Happy belated Super Bowl, everyone. 

Wow, what a game, huh?  Congrats to the Giants fans out there on a well-deserved win.  As a tortured Eagles fan, I’ve spent a large chunk of my life disliking your franchise, but I am going to let bygones be bygones for just a few days in honor of your team’s achievement.

… But then I’m going to need a drink.  A big one.  And for those of you that are also looking for a place to drown your sorrows — whether you’re a Patriots fan, an Eagles fan or just a fan of another team that let you down – or even celebrate a victory, we’ve picked out a special winery for today.

Vincent Arroyo is a tiny winery with an annual case production of just over 8,000 a year.  In fact, it’s so small that while some of the wines they make are available for purchase, much of their business is in selling Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah futures, meaning that you buy a case while the wine is still aging in the barrel.  As you can imagine, you literally won’t find anything they sell for sale anywhere else.   

What makes Vincent Arroyo so special as wineries go is that it’s located in Napa Valley, but so far north that the area is relatively tourist-free.  That adds up to an exceptional environment for growing Bordeaux grapes and no crowds. 

The winery itself is nestled in a picturesque area surrounded by small hills, and the tasting room doubles as barrel storage.  There are picnic tables and even a friendly, happy winery dog. 

On our visit, we were fortunate enough to meet Vincent himself, who was pouring out a bottle from his personal library — a Cab from the 1991 vintage.  While my wife, my mom and I were glowing from our luck in tasting a 17 year-old wine, my father, who doesn’t drink wine, sat on a bench outside and seemed to be soaking in the calm and beauty of the environment surrounding him.   

While I hate to let out the secret of such a good thing, it’s difficult to discuss wineries and not recommend this one for both wine enthusiasts and mourning football fans alike.

www.VincentArroyo.com
2361 Greenwood Avenue
Calistoga, California 94515
(707) 942-6995
*Tastings by appointment; no tasting fee.