Vineyard 29 in Pictures & Words

After passing Vineyard 29 for so many years we finally had the chance to spend some time there thanks to a client who grew up next door to someone who works there. After all, when you have a friend who moves all the way across the country to work in the winery business you have to drop in when you are in the neighborhood, don't you? We did a series of photos and a one video inside and another outside. I had always heard that it is a state of the art winery, and I have to admit it is elegant. I guess I have spent more time than most in state of the art wineries so I considered the facility kind of typical of modern Napa wineries. Of course our normal here is pretty exceptional.

One feature that I thought quite interesting was an elevator tank that they fill when they bottle in their own line. They elevate the tank so that it can be drained without pumps. Cool! Honestly many of today's best pumps are so gentle that it's hard to imagine that the little grape molecules feel very bruised when they pass through. But, it is attention to details and cleanliness that makes great wine, so I'm the last person to criticize what is a wonderfully innovative approach using standard technology.

Now the tasting that my clients experienced was especially friendly because they were there with a friend, but my impression that kind of hospitality and graciousness was a normal part of the winery experience. The wines are reputed to be very good, alas I didn't have a chance to taste them because I was driving. I'll have to stop in and do a terrace tasting with views of the valley below and do a personal analysis. It's tough work but someone has to do it!