Thomas E M.
Yelp
So there we were, starting our lunch yesterday at Farmstead, looking at a list with a lot of unfamiliar wineries, and trying to decide what to do. Focus Tom, focus, was all I could think. What do you know that you like? Move to the Zins, it's what you like, but there are still a few unfamiliar names. What exactly is 'Tres Sabores'?
I've never tasted it, but it's not a problem. Farmstead gives me a taste. I'm sold, it will be fantastic with our lunches and it delivers. It was very reasonable priced, as I believe Farmstead is working to have great wine at a fair price.
The wine is so good that mid-meal I call the winery and arrange for a tasting. Within an hour I'm sitting at the winery with the wine maker, Julie Johnson, hearing about the history of the winery, why she make the wines that she does, her preferences for organic grapes, and the sources of the fruit for the five wines that we get to taste.
Let me just say that this is truly a fantastic experience, and very different than the main highway wineries. This is not a big corporate, impersonal, mass produced product. You don't get to wear a tour button, and you're not comparing tour guides to figure out who might be more fun on the tour. Nobody is giving you a lesson on how to swirl, sip, hold the glass, buy in the gift shop, or appreciate the quality of your stemware.
Clearly you know that this 'Tres Sabores' is not for everyone. Every wine we tried we liked, she shared with us a Sauvignon Blanc, a Zin, a Cab, a blend, and a Petit Sirah. Again, we liked them all. Heck, we joined the club.
Find this place, google them, call them, do not pass go, do not collect $200, slow down, relax, sip, enjoy. It's hard to believe that I've been going to Napa Valley for nearly 20 years and there is so much more than the main road.
Julie Johnson, and those like her, are out there and worth the effort. This was truly a special afternoon.