Something for Everyone at Sequoia Grove

Rutherford, the appellation  with the longest sunlight hours on the valley  floor,  is  truly  the  heart of the Napa Valley. Sequoia Grove has called Rutherford home for nearly 40 years and in just the last few years has made a renewed commitment to both their wine quality and their guest experiences. The investments are paying off. Their Napa Valley Cabernet was a 2018 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines Award Winner and in the same year their proprietary Cabernet-based 2015 Cambium blend was awarded 94+ points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

But Sequoia Grove’s appeal proves broader than viticultural accolades. The winery’s allure also lies in its enhanced guest experiences that take place in the shadows of the towering Sequoias that surround the property and serve as the winery’s namesakes. It’s in the casual and unpretentious atmosphere with its posh ‘glamping’ vibe courtesy of the coniferous canopy. It’s in the variety of tasting opportunities that take place in varied locales on property – a sail-covered patio, a convivial tasting bar, the luxurious Cambium Room, or the private ‘club only’ areas with comfy lounge furniture and fire pits. It’s in a glass of wine enjoyed while playing a game of corn hole with friends.

It’s also in the winery’s dedication to environmentalism and sustainability. In addition to its Napa Green Winery certification, Sequoia Grove also recently earned Napa Green Land and Fish-Friendly Farming certifications, demonstrating a deep commitment throughout its entire operation to agricultural preservation through environmentally-responsible practices.

“Quality and integrity are, and always have been intrinsic to everything we do, from winemaking to gracious hospitality,” said Sequoia Grove president Rick Bonitati

“We’ve recently invested $15MM in property enhancements that have resulted in higher quality wines and a richer visitor experience; there is something for everyone here at Sequoia Grove.”

The proof is in the praise. Sequoia Grove was awarded ‘Best of Wine Tourism’ by Great Wine Capitals of the World 2019, and received OpenTable’s ‘Best of Wine Country’ award for its 90-minute, grape  to glass Terroir Tasting that  starts  with an overview of the winery’s history, AVA, and viticulture practices and is followed by a deluxe wine and food experience focused on vineyard-designate wines.  And those vineyards – including Sequoia Grove’s own 75 acres of Rutherford estate grapes at the Sequoia Grove and Tonella Vineyards – read like a Napa Valley geo- graphical history lesson: iconic names like Stagecoach, Morisoli, Lamoreaux, Healy, and Henry Brothers – vineyards at which Sequoia Grove has held long term grower partnerships, some spanning 30 years.

“Our ownership and our winemaker Molly Hill are obsessed with the details that go into crafting our wines and single-vineyard, award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon,” said Bonitati. “The founda- tion of our wines is found in our grapes that are grown in the finest terroir, and the improvements we’ve made over the last few years that span all facets of our operation, from precision farming tech- niques, viticulture, sustainability,  and the replanting of the estate vineyards. We’ve only just begun to see the results  of this undertaking in the vineyards with the 2015 vintage; the future looks very promising.”

Additional experiences include two walk-in welcome tastings: the Current Release Tasting that explores a spectrum of the winery’s varietals and blends and the Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting. For a more educational visit, try A Taste for Cabernet (perfect for those interested in learning how the sweetness, saltiness, sourness and bitterness in foods can impact the flavor and enjoyment of Cabernet Sauvignon), and the Cabernet Culinary Challenge experience for groups of six or more, a fun and educational competition in which small groups are challenged to build the perfect Cabernet Sauvignon-elevating crostini from a menu of a dozen ingredients. And for something a little more low-key, Sequoia Grove’s wel- coming outdoor patios are the perfect spot to simply enjoy a glass of wine with a local cheeses and charcuterie accompaniment.

“We’ve  been carving our own path  for decades while never losing sight of who we are,” said Bonitati. “We are rooted in history, guided by integrity, resolute in our values, and we are committed to the future.”

338 St. Helena Highway, Napa, CA 707-944-2945 • www.sequoiagrove.com

Article By: Fran Miller