By Charles Neave
From the very beginning, in 1973, Conn Creek Winery has concentrated on making some of the best Bordeaux-styled wines to be found anywhere in the state, winning accolades, admirers and a wall full of awards along the way. To that end they limit their focus to producing small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, as well as to producing a special blend called ‘Anthology’ that uses only their finest grapes in this exquisite, flavor-packed blend. In every case, regardless of the varietal, the terroir – the soil and the climate where the grapes grow – are reflected in each vintage’s bottling.
The building that houses the winery is traditional as well, evoking the style of the Mediterranean while still infusing it with the sensibilities and openness of Northern California. Three acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines surround the winery, and the garden that make this such a comfortable and casual up-valley oasis sits to one side.
The tasting room adds to this charm by combining warmth and style in a welcoming blend of European and Wine Country sensibilities. Soft earth tones on the walls and on the high wood-beamed ceiling, well-polished terra cotta tile floors, a marble-topped tasting bar done in a U-shape then divided in the middle by an archway, and wrought iron chandeliers all make the tasting room at Conn Creek a very pleasant spot. There are also walls of windows facing the hills and vineyards along the front; in the back of the well-proportioned room, windows and tall, glass-paned wooden doors open onto the inner workings of the winery itself, where tall stainless steel tanks stand in rows.
Tasting wine at Conn Creek is a double pleasure, since they pour both the wines of Conn Creek as well as those of Villa Mt. Eden Winery. While soft music plays in the background you can sample such bottlings as the Conn Creek Sauvignon Blanc from Tall Trees Vineyard, which sits between Napa and Yountville, or perhaps a Chardonnay, Zinfandel or a deep, complex and fruit-filled Cabernet Sauvignon under the Villa Mt. Eden label. Between the two wineries seven or more varietals – including the seldom-seen Cabernet Franc and Orange Muscat – are represented, so there are plenty of choices.
If you are a member of the Conn Creek Wine Club there are even more possibilities to choose from, as barrel samples are offered in a room adjacent to the gardens. The room (and the barrel tasting) is also available for special events. But no matter what you decide to do, or which wines you decide to sample, you can be assured that at this Napa Valley winery, you will have plenty of options.
The tasting room at Conn Creek Winery is open Sunday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located at 8711 Silverado Trail not far from the town of St. Helena near the Auberge du Soleil, they can be reached at (707) 963-9100 or 1-888-617-9463 for more information, or look on the Internet at www.conncreek.com.

Related Information

• Conn Creek Winery