We chose to visit Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, in Napa Valley’s picturesque and low-key Stags Leap District, primarily due to the winery’s historic role in the famous Paris tasting of 1976.  We had expected throngs of tourists and tour buses, given the winery’s significance in California wine history.  Fortunatey for us, since we’re really not much for big crowds, our preconceived notions about the winery proved wrong: even upon arriving, we found ourselves admiring its seeming peacefulness and serene setting.  We noticed, for example, that lush vegetation shielded the parking lot from traffic on the main road, and up the shady hill toward the winery’s main buildings, we caught a glimpse of a couple of cozy teak benches surrounded by shady trees.  We were immediately impressed. 

As we made our way into the slightly dark – but charming – wooden tasting room, we had no trouble getting through to a staff member with wine ready to pour.  Although I still am curious to know what a glass of the $175 Cab would have tasted like, we opted for the cheaper of the two tasting menus ($15 vs. $40), which included a few whites, a Merlot, and a Cabernet Sauvignon.  While we did not end up purchasing a bottle of anything, we liked (surprise, surprise) the Cab the best.

We were delighted that our visit to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars was gratifying on more than just a historical level.       

www.Cask23.com
5766 Silverado Trail
Napa, California 94558
(707) 944-2020