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Desparada Wines, A Love Letter to Paso Robles & All That Remains to Be Discovered

by nptadmin on 2021-10-09 in Filed Under: Wineries

It has been unusually hot in Napa. The weather, combined with a busy touring season has tamed us into homebodies and we find ourselves frequently enjoying quiet summer evenings at home, resting and recharging. For us, that means late nights under the stars where we partake of lovely libations and vegetables from our garden, crudité style.

Our cellars are abundant and varied, a testament to the many friends that have loved us throughout the years. The best of their harvests awaits for just the right occasion. Recently our lucky stars and a bit of serendipity led us to Vailia, winemaker of Desparada Wines in Paso Robles. It would take days to describe her aura, strength and beauty so I will skip that part; afterall it is my hope that you get to visit her and you can then personally experience the exuberance of her energy. Instead, I will focus on the magic and beauty of exploring the nuances resulting from fermentation of whites in a variety of vessels. Vailia gifted us with some of her masterpieces allowing us to have a side-by-side tasting that made our taste buds dance.

You see, Vailia’s winemaking style is playful and exploratory. Her wines push the limits and deliver radical beauty inside and out, the bottles and labels are insanely gorgeous and full of femininity. The wine is absolutely memorable.

Now, let me tell you something: The place where we rest and grow, defines our character. This is true to men as it is to wine. As my husband and I enjoyed each of the six wines featured in Desparada’s Summer Wine Collection we could not help it but be surprised by each sip. All but one of her Summer offerings are Sauvignon Blancs with the exception being a 2019 Chenin Blanc named Shell Creek; and here is where the magic begins. Cigare oak, Acacia, French Oak and even concrete serve as the resting place for her wine collection where they age sur lie under her watchful eye. The result: Delight, utter delight! I don’t even have the right words.

While we have no plan to expand our touring operation to Paso Robles we feel we would be selfish not to tell you about this gem. When it comes to women winemakers, Vailia is a super star. We are 100% confident that you will find her wine worthy of your personal wine library.

As I sat here scribbling these musings I reached out to Vailia and asked if we could do something extra for our customers. She came through with a surprising gift. If you are coveting her Summer collection please take advantage of a special 20% discount using coupon code NPT Please note that your wine won’t be shipped until environmental conditions are such that the integrity of the wine is fully preserved. For some of our friends in the south you may have to wait until November. I hear the temperatures in Texas, Florida and Louisiana are crazy

Care to stock up with their red wines? Try Soothsayer or Pegasi from their Fall collection. Fully endorsed by me. I know you will love it.

Head here to learn more about Desparada Wines https://www.desparada.com

XOXO

Javy

When Two Are Better Than One

by nptadmin on 2021-07-15 in Filed Under: Activities in Napa

Touring Napa with Javier Calderon X 2

A couple of weeks ago we had the fantastic opportunity to scout several wineries with a commonality that made our hearts smile and our mouths water. In an effort to design upgraded tours for wine buyers with significant libraries we visited wineries where Phillipe Melka is their wine maker. There are no words to describe the quality and beauty of the time we spent with some of the finest in Napa. At a later time I will share details of our experience and will give you some ideas on how we can help you design a wine tour and buying experience focused on specific wine makers.

For now, I wanted to pause for a moment to talk about my husband. If you have visited us in the last three years there is a good chance he was your host and that means that you most likely experienced touring perfection. Flako, as we all know him is obsessive about delivering the very best. He simply does not miss a beat.

The title of this post may have you wondering. You see, during our time visiting partners it was not uncommon for our winery hosts to raise their eyebrows when receiving our business cards. Here is the thing, Flako and I have many things in common but one of the most peculiar is the fact that we share first and last name. Yes, when you ask you be hosted by Javier Calderon you will be given two choices. Flako or I. We are both in love with Napa, passionate about wine and deeply in love with the idea of delivering the best possible Napa wine touring experience. But this post is not about me. This post is about Flako.

For years, all of us begged Flako to leave his 9 to 5 job in finance and join us. We knew that adding him to our team would be incredibly beneficial but we had no idea to what level. Three years ago he made the switch and we cannot begin to describe how his contributions positively impact our ability to deliver memory-making tours. His ample network has given us access to some of the most exclusive wineries in Napa. You see, Flako has a long history in the area and has throughout the years loved and served his community. His Rolodex is something to behold and a testament to his tender affection to all manner of people which has given us a golden key to many beautiful wine experiences in Napa that would be otherwise beyond our reach. He is for lack of a better word magical.

So wether you tour Javier Calderon or Javier Calderon 2.0 you can rest assured we will do everything in our power to feed your sense of discovery and adventure, delight your palate and make you, at least for a moment forget about the burdens and worries of this life by taking care of absolutely every detail.

Thank you for stopping by our page and taking time to hear me blab. I am deeply proud of my husband Flako and thank God every single day for the way he makes our little company twice as good.

XOXO

Javy

Cervantes Family Vineyards – Where Conviviality, Character & Cheerfulness Will Always Fill Your Cup

by nptadmin on 2021-06-06 in Filed Under: Activities in Napa

I am by no means a storyteller. The written word does not come easy to me. I hesitate, fearing that my words are too simple or scarce to describe the beauty of the places and people that have crossed my path here in Napa. But once in a while, the grandeur in beauty and hospitality offered by partner vintners forces me to find words to give you at least a glimpse of what awaits. This is the case with Cervantes Family Vineyards.

The Last Frontier – Beauty Unspoiled

Cervantes Winery is nestled in the far Eastern corner of Napa Valley, and surrounded by the Cedar Roughs Wilderness natural park; it sits on 1,100 acres of absolute serenity and prepossessing qualities right in the heart of Pope Valley (you read me right 1,100 acres! Grand does not begin to describe the place). It is certainly the road less traveled but worth every mile of uphill driving. This place is the next great AVA in the making. The terroir is delightful; endless microclimates facilitated by the rich topography and access to morning and evening dew from both the coast and nearby lake Berryessa give birth to outstanding fruit. Blue oaks, tanoaks, dogwood trees,olives and pines line the hillsides framing impeccably managed vineyards featuring the most delightful Cabernet Sauvignon vines.

More Than Just a Winery

In its nascent stage, much of the land is not yet developed offering tremendous potential for growth but also the opportunity to delight in the ruggedness and sublime beauty of the land. Don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of their beautiful Quarter horses roaming freely taking advantage of the expansiveness of the property.

This image was captured by Raphael Macek and is available for purchase in the Founder’s Store at Cervantes Family Vineyards

A Glass Filled to the Brim

At Cervantes Family Vineyards there is no stuffiness, no pretense, no showing off. What you will find instead, is sincere and generous hospitality that keeps your glass full and your soul content. A place to hang your hat where you will quickly become an honorary member of the family. This is the very essence and allure of this winery and that is why I am compelled to tell you about it.

Top-Notch Wines

As for their wines, they are nothing short of magical. Andy Erickson, working side-by-side with Xavier and Jeronimo are constantly delivering gorgeous and complex Cabernets with tremendous potential as they age. Many wine collectors around the world have made it a point to include Cervantes in their wine libraries.

In Their Own Words

Next time you are in town, let’s make time to head to Cervantes. You will not regret it.

Always looking out for your next adventure,

Javy

Gabriel-Glas The Wine Glass You Didn’t Know You Needed

by nptadmin on 2021-02-04 in Filed Under: Uncategorized, Wine Glassware

A Universal Glass Wine For Wine Experts

Glassware, particularly ad-hoc glassware is elemental to a superior wine drinking experience. Weight, balance, clarity and design make it possible to appreciate the full character of a wine. As wine professionals, we have seen and tried it all.

European Quality Glassware With Focus on Design

When we came across Gabriel-Glas we knew we had something really special before us. Gabriel-Glas is the brainchild of the well-known Swiss-German wine critic René Gabriel. While authoring the German language Wein Bibel (Wine Bible) he was seeking a glass with the ideal shape for tasting every style of wine. Not finding a glass that performed to Gabriel’s requirements, he created Gabriel-Glas, a “universal” lead-free crystal glass elegantly shaped to fully express the wine it delivers.

A Smart Solution For Limited Storage Space

Because of the universality of the design, Gabriel-Glas has proven to be perfect for us. It allows us notable flexibility without the demands of large storage spaces which come at a premium here in California. It is quite special to find a glass that is both light, and incredibly resilient. Gabriel-Glas is both dishwasher and Bar-Maid-friendly. That is an absolute game-changer when it comes to proper sanitation and efficiency.

Heirloom Craftsmanship Featured at Top Wineries & Highly Rated Restaurants

The glass that you may have experienced at our pop up events is The Gold Edition, a mouth-blown vessel lovingly crafted by master artisans. The “lighter than air” Gold Edition glass will, without a doubt, become your favorite. It is a visually astounding, well-balanced work of art. This glass feels light on the hand, sublime when touching your lips and magical when handled through the tasting experience. The clarity and consistency of the glass is something to behold. We don’t know a single sommelier or wine maker that does not give these glasses high marks.

We know that Gabriel-Glas may not be readily available in your area, we want to offer you the option to order our favorites from their collection, delivered to your front door.

Gold Edition Six Pack Stemmed Universal Glass

At barely 90 grams this is a true artisan jewel. Because of their unique design you will not need endless glasses. This is a “one for all” solution that will change your wine experience and reduce the stress and embarrassment associated to using or running out of the right glass.

Height: 9 in (230 mm)
Bowl Width: 3.75 in (95 mm)
Rim Width: 2.5 in (63.5 mm)
Weight approximately: 3 oz (90 grams)

Aqua Carafe 1000ml

A simple and versatile carafe perfect for decanting wine or offering water. This carafe is ergonomically designed, resilient and easy to wash. A classic piece made with clear and beautiful lead-free glass that displays the contents with ultimate elegance without distorting the color or density of your featured beverage.

Weight: approximately 8oz (230 grams)

Small Aqua Glass Stemless Six Pack 400ml

This gorgeous glass is perfect for water or juice. This glass looks beautiful on the table. The depth, width and design result is a pleasurable drinking experience. Dishwasher & Bar-Maid friendly.

Height: 3.25 in
Side: 1.75
to Back: 2:25 in
Weight: 1 Lb

Head to our online retail store to make your purchase or give us a call if you need a larger order.

Amizetta Estate Winery – A Place Where Friendship Grows

by nptadmin on 2019-06-24 in Filed Under: Activities in Napa

As a premier provider of luxury transportation and concierge services in Napa we don’t take our responsibilities lightly. We go above and beyond by constantly scouting new wineries, tasting new vintages and finding locations so picturesque your Instagram and your heart will never be able to erase it.

Amizetta Estate is one of those places that you must add to your Napa Valley wineries bucket list. Within it, you will find superior wines, flawless hospitality but most importantly you will find committed wine professionals that want you to be family and will treat you as such.

Amizetta vineyards are planted in rugged mountainous terrain providing the grapes with unique micro climates where sun exposure, terroir and humidity come together and produce magical and memorable wines. These beautiful Napa wines are lovingly kept in their caves built within the mountain that the Clark’s call home. Amizetta has been producing wines since 1984; Over 30 years of experience truly shows in the flavors and complexities of their offering.

The Clarks infuse all that they do with Texas-sized heart and hospitality. When we include Amizetta to your wine itinerary you can rest assured you are in for something you will never forget!

Their lovely wines are only available by allocation to their members. This is definitively a relationship worth having if you are a true wine connoisseur.