Spring is all about renewal, and as the first bud breaks in Napa Valley, it reminds one of man’s symbiotic relationship with nature. St. Supéry doesn’t take this for granted, as the certified Napa Green 100% Estate Grown winery encourages guests to celebrate nature and the new season during winery visits.
“We encourage guests to wander through our demonstration vineyard and gardens during their visit,” said CEO Emma Swain. If guests book a tasting, they should leave extra time for this, which ties the experience together. For example, this spring, one of St Supéry’s featured experiences is “Taste of the Estate” ($125), which includes a seated tasting of four estate wines paired with seasonally inspired dishes from their estate culinary garden and Dollarhide Estate Ranch. Arriving early for a walk through the vineyard reveals their soil-to-bottle approach to environmental stewardship, championed by Napa Green.
“We’ve been Napa Green Vineyard certified since 2008 and the winery certified since 2012,” shared Swain, adding that the winery’s commitment to sustainability is not only certified locally but also regionally (2018 recipient of California Green Medal for the California Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards) and internationally (Drinks Business Green Awards), “and continues to be recognized for our sustainable practices in all areas of the winery.” These include leaving two-thirds of their 1,600+ acres in a natural state to encourage biodiversity, using integrated pest management, reducing water usage by 50 percent in the last five years, and relying as much as possible on solar power.
After perusing the demonstration vineyard, guests can head to the estate demonstration garden, marked by large cobalt pots, for a walking tour of the season’s bounty—fresh herbs and flowers that will showcase the winery’s farm-to-table ethos. “St. Supéry’s culinary garden has been flourishing for over ten years supporting a farm-to-table initiative,” said Swain on the estate garden that provides fresh produce for the winery as well as neighbors and local restaurants.
Estate Chef Vince Sanchez shared some of the hyper-seasonal fruits and vegetables that guests can anticipate in the Taste of the Estate wine and food experience: brassicas, Nante carrots, Lacinato kale, Bright Lights Swiss chard, and Caraflex cabbage to complement the latest Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and additional winery-exclusive releases.
For more opportunities to witness the soil-to-bottle inspiration, St. Supéry offers their Cabernet Collector’s tasting ($65) to explore the winery’s diverse portfolio of estate and single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Visitors can also taste through terroir during the Winemaker’s Selection tasting ($40), where the winemakers curate a selection of four wines from their 100% estate-grown portfolio. This includes both red and white wines for a well-rounded preview of the St. Supéry quality and story.
Looking ahead, Swain noted the winery’s anticipated series of four Estate Luncheons, featuring the Big Green Egg Kamado grill (renowned for its ability to cook more evenly and retain natural flavors), that starts on July 13. It is an opportunity to enjoy an al fresco gathering at the winery to enjoy the latest wine releases, receive grilling tips from Chef Vince, plus the chance to mingle with the St. Supéry team.
