Raymond Vineyard

Reserve your Raymond experience online: www.raymondvineyards.com

There are times when there are simply not enough adjectives in the English language to describe something. That could well be the case with Raymond Vineyards.

The winery itself is welcoming and the experiences this iconic site offers go on and on. In addition to the traditional tastings, there is the wine education program, which includes an interactive program that showcases wine and food “marriages.” There are also reserve wine tastings held in the almost surrealistic Crystal Cellar (when you visit you will understand the name) which features the winery’s District Collection Cabernets poured from Baccarat decanters. It is perhaps an understatement to say it is impossible to be bored at this winery. If for a second you think you have run out of things to try, walk down the Corridor of Senses. You will never consider wine the same.

Since the crafting of fine wine is literally rooted in the soil, it is only fitting that this is recognized here, and to a degree seldom seen anywhere else. Called the “Theater of Nature,” it is a walk through the garden and the barnyard, with more edible and decorative plants than almost anyone could name. There are goats, sheep, chickens a-plenty and other attractive fowl as well.  

A mobile-optimized website, www.TheaterofNature.com, takes guests through each of the five “acts” of the theater with dynamic voice-overs from Raymond proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset. In five minutes or five hours, you truly appreciate not just the harmony but the necessity of this natural co-existence at a working winery.    

By Charles Neave   

Varietals
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon including Generations –  their famously smooth, much coveted and silky Cab.

Blend Away
Be a ‘Winemaker for a Day’ and discover what goes into making truly fine wine, then take home a bottle with your own label. Plus it’s great fun.    

Fun Facts
• Dogs are always welcome. They have the winery owner (and his dog, Frenchie) to thank.  No dog should have to stay in a hot car while his/her parents are enjoying themselves tasting wine. So his friends now have a place to romp in the Napa Valley – wine country’s FIRST dog winery, Frenchie (www.frenchiewinery.com)
• When you walk from the parking lot to the tasting room, look to your right, grab your camera and you’ll understand what “Getting framed at Raymond Vineyards” means.

Wine Club
Raymond has one of the most popular wine clubs in the entire Napa Valley, and not just because of the many benefits a membership offers. To learn about our wine club events, visit RaymondVineyards.com.