#Wine Tours

Mario Bazán Cellars – Where Elegant Beauty Meets Sublime Flavors

by Javy on 2019-04-16 in Filed Under: Activities in Napa, Wine Tours

We love rituals of beauty and we are passionate when it comes to perfection and nuance. Because marvelous wines is our thing we can’t help it but pause to celebrate Mario Bazán. You have probably heard about Mario. He has a story worth telling. A self-made man able to grow vines of marked quality. Mario is well versed in every facet of wine making. His experience in wine production is paramount. His wines are are laudable, complete and simply inspiring. His hands, mind and heart have shaped many of the Napa wines you have come to enjoy for almost 50 years.

When Less Is More

Bazán Cellars is a micro-producer. While Mario manages hundreds of acres for many highly coveted wineries his personal production is a gift available to a few lucky wine collectors. In contrast to mass-produced wines all of Mario’s wines are infused with dedication, intentionality and absolute craftsmanship. Together with his wife Gloria they are in the business of creating wines worthy of the most exclusive wine cellars.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to stop by their new tasting room. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to sharing this gem with you. Like a freshly blossomed anemone the ambiance is intimate, delicate and aimed at gifting each visitor with tender and caring hospitality. Their goal is to deliver guest-focused tasting opportunities filled with tidbits of history and wine-making education. It takes someone like Mario to execute at this level.

We can’t wait to introduce you. Ask us to include Bazán Cellars next time we get to host your wine tasting trip to Napa, Sonoma and the surrounding California Wine Country,

Much Love,

Javy

Best Wine Tours in Napa?

by nptadmin on 2015-03-14 in Filed Under: Wine Tours

We are surprised by number of wine tour operators and travel organizations that claim to know who is the best wine tour in Napa. To us a single wine tour cannot be qualified as the best mainly because we don’t believe in cookie cutter wine tours. Food & Wine ran an article featuring a collection of wineries they perceived to be the top wineries to visit in Napa and I can’t help it but agree with some of their picks. But before you add every single winery listed on this slideshow to your bucket list let me remind you that wine is a very personal and experiential luxury.

To us, crafting the best wine tours in Napa is about getting to know our guests and tailoring the wine tour to their taste, passions and wine collecting objectives. We are able to achieve the ultimate in personalization by carefully interviewing each potential guest and for lack of a better word pairing people with amazing wine experiences that speak to every sense.

When we plan your wine tour in Napa, we take into account, among other things the following:

Are you a first-timer looking for discovery?
Are you entertaining a corporate client or incentivizing your employees with a wine tour?
Do you have a clearly defined preference for certain types of wine?
Are you a wine collector looking to diversify your cellar?
Are you in town looking to buy wine cases to celebrate a special occasion?
Celebrating a special occasion or milestone?
Is your wine tour the backdrop of a marriage proposal?

Our team meets a couple of times per week to evaluate guest interviews and try to match you with the best and most beautiful wineries and the most coveted wines. As a boutique wine tour operator we want your experience to be so beautiful and memorable that you will want to repeat it year after year. Jona, David and I are dedicated to hosting five star wine tours and want every guest to fall in love with Napa and all that it has to offer.

Looking forward to your visit,

Javy

Pairing Your Thanksgiving Meal With Napa’s Best Wines

by nptadmin on 2014-11-22 in Filed Under: Uncategorized

With Thanksgiving right around the corner we wanted to pause and take a moment to help our friends and clients maximize their wine collection and present the best possible wine pairings for their Thanksgiving guests. We realize that every family has different culinary traditions and flavors can vary based on your geographical region or ethnic background. To cater to these differences we are highlighting wines likely to pair with a variety of cuisines and selected for their versatility and palate-pleasing flavors. Let’s head to the cellar together and pick a few of our best bottles. If these wineries are not yet part of your cellar repertoire please remind me to include them in your next wine tour.

Traditional Roasted Turkey

The very centerpiece of most Thanksgiving feasts deserves a wine that speaks of family tradition & love. Why not consider a Pinot Noir from Peter Michael. Sir Peter Michael is known for cultivating wonderful varietals that yield gorgeous wines. Consider Clos du Ciel or Le Moulin Rouge. You can learn more about Peter Michael Wines here.

Rosemary Infused Leg of Lamb

If you are planning to slow roast a beautiful leg of lamb you will need to pair your meal with a wine that is rich, complex and able to balance the landscape of flavors present in this dish. Red meats must be paired with the most beautiful of red wines. Consider pulling a couple of bottles of Favia Cabernet Sauvignon their 2011 limited production Cab will not disappoint.

Deep Fried Cajun Turkey

We could not help make this pairing for our dear friends living in the deep South. We love y’all and wish we could be there. The wonderful smell of rich spices and peanut oil is best paired with a Bure Sauvignon Blanc. Luc Morlet, a 4th generation wine maker does not disappoint.

Smoked Ham with Sweet Glaze

We adore how a well prepared smoked ham can make any Thanksgiving table complete. We are particularly fond of Benton’s Country Hams. If you have not yet tried one consider ordering one for Christmas. Our recommendation is that you pair your ham with a Rosé from Fleury Winery.

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce

Can we say yum! If you have a baker at home consider yourself lucky. There is no better way to end a feast than by sharing a sweet delight. The creaminess and contrast of spices present in a Pumpkin cheesecake will be best paired with a Dolce from Far Niente. If you have not visited Far Niente please don’t let me forget to include it in your next tour. The grounds are pristine and picturesque with postcard qualities. I am certain you will love it!

Words cannot describe how thankful I am for your friendship and patronage. The team and I are honored to host you and yours and make of every trip to Napa a unique adventure that will be remembered for years to come.

With Gratitude,

Javy

The Grape Varieties of Napa: A Guide for Newbies

by nptadmin on 2014-10-24 in Filed Under: Uncategorized

Just a few days ago while conducting a tour a lovely guest asked me about the main varietals of grapes cultivated in Napa Valley. We touched on how wineries here in Napa manage their vineyards for low yield and I had the opportunity to share a little knowledge of what and how we grow different types of grapes in our beloved valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Over 50% of what we grow in Napa Valley is Cabernet Sauvignon. This relatively new variety of grape is the result of a chance crossing between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. This is a low yield grape that blooms late avoiding the risks of loosing a crop to an early spring freeze. These grapes yield a high tannin full bodied wine with lovely acidity that can be enjoyed when the wine is young but also allows for a wine that ages with great elegance.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay grapes originated in the Burgundy region of France. Chardonnay is a green grape used for white wines. The flavor of the chardonnay grapes is quite neutral and most of the nuances that happen on a wine are the result of terroir and oak. Chardonnay is the base for many sparkling wines including champagne wine. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape around the globe with over 400,000 acres growing in many appellations across the planet. A wine made with chardonnay grapes can range in flavor from crisp to buttery and it is a reflection of the wine maker’s expertise and style.

Merlot

Merlot is usually harvested late to allow for physiological ripeness resulting in a rich purple wine with high alcohol content. When Merlot is harvested early it will have higher acidity resulting in richer berry-like flavors. Generally Merlot grapes are used as a blending grape to add body and complex fruit flavors to a wine. Merlot imparts a gorgeous depth to the color of a wine. As a varietal Merlot is an offspring of Carmenere, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Pinot Noir

The name Pinot Noir refers to the shape of the clusters which mimic a black tightly set pine cone. Pinot Noir grapes require slightly cooler weather making them ideal to grow in microclimates present in the Carneros region as well as Russian River. While Pinot Noir generates some of the finest wines around the globe it is incredibly difficult to cultivate and even more to manipulate in the wine-making process. Thin skinned grapes with low phenolic compounds generate a complex medium bodied wine very low in tannins and quite unpredictable when it comes to aging. A fine Pinot Noir from a great vintage produced by an expert wine maker is a gift to the palate you won’t soon forget.

Napa Valley grows many other varietals which hope I can share with you in the near future. Having a basic understanding on how the grape varietal influences the flavor and quality of your wine will help you better appreciate each bottle and make smart purchasing decisions when trying to expand your wine cellar.

The team and I look forward to hosting you in the next few months when we can take time as we explore and learn the ins and outs of wine production.

At your service,

Javy

Rosé for Wine Collectors: An Insider’s Guide

by nptadmin on 2014-09-19 in Filed Under: Uncategorized

Talking about rosé wines is most likely to happen at the very start of summer when culinary experts begin pairing their menus with light and refreshing wines best enjoyed al fresco. At Napa Private Tours we march to a different drummer and today as summer comes to a closing and days are shorter we want to pause for a moment and share with you a little about “pink wine”.

Up until a decade or so ago mentioning rosé was stigmatic to say the least. Most rosés were and afterthought in the wine making process and you seldom saw them as part of the most coveted wine collections. Today, through the efforts of creative and dedicated wine makers rosé has gained significant recognition and having a part of your cellar specifically devoted to this beautiful drink is a smart and delightful move.

The Flavor Profile of Rosé Wines

As wine makers explore the possibilities of this type of wine the flavor spectrum has expanded tremendously. Made mainly with Pinot Noir, Grenache, Sinsault, Syrah and Zinfandel. Rosé wine is generally perceived by the palate as fresh, crisp and having character in the form of acidity, notes of summer fruits such as strawberry, raspberry, lingonberry and watermelon come to mind and herbal aromas are present in some. Rosé wine can be dry or sweet and the method of fermentation will also surface in the flavor and bouquet. Rosé is generally served chilled and many wine makers are offering their better rosé wines from tap. Rosés are not generally aged for a long time inviting the wine collector to enjoy the current vintage with reckless abandon without the burden of what it might have become with time.

The Making of Rosé

Rosé is made by allowing red grapes to ferment with skin for a short period of time and then removing the skins. The duration of the maceration period (time in which the clear juices are in contact with the grape skins) will determine the depth of color of your rosé wine.

A more common but less coveted way of producing rosé is the soignée method. This is done by bleeding off a small portion of juice during the red wine production resulting in a highly concentrated rosé. Rosé can also be achieved by the mixing of white and red wine but this is the least desirable of methods generally not endorsed by finer wine makers and wine connoisseurs.

Our Rosé Picks From Napa Valley

If you are a wine collector and you would like to expand your wine library by including the most gorgeous rosé wine from Napa and Sonoma we look forward to hosting you during your stay in Napa. We will be honored to point you to the best of the best in rosé production.