Napa Valley Wines

We visited two small boutique wineries for private tastings in Napa Valley. The first was Carter Cellars. Erin Arago was our vivacious hostess and let us experience the entire portfolio of Carter Cellars selections. These wines are the true definition of Napa Cabernets. All of them were 100% varietal Cabernets with the exception of one which was a Merlot Cabernet blend. These wines were bottled only two weeks earlier and were ready to drink now but will definitely benefit from years of aging. We want to thank Erin Arago for making our tasting experience something special.

The second winery we went to was Macauley Vineyard. An off the beaten path boutique winery that felt almost like you were in a hunting lodge in the mountains combined with the elegance and class of a sophisticated winery. Hailey Covey was our knowledgeable hostess who is clearly passionate about what she does. We were able to try their old world style Chardonnay, which I personally appreciate because it is fermented and produced in cement. I feel that captures the true characteristics of the terroir and the grape flavor profile. We also had the opportunity to taste their Zinfandel, Petit Sirah and Cabernet all of which were true Napa style wines with excellent balance. I am looking forward to sharing dinner and more wine with the owner when he is back in Michigan. We were very fortunate to have been able to visit Macauley Vineyard.