Prior to 1976, Napa Valley was not synonymous with world-class wine. In fact, many people only knew the region as an agricultural basket, producing, crops of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. However, after the much-lauded 1976 “Judgement of Paris”, a blind tasting competition in France, which pitted the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon among the many other wine entrants, Napa Valley would forever be changed, locking this fertile valley into the spotlight of worthy, quality wine.
Since that fortuitous moment which made namesakes of Jim Barrett of Chateau Montlena and Warren Winiarski of Stag’s Leap Napa Valley has continued to shine and blaze trails with its rich and innovative viticultural practices and incredible portfolio of wines. With originals like Barret and Winiarski bringing the attention to Napa Valley, along with the pioneers and trailblazers who preceded them, Napa Valley is the world-class destination it is today.
In 1882, the first public tasting room opened its doors in Napa Valley. This winery, better known as Charles Krug, is still open to the public and fully operational. This 540-acre winery currently offers 23 unique wines and maintains much of the original charm and ambience, continuing Charles Krug’s legacy.
In Napa Valley the names Hannah Weinberger and Robert Mondavi have become somewhat household names. Weinberger was Napa Valley’s first female winery owner and winemaker in the early 1880s. While Mondavi helped market Napa Valley as a premier wine destination, advocating for quality of the Napa Valley wine . These celebrated individuals are among many who contributed to Napa Valley’s prestigious reputation.
Photo Credit: Tres Sabores
Looking forward, the winemaking talent in Napa Valley marches on. Two names instantly come to the mind of local residents minds, including Julien Fayard and Julie Johnson.
With a perfect 100-pointer wine making the top charts, Julien Fayard has already made a name for himself and continues to turn heads. This Frenchman transplanted to Napa Valley and brought with him his passion, skillset, and proficiency. Fayard has produced more than 20 top-shelf Napa Valley wines and trained under Philippe Melka’s winemaking group, another notable Frenchman calling Napa Valley his home.
In the later part of 2023, Fayard opened his first winemaker-owned bottle shop that offers wine aficionados a destination to try tasty and renowned Napa Valley wines. Located in the heart of Downtown Napa, this brick-and-mortar store known as Maison Fayard, offers guests two dozen brands to choose from. From these two dozen options, guests will be surprised to find both Fayard’s personal projects and as well as wines on which he continues to consultant. “Great wine is the natural product of grapes, so my creed is vineyard-centric,”explains Fayard, who is committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Winemaker and owner of Tres Sabores Winery, Julie Johnson, founded her winery with the intent of “exploring the three savory flavors in every glass of wine.” The farm on which she grows Cabernet, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Petit Verdot, along with several varieties of fruit, is a California Certified Organic Farmer (CCOF) property. Complete with a menagerie of farm animals, this winery boasts natural winemaking practices, making use of the land and limited interventions to produce wines with distinct character.
Napa Valley, with a history dating well back into the early 1800s and a winemaking presence for almost as long, is poised to continue blazing trails and paving the way for new generations of winemaker to create their niche. blending old and new, tried and true, and innovation and inspiration.
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Featured Image Photo Credit: Visit Napa Valley and Courtesy of Bob McClenahan