This year our annual family reunion took place over Labor Day weekend. And as always, it was filled with amazing wine, delicious food, and fun activities. I’m still going through all the photos, but here’s a peak at what’s to follow.
~Thursday, September 1st~
Tour of the UC Davis Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
Lamb & Large Format Cab Dinner
~Friday, September 2nd~
Family Tennis Clinic at Meadowood
Tour, Tasting, & Lunch at Lynmar Estate
~Saturday, September 3rd~
Release Party at Fisher Vineyards
Tour & Tasting at Chateau Boswell
Pork & Pinot Night
~Sunday, September 4th~
Family Croquet “Tournament” at Meadowood
Tour & Tasting at Jarvis Winery
Burgers & Shiraz Dinner
~Vineyard 511~
My parents’ house and vineyard in Calistoga
Still catching up on all the great eating and drinking we did in Napa over July 4th….
After a hard day of wine tasting (Vineyard 511 and Kenzo Estate), we decided to pick up some Buster’s BBQ for dinner. Buster’s is a little unassuming BBQ stand at the bottom of the hill where my dad’s house is in Calistoga. But the meat here is no joke – definitely a must-have if you’re in Calistoga – and the perfect addition to your summer BBQ if you don’t want to actually BBQ!
Buster’s Pork Ribs
Buster’s BBQ Sauce
Butter Crunch Lettuce Salad (from our garden!)
~cranberries, pistachios, cucumbers, goat cheese, rice wine vinegar, olive oil~
Yesterday we did a barrel tasting of the 2009 Vineyard 511 cabernet. The wine is aging in 7 French oak barrels at Folio Winemakers Studio. Wine from the core of the vineyard is being aged in 4 new barrels and 1 used barrel – more refined than the wine from the edge of the vineyard, it can stand up to the oak flavor imparted by a new barrel.
So, how is the wine tasting? The core vineyard cabernet is quite good – it has rich blackberry notes and is soft with very subtle tannins. The cabernet from the edge is also nice, though not as soft as the core wine.
Vineyard 511 cabernet aging in French oak.
Our winemaker, Rob Lloyd, siphons out some of the cab for us to taste.
Tasting wine from the vineyard edge stored in barrels once used by Raumbauer.
Jeff and I love visiting Napa Valley – which is why we decided to get married here four years ago this July 22nd. This weekend we are back in Napa for our annual July 4th family reunion. It’s great to spend time with family in this beautiful place – our days consist of some combination of tennis, golf, wine tasting, picnics, barbecuing, and enjoying the lovely and peaceful surroundings of my dad’s house in Calistoga.
Remembering our Wedding Day – July 22nd, 2006
After a long day of travel from NY on Thursday, we enjoyed the scenic view of Vineyard 511 from the house…
We started dinner off with a few appetizers – a steamed artichoke and roasted figs with goat cheese and balsamic glaze.
Then we headed down to the outside kitchen to cook up some steaks and corn on the cob.
We also got to taste the wine from the 2008 harvest of Vineyard 511 in preparation for barrel tasting the 2009 the next day. The grapes from this harvest were sold to another wine-maker with the condition that she bottle a case or so of a single vineyard cabernet from Vineyard 511′s grapes. I thought the 2008 was quite good.
We ended the day by relaxing in front of the fire while enjoying some more time with family.
Harvest 2009
Harvest at Vineyard 511
Vineyard 511 was harvested this morning, October 1st, 2009.
This year’s harvest yielded 2.84 tons of cabernet sauvignon grapes which should produce 150 cases.
Thanks to everyone who helped harvest!
Welcome to the Vineyard 511 page of Travel & Eats!
Vineyard 511 (September 4th, 2009)
Vineyard 511 is our family vineyard – nestled between Reverie Winery and Diamond Creek Winery in the Diamond Mountain appellation. Vineyard 511 is unique because of the mountain terroir and limited production of handcrafted cabernet sauvignon. The vineyard was initially planted in 2001 and is now fully mature.
Vineyard511.com is currently under construction, but check back for more information once the site is up and running.