To read about day one of our excursion, click here.
We hit the ground running on Day 2 of the UNLV Continuing
Education excursion to Napa Valley. On our way to the first winery, we stopped for breakfast
at Thomas Keller’s Yountville bakery, Bouchon, where we filled up on croissants,
quiches and, of course, caffeine.
Our first stop of the day was the beautiful Chappellet
Vineyard, a pristine property and one of the area’s oldest family-owned
wineries. Located above the fog line on Pritchard Hill, it took a bit of
careful planning for our bus to navigate the twists and turns all the way to
the top. Once we stepped off the bus and into the tasting room, a hush seemed
to fall over the group – the space was incredible, with vaulted chapel-esque
ceilings, rows of beautiful barrels and the most elegant tasting table we’d
seen yet.
Candice Pannetier, our host and the director
of guest relations at Chappellet, was knowledgeable, easy to talk to and
very generous with her time. After a taste of Chappellet’s Chenin Blanc, we sampled
the Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Las Piedras Bordeaux blend, the latter of which
we took on a walk out to the vineyards. Candace explained to us how each
morning their viticulture crew picked three leaves from every row of vines to
check water levels, making sure the plant was appropriately thirsty (to build
that Pritchard Hill character, of course) but not at risk of dehydration. Seeing
such pride and attention to detail really makes it easier to understand the
price differential between a $10 Cab and one that’s priced higher to account
for the extra craftsmanship and manpower that goes into it. 
While walking through the vineyard,
you could definitely feel that we were above the fog line, as the skies were
sunny and the temperature was warm with a cool breeze. Our group got to take a
walk through Chappellet’s man-made cave that’s carved into the hillside, which is
quite green and could be platinum-LEED-certified if they wanted to go through
the costly registration process. (We also learned Chappellet doesn’t have a
water bill or electricity bill since they are so eco-friendly.) I could
go on and on about the organic practices, neat bottling machinery and friendly
winemakers who spent time with us, but suffice it to say that I loved this
place so much I joined their wine club -- and you’ll just have to visit yourself!
Our last stop before our voyage home was Baldacci Vineyards
in the prestigious Stags Leap district, known for its world-famous Cabernet
Sauvignons. We were greeted by Michael Baldacci, one of the proprietor’s sons
who lives on the property full time and seemed to wear many different hats.
As he led us through the tasting, he sensed our enthusiasm
as wine students and really started delving deeper into the story behind the
family’s vineyard, as well as its winemaking techniques. One of the things I loved
most about this trip was the access we were given: Not only did we get to
explore the underground cave, walk through the rows of oak barrels and taste
different grapes straight from the vine, but we also got to pick Mike’s brain
about the state of the industry, his day-to-day priorities, and what he hopes
for in the future. After hearing some of us were big fans of their 2009 Cab,
Mike pulled a bottle for us, which boasted all the classic characteristics of a
Stags Leap Cab: Drinks like an iron-fist with a velvet glove. (For us
laypeople, that means it has lots of beautiful structure and body with a
velvety-smooth finish.)
All in all, it was a fantastic trip that delivered
incredible, off-the-beaten-path experiences that allowed for just the right
balance of learning and fun. Unfortunately, I don’t think that any trip I could
plan the future will match up to the experience I had this time, so I guess I’m
just going to have to return on the trip next year!
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