Stewart Cellars

Stewart Cellars was founded in 2000. It is the collaborative project of founder Michael Stewart, his son James Stewart, his daughter Caroline Stewart Guthrie, and his son-in-law Blair Guthrie. Together, the family oversees all aspects of the winery’s operations: James, an artist, works in sales, marketing, and distribution. Caroline leads the day to day operations along with each wine’s development. And Blair, the winemaker, works closely alongside acclaimed consulting winemaker Paul Hobbs to capture the singular site signatures of Stewart’s premier vineyard sources. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Stewart Cellars and was blown away by the story, the family involvement, the beautiful tasting room design, and the fabulous wines. Read more about this Yountville gem you should know about below… 6752 Washington St, Yountville, CA.

The interior of the tasting room. I love the large open bar area which is very conducive to wine tasting and an open, warm, and inviting atmosphere.

Nomad Heritage Library

Quite possibly my favorite element of the beautifully designed space is the amazing use of both the inside and the outdoor spaces. It was hard to decide which area, inside or outside, I wanted to relax in during my visit. Luckily, Winemaker Blair and the team had set me up in the Nomad Heritage Library, a space that’s limited to wine club members (and maybe press?),  so I didn’t have to make the decision myself. On any future visits, if you’re able to make an appointment, I’d suggest requesting a table outside to take in the beautiful gardens, architecture, and the amazing Napa climate. You can always start with a tasting inside and then progress outside, too!

On the left is the Nomad Heritage Library Building (for Stewart Wine Club Members only), and the central outdoor area and tasting room are both open for walk-in guests. This is just such a stunning space, I love it all!

The interior of the Nomad Heritage Library

The moment I stepped inside, I fell in love. It has both a rich masculine feel to it, with animal horns and prints, and also a modern chic feel. No surprise, the interior design was done by the talented Ken Fulk (who I am a huge fan of). For those familiar with the Battery in San Francisco, that is another one of Ken’s incredible designs. Regardless, having access as a member to this Stewart Cellars Nomad Heritage Library is just one reason to join the Stewart Cellars wine club, in addition to the fabulous wines, of course, and the entire Stewart Cellars tasting room.

Guided Tasting

My warm welcome by winemaker Blair Guthrie. Upon arriving, he took me to the Nomad Heritage Library where I experienced my guided tasting. It’s very rare that I get to enjoy a tasting as just me and a winemaker. This tasting was so informative, authentic (Blair is a super cool down to earth guy), and very engaging.  Before I knew it, we had been tasting and chatting for over an hour and a half.

A glimpse at the delicious wines I tasted during the visit

A Rose, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay from Sonoma Mountain, a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (totally my jam), a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from Max Vineyards, Stewart’s Yountville Vineyard, and, lastly, their highest-end Nomad Cabernet Sauvignon (with grapes sourced from the legendary Beckstoffer Vineyards).

Hanging and shooting the shit with Winemaker Blair. He is so cool and such a down to earth guy. I loved hearing about his winemaking background and how he met his wife, and Stewart Cellar Proprietor, Caroline Stewart Guthrie. They met when they were both on the winemaking team at Paul Hobbs. Talk about a perfect romance story…

Blair showing me the Nomad Cabernet Sauvignon collection they are offering in collaboration with Beckstoffer Vineyards.

Audi on Demand

I had the pleasure of borrowing an Audi on Demand for my weekend getaway to Napa. This Audi TT Convertible was the perfect chic and sporty car to zip around Napa to visit Stewart Cellars. Read more about Audi on Demand and see how you can save 20% here.

The stunning outside space of the Nomad Library. I really want to attend a pickup party here, the space is so fabulous. I’m sure it’s a blast with a large group of people all having fun and sipping on delicious Stewart Cellars!

Cheers to my incredible visit to Stewart Cellars. This is such a special place. All because of the fabulous story of the family-owned winery and their delicious wines. In addition, their beautiful property and their overall philosophy and attitude. I look forward to many more visits here!