Sequoia Grove Winery A Chill Napa Valley Winery

With Amazing Cabernet Sauvignon

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Sequoia Grove Winery located in California’s Napa Valley.   I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as this was my first visit, although I did imagine, like many Napa Valley wineries it would be a bit more formal and reserved than what I may find in Sonoma or The Russian River Valley. I was surprised to see that the vibe of the Winery was very chill and relaxed. The exterior has a North West feel to it, for those who’ve been to Seattle you’ll know what I mean.  They also have a charming garden in the back that guests can relax in and enjoy a bottle of wine or take in the gorgeous scenery and setting.  We had a picnic lunch down the street at Oakville Grocery (a spot I highly recommend for any Napa visit) so I’d suggest grabbing lunch or snacks there and bringing along to enjoy at the Winery with a delicious bottle of Wine.

Going into the tasting I was aware, that Sequoia Grove, like many Napa Wineries is known for their Cabernet Sauvignon. I anticipated I’d enjoy the upcoming Private Tasting Experience, “A Taste for Cabernet”, (at $50 per person).  This experience is described online saying “Experience the expertise of Sequoia Grove and Cabernet Sauvignon. Join us for a private, small-group experience that uses Sequoia Grove Winery’s vineyard-designated Cabernet program to illustrate how what’s in the vineyard gets into the glass, and how to maximize your enjoyment of Cabernet with a meal. This seated tasting is relaxed, yet informative, and takes approximately 75 minutes. Reservations are required.”

Some highlights of the tasting included:

• Trying 4 of the various Cabernet Sauvignon’s & a Bordeaux Blend within the portfolio. They were all delicious and I now see why they are known for their wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon’s. My favorite was theMorisoli Vineyard becauseof it’s deep dark berry taste and the extremely smooth taste and finish.
  • Wines included in the tasting: Lamoreaux Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stagecoach Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Henry Brothers Vineyard 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Morisoli Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and the Cambium 2008 Bordeaux blend. Prices from $90 to $145.
• Learning about the history of the Winery and the various wine growing regions their wines come from. Contrary to popular belief the grapes are not all grown on the site, rather in different AVA’s within Napa Valley.
• Fun fact, Cabernet Sauvignon represents 75% of their wine production. As a wine consumer that’s so interesting when you consider all the other varietals on the market and this one is such a HUGE portion of their total. Clearly they are very good at making Cab Sauv!!
• Being led by fabulous Wine Instructor Dean through a pairing of various foods learning how to determine what pairs well with wine. This was fascinating as we tried two cheeses, an apple, a lemon and a pinch of SALT, each having extremely different tastes paired with the wine. I enjoy Food & Wine simultaneously, however, to be led through the experiment where your tongue experiences the effects of a lemon followed by a rich Cabernet Sauvignon was enlightening. It really demonstrated how important the right food & wine pairing is to bringing out the flavors in both the wine AND the food.

Learning about the various parts of our tongue and the different sensory parts involved in taste

The plate we experimented with for our Food & Wine pairing. A must try when you visit the Winery

The Grand Finale…. I had inquired if Sequoia makes a Chardonnay and voila, I tasted it at the end. It was delicious with hints of butter, definitely tasting the cooler Carneros Grapes used for this lovely Chardonnay.

Me and Madison, a JetSetting Fashionista Blog Team Member

Our fabulous picnic lunch at Oakville Grocery before our tasting. A MUST try on any Napa visit. Also great to grab and bring with you to the Winery to then enjoy with some delicious wine in the beautiful gardens.