly in the same class as the best French wines. This seismic event has been described as “sparking a staggering revolution in vineyard technology,” “a major turning point in consumers’ attitudes,” and “a moment that shook the global wine establishment to its roots.” A 2005 book by George Taber documented the tasting, Judgment of Paris: California vs France and the 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.