#Female Owned Wineries

Kellie Martin – Your Personal Wine Mentor

I have spent almost two decades in the wine industry and every single day I am surprised by the joy of learning something new or meeting someone whose knowledge of wine-making adds to my own. To put it simply, we are able to deliver unique and curated experiences because we are constantly in learning and discovery mode and we want to encourage you to do the same.

Being well-versed in enology will absolutely give you the edge when it comes to wine collecting, wine discovery and most importantly it will equip you to have educated conversations on a topic that always enchants those around you. We know that politics, religion and money are verboten in polite company. Wine never is!

In my personal experience knowing and loving wines is best achieved by knowing the people behind each wine and the processes that make it possible. It seems, the more I learn the more I realize how little I know and my appetite for knowledge grows by the hour.

Living in Napa provides me with constant opportunities to mingle with the best-of-the best; among them my amazing friend Kellie Martin. Kellie Martin is the perfect blend of charm and expertise and has a way about her that makes learning about wine fun and approachable. Her credentials are too long to list and her Rolodex within the industry is legendary.

Every single time I host I wish I could have Kellie join us. Since that is aspirational and most certainly unrealistic I want to extend an invitation to get to know her virtually. You will not regret it. Kellie is the owner of SommSchool, an institution whose central goal is equipping wine aficionados with knowledge and social networks designed to take them to the next level. Kellie offers a variety of educational services inclusive of retreats and private events; but my favorite is the Decanted Membership. DM is an exclusive membership that offers three key services that are ideal for your personal enjoyment or as a corporate or personal gift for your favorite wine lover. The membership consists of a comprehensive learning bundle that you can enjoy at your own pace, a monthly virtual learning event that often features industry icons as special guests & the opportunity to have Kellie personally curate a case of hand-selected wine carefully customized to your preferences and available for purchase every month. Having a wine sommelier-selected for you is probably one of the nicest things you can do for your wine cellar.

I can’t begin to tell you how special it is to host a second or third time guest after they have completed Kellie’s educational programs. Hosting a guest with strong wine knowledge is an oasis to my soul.

I asked Kellie if she could issue a special friends and family discount to the NPT family and she generously gifted all of us with a 10% discount. You can access your discount by using code NPT10

You can purchase your Decanted Membership here

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

Time to Go Back to School. Wine School!!

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