Hello again, I have just recovered from the Cheers! event that took place last Friday August 6th. Some descriptive images that still come to mind from the event were, a very pleasant St. Helena summer night. People (both friends and visitors) lining Main Street, walking in an orderly fashion, holding tightly to their plastic cups of the evening and searching for wine, from the over 30 local wine producers present. Plenty of food is also made available from both our Main Street Restaurants and our local caterers.
Just when you get into a calm rhythm of both enjoying the eats and sipping the valley’s finest, low and behold, up the street marches a 60 piece marching band. I stepped back from the curve and listened, yes, now I recognize that tune…”Our House” by that English group Madness. Ah, finally the music I listened to in my past gets a little respect!
I walked up the block and turned the corner at Steve’s Hardware where three big, black busses from California Tours were parked. This is the sight that tells me that Cheers! St. Helena has arrived – a full laid out Tweet Mother base where fellow Tweeters can spread the word, share ideas, debate wine pairings or just celebrate the fact that St. Helena has grown up and finally got a night life!
And set up right in the central hub of all this social media excitement, I am proud to say, Flora Springs Winery, pouring both Soliloquy and Trilogy. Several cases of each flowed fast from the bottles in our busy hands. Sorry, next time we promise to bring 1 more case of each to the next event. Now, out of wine and clean-up finished, I had sometime to roam Main Street again. I got about 2 blocks down, when I saw an after Cheers! gathering taking place at the historic Odd Fellows Hall. Another band, some more wine. What else could you want for yourself on a summer night in a town that is usually asleep at 5 P.M…
When I got home, I drank a lot of water, popped some Bayer Aspirin, tossed and turned for just under an hour but then finally sleep came. I can honestly say that I dreamt of the next Cheers! September 3rd.
With my recovery complete, (ah the things I do for my job), I have been assigned another secret locals’ social mission. This Wednesday the 11th, your very own Flora Springs socializer will head over to Press Restaurant in St. Helena to enjoy their weekly “Blue Plate Special.” Scheduled, to be enjoyed by yours truly is a Thai basil chicken, for only $10! Yum. I will see you at the bar.
On Thursday, we’ll start the night out by going to Quent Cordair Fine Art gallery for their Pinot Tweetup, a potluck where each person brings one bottle of Pinot Noir to share, and tweets about their favorites. We’ll be bringing our Toad Hall Pinot Noir, and there will be small bites from Carpe Diem, a new wine bar in Napa.
Make sure to mark your calendars and sign up for #FloraTweetup on August 18th at Pizza Antica in Lafayette
Last week, we closed out July by hosting the Wine, Women & Shoes Ladies Night, as well as a Summer Lunch at the winery led by our owner John. Both were a blast, and although summer is almost over, there are lots of fun events this first week of August… starting with tonight! Jarvis Winery is hosting this month’s Cheers! To Taste, a hospitality industry social, from 6-8pm.
Tomorrow the 5th, get ready to drink for a cause. We’ll be at the Silverado Resort from 5-8pm for Taste of the Nation Napa Valley, a Share our Strength event. 100% of ticket sales will go towards helping end childhood hunger.
And on Friday the 6th, it’s time for Cheers! St. Helena. We’ll be pouring at two locations in downtown St. Helena, including at the new Cheers! 2.0 social media lounge, located on the East side of Adams Street. Make sure to come by and see us, follow us on Twitter (flora_springs) and like us on Facebook (floraspringswinery).
The one, the only, Napa Valley Tweetup was proud to partner with Flora Springs for an amazing party on July 17th.
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We raised a toast with Trilogy and sipped Soliloquy as DJ Kevin West got us movin’ and groovin’ with the Flora Go Go’s at the gorgeous Flora Springs tasting room.
Dean and Deluca prepared a delectable menu including: Crab and Vegetable Hand Rolls, Fried Green Tomatoes, Pulled Pork Sliders, BLT Crostinis, Shrimp Grilled Polenta Cake, an Antipasto selection, and a big hit… the Chocolate Fondue station!!!
Santasti, a new type of beverage, was there to cleanse our palate and keep us refreshed.
Flora Springs gave away some really cool prizes for tweeting before and during the event and checking in at special Foursquare locations
We also had a mystery check in which offered: 2 nights at Rancho Caymus Inn and lunch at Flora Springs Winery.
The Napa Valley Tweetup is a fundraiser for the Napa Valley Education Foundation. Proceeds from the raffle and ticket sales went to the Napa Valley Education Foundation.
Rebecca recently won where’s magnum offered by the Marriott Napa Valley Hotel and Spa. They show a picture on facebook and people have to guess where the picture was taken. Last week they featured us and I asked Rebecca how she knew the picture was at our estate. She wrote back stating “I was born and raised in Napa. My Mom use to work for Flora Springs 20+ years ago. I remember hunting for arrow heads in the vineyards, playing on the rope swing or out by the water. When my sister and I weren’t out playing we spent a lot of time with the pets on the property. I make it a point to visit every time I come back home. It brings back a lot of childhood memories as well watching the change of the property. Not to mention the great wine. The first time I ever tasted wine it was made by Flora Springs there is nothing like it. I love the drive up to the winery; it’s absolutely breathtaking. It’s a gorgeous property and when people ask me what wineries they should stop at I always tell them to stop your way.”
Not that cheers but the Cheers St. Helena event that happens the first Friday of every month now until October. Last Friday, we were back to downtown St. Helena to pour at Toss Designs for Cheers! St. Helena, a monthly non-profit event. As with all of the other Cheers! events, there was great wine, food, and live music. We poured our Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio, chatted up the crowd, and enjoyed a beautiful summer night. The Sangiovese was perfect with the barbecued food, and the Pinot Grigio was a favorite in the warm weather. Main Street was PACKED. Just walking from one end to another took forever, but that just gave everyone the excuse to stop and taste more wines.
Last Friday, we kicked off the Flora Springs Summer Lunch series, an intimate gathering of up to 20 people, invited to spend an afternoon with the family to share stories and wine over lunch. Flora Springs owner John Komes hosted the lunch, starting with a barrel tasting in the caves. While we compared wines aged in French, American and Hungarian oak barrels, John told some hilarious jokes and spoke about how the winery was started, which kept everyone entertained and eager to hear more.
Like most people, I find Mondays are boring and often wish I could skip right to Tuesday. But thanks to the people over at Vintank, Bolen Family Estates and Gabriel Carrejo, this Monday was anything but boring. I grabbed a bottle of 2007 Flora Springs Merlot, stuffed it in my purse, and headed over to Vintank in downtown Napa for a #MerlotMonday tweetup.
Last Saturday night, I was at the St. Helena Native Sons Hall for the June Bug Dance, a concert to benefit local farmworkers. Organized by Sean and Lindsay Garvey, the event built on last year’s success, and raised considerably more money than the 2009 concert. A portion of the proceeds went to the Work Connection in St. Helena, a non-profit that matches Napa Valley farmworkers with employers who pay fair-wages and provide safe work environments.
By day, Sean is Flora Spring’s Communications and Production Director, but by night, he’s known in the Valley for his singing and songwriting. Sean opened the show with songs from his newest record, “California Parable.” Many people came specifically to see Sean play; his songs appeal to those who want to dance or just enjoy the music. If you missed the concert, you can check out some of his songs here. Chuck Prophet also played at the concert.
Sean’s wife Lindsay is a professional photographer, and luckily for me, she provided the above photo. You know there’s no way I took that great of a photo with my iPhone, much less in a dimly lit room…countdown to iPhone 4.
I recently started working at the Room one day a week. So far it’s been great, I’ve gotten to meet lots of fun and interesting people. The end of the day can be pretty entertaining when we get groups that are on their way back from a full day of wine tasting!
If you haven’t been to The Room before, we’re right on Highway 29, next to Dean and Deluca and across the street from V. Sattui We’re hard to miss, as you can see. The Room has a very sleek and modern feel, and you have the option of being inside by the bar or you can enjoy the warm weather and views from our rooftop patio. If you’re on Foursquare, make sure to check-in to receive a special deal for the next time you come by.
The tasting lineup includes our Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Poggio Del Papa, and Trilogy. If you happen to be headed to Rutherford Grill like so many people are, I’d recommend taking a bottle of wine with you to take advantage of their no-corkage policy.
I’m at The Room on Tuesdays, and I’ll also be here for our popular FS Lounge on Thursday, June 24 from 6-8pm. We’ll have a DJ, small bites, and lots of wine of course. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at the door. Hope to see you here soon!
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Last weekend, my boss Margaret and I headed over to Walnut Creek for the Art and Wine Festival. We had a blast! We poured the 2008 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay and Soliloquy Sauvignon Blanc, opened up a magnum of the 2007 Trilogy, and ate lots and lots of kettle corn. Just another day of hard work!
After the festival, the locals we met recommended that we stop downtown to eat dinner at Va de Vi, a small plates bistro and wine bar. Although the restaurant was packed, we only had to wait a few minutes before being seated at the chef’s table. We could see all of the cooking right in front of us—I tried to pick up some tricks but could hardly keep up. Next time I’ll just stick with the eating part. We ordered the crispy chile relleno, the crispy pork belly, the seared ahi, the rib eye medallions and the mini chicken-mole tacos—my favorite! The menu was very creative, and I thought the portions were generous for being small plates. We ended our dinner with the apple tarte tartin...yum!
Overall, I think Va de Vi has a great ambiance, delicious food, and it’s not too hard on the wallet—at least by Napa Valley standards!
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Auction Napa Valley: the Biggest Schmoozefest of the Year
Whether they came for the wine, food, or for the chance to hobnob with industry folks, everyone seemed to be having a great time at last Friday’s Auction Napa Valley event at Rubicon Estates.
We started the day off with barrel tastings of Shafer Vineyards, Alpha Omega, and Darioush wines, among many, many others.
As expected, the food was incredible. Restaurants including Go Fish, Farmstead and Cole’s Chophouse were all serving bite-sized foods. One of my favorites of the day was from Zuzu; they served their paella in a massive paellera.
Celebrity sightings included Iron Chef Morimoto, golfer Annika Sorenstam, and Andrea Immer Robinson, but sadly, no Oprah.
Chef Morimoto was personally dashing out to people to give us a taste of his food from his upcoming restaurant, Morimoto Napa. He served steamed pork belly on a very soft bun, and it was as scrumptious as I had envisioned it would be when watching reruns of Iron Chef America.
And as with many events, the Auction wouldn’t have been complete without getting some entertainment from watching a few drunk people hippie dancing in the middle of the giant lawn.
The Auction raised $8.51 million for local charities, way up from last year’s $5.7 million.
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Last week, as part of my newly appointed duties, I was presented with the difficult task of tasting not one, but six Flora Springs wines over the Memorial Day Weekend. I knew I was meant to work in Napa when drinking wine became a part of my job! Considering it had been raining for the last couple of weeks in MAY, I finally got to dust off the grill and cook some Santa Maria-style trip-tip. I then got started on my homework:
2008 Soliloquy Sauvignon Blanc
Excellent varietal expression, fruity, fresh, very clean finish. I’m a huge fan of spicy food, and this is the wine I’ve been looking for to pair with my enchiladas or chiles rellenos.
2008 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Rich, silky texture. Warm tropical melon flavors. Chardonnay moms everywhere would love to sip this during their happy hour play dates.
2008 Pinot Grigio
Sweet, spritzy, refreshing. This is the wine I enjoyed while cooking. 2007 Sangiovese
Dark cherry aroma, notes of dried cranberry, dry finish. The perfect wine to bring to a picnic in the vineyards.
2007 Poggio Del Pappa
Aromas of leather with hints of tobacco. Several layers of flavor. The cab gives it a nice structure. A great accompaniment to Italian food.
2006 Trilogy
Notes of black fruits and dark chocolate. Smooth, lingering finish. I’ll have to bring a bottle to my BF’s family—bonus points!
My friends are now going to be calling me every time they hear that I’m “working”, just to find out if they can help me again—by finishing the wine.
Flora Springs Winery is named after two life-giving forces: the springs that flow unceasingly from the hills behind the winery and Flora Komes, the matriarch of the family. Flora will celebrate her 99th birthday in November and don’t even begin to imagine her as a decrepit old woman. Flora has a sparkle in her eye, a jaunt to her step and a mean game of dominoes. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1911 Flora has always lived up to her name. She loves to garden and at all times has green plants thriving around her. Although it’s been a few years since she has put a shovel to the earth on the Flora Springs Estate, we credit her with the spectacular show of color that occurs each Spring around the winery. The hillside behind us is usually still lush from the winter rains, the fruit trees that line the terraced vineyards flower with splashes of pink and white, and Grandma Flora’s fig tree starts to show life. She has poured a lifetime of love and energy into the Grounds of Flora Springs, which stand as wonderful tribute to her legacy.
Flora left Honolulu after her high school graduation to become a nurse. It was as a student at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco that she met the love of her life on a blind date. Jerry Komes knew he met “the one” but Flora refused to marry him until she successfully graduated and had secured a nursing position. While she eventually gave up her career to raise their children, she is still a nurse at heart and it shows. Jerry and Flora were quite a team. She was his greatest supporter and he was always quick to tell you that his accomplishments were not his alone but possible because of Flora. They were married 67 years when Jerry died at the age of 89.
If you have the good fortune to meet Flora, you won’t soon forget her. And, if you have the opportunity to walk through the gardens at Flora Springs, you may even feel the soul of Hawaii.
So, when is the best time to visit Napa Valley? Where should you eat, and most importantly, where should you stay? The winter months in the Valley offer visitors an entirely different perspective on wine country, and for a number of us here at Flora Springs, it’s our favorite time of year. The frenetic pace of Highway 29 slows to a stroll. There’s more elbowroom at the tasting room, and, if you catch the valley after a good winter storm, the snow-dusted views of Mount Saint Helena will stay with you forever. It’s hard to go wrong with so many great restaurants, but when it comes to suggesting a place to stay we always recommend Rancho Caymus Inn. And the big secret is that the Flora Springs Family owns it!
Rancho Caymus Inn allows its guests to experience the rich history of the Napa Valley in an old-world Spanish California setting. Restored by the Flora Springs family in 1991, the story goes back to 1836, when founder George C.
Yount was awarded the land from General Mariano Vallejo. Asprawling hacienda named Caymus Rancho was built on the site and opened its doors to all those who visited the valley: Russian nobility, stagecoach drivers, saloonkeepers, writers, and singers.
Rebuilt from 100-year-old oak beams reclaimed from a historic barn in Ohio, Rancho Caymus Inn has been crafted to recreate the hacienda architecture from Napa Valley’s past. The spacious, split-level suites are formed with bright stucco walls and decorated with handmade furnishings from Ecuador and Southern Mexico. What makes the experience of Rancho Caymus Inn so unique is how well it blends rustic Napa Valley influences with modern comforts. The suites of Rancho Caymus offer every amenity you can imagine. Some of the larger rooms boast private balconies, wood burning fireplaces, and wet bars. It’s no wonder Rancho Caymus Inn has been called, "one of California’s most Romantic Inns."April 30th we are offering exclusive weekday rates of $85 per night and weekend rates of $125 per night. We also hope you will take advantage of a complimentary tasting at The Room.
To thank you for your patronage and allow you the opportunity to experience winter in the valley, Flora Springs would like to extend a special wine club members-only invitation. From March 15th – May 15th.
Posted by Robert Whitley on January 19, 2010 at 1:53 PM
Value Wineries: The Top 25
In my Creators Syndicate Wine Talk column this week I tackle value wineries. The emphasis is mine because my take on value might be considered somewhat out of the mainstream. I refuse to draw a dollar-line in the sand.
Even if I have an arbitrary limit of, say, $18 for a red and $15 for a white, I am willing to spend a bit more if I believe I'm getting a bang for the extra bucks. Value isn't necessarily a synonym for cheap. Nor should it be.
So this week's Wine Talk lists my Top 25 "Value" wineries from around the world. These are wineries that have impressed me over the past year, but as always the list is subject to change and will be updated as warranted over the course of this year.
I've posted the first five of the Top 25 here, but the entire list can be accessed over at Whitley On Wine.
1. Flora Springs, Napa Valley -- No fair, you might think, because I lead off with perhaps the most expensive wines in the Top 25. Yet, the $26 price tag on the 2006 Flora Springs Cabernet Sauvignon this week was truly remarkable. Think about that. A solid Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from a big-time Napa winery for under $30. A few years back the regular Napa Valley Cab from Flora Springs very nearly won the award for best red wine at the Critics Challenge International Wine Competition. Enough said.
*Please note the price is incorrect the Napa Valley Caberent Sauvignon is $36
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Reserve, from a vineyard planted in Rutherford’s famed red soils, is a classic Rutherford Bench wine with exceptional concentration as well as depth. Brambleberry, cassis, black cherry, spice box, and cedar notes are accompanied by superb, full-bodied flavors, exceptional polished, refined tannins, and a finish that lasts nearly 45 seconds. It can be drunk now or cellared for 25 or more years.
One of the most impressive portfolios from Flora Springs that I have tasted has emerged from their extensive vineyard holdings. Flora Springs’ single vineyard offerings are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with somewhat limited availability production ranges from 370-400 cases of each.-Robert Parker
2007 Holy Smoke Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 94
From: Oakville
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cost: $85
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Holy Smoke, which comes from an Oakville site, exhibits classic Pauillac-like notes of creme de cassis, cedar, licorice, and incense. It is a full-bodied, powerful effort with stunning concentration, richness, and length. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.
One of the most impressive portfolios from Flora Springs that I have tasted has emerged from their extensive vineyard holdings. Flora Springs’ single vineyard offerings are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with somewhat limited availability production ranges from 370-400 cases of each.-Robert Parker
2007 Out of Sight Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 93
From: Napa
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cost: $85
Nearly as impressive, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Out of Sight is produced from the Stags Leap area, and possesses more graphite and floral notes along with red and black currants and licorice. Its saturated purple color is among the darkest of all these wines. This elegant yet substantial 2007 should drink well for 15-20 years.
One of the most impressive portfolios from Flora Springs that I have tasted has emerged from their extensive vineyard holdings. Flora Springs’ single vineyard offerings are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with somewhat limited availability production ranges from 370-400 cases of each.-Robert Parker
2007 Rennie Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 93+
From: St. Helena
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cost: $100
A wine I had not seen before is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Rennie Reserve, which comes from a different block of their Rutherford holdings, located on the valley floor rather than the hillsides. This block of vines has been the foundation for Flora Springs’ 20th and 25th Anniversary offerings. The 2007 Rennie Reserve reveals beautifully sweet blackberry and black currant fruit, incredible charm and suppleness, and perhaps the most endearing and seductive personality of all these 2007 Cabernets. It is drinkable already, and I suspect it has two decades of life ahead of it. The wine is impeccably balanced, opulent, and voluptuous with loads of red and black fruits kissed gently by toasty oak, licorice, and spice box. A beauty!
One of the most impressive portfolios from Flora Springs that I have tasted has emerged from their extensive vineyard holdings. Flora Springs’ single vineyard offerings are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with somewhat limited availability production ranges from 370-400 cases of each
The 2007 Trilogy might be called a Napa version of St.-Emilion blended with a Margaux. A harmonious blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, it offers undeniable elegance as well as lovely black currant and black cherry notes intermixed with hints of cocoa, roasted herbs, cedar, and licorice. This textured, lush, medium to full-bodied, beautifully constructed 2007 can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years.
One of the most impressive portfolios from Flora Springs that I have tasted has emerged from their extensive vineyard holdings. Flora Springs’ single vineyard offerings are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with somewhat limited availability production ranges from 370-400 cases of each.-Robert Parker
2007 Wild Boar Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 91
From: Pope Valley
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cost: $85
Meat juice, roasted herb, and charcuterie aromas jump from the glass of the peppery, earthy, potent, almost savage 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Wild Boar. Coming from Pope Valley, this cuvee can have an excess of tannins, but that component has been tamed in the 2007. It is a big, tannic, impressive, full-bodied, muscular example of Napa Cabernet.
One of the most impressive portfolios from Flora Springs that I have tasted has emerged from their extensive vineyard holdings. Flora Springs’ single vineyard offerings are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with somewhat limited availability production ranges from 370-400 cases of each.
A sleeper of the vintage, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa possesses abundant black currant and black cherry fruit, and hints of white chocolate, espresso, and loamy soil. This terrific value in Napa Valley Cabernet is soft, silky, and opulent with 10-12 years of life ahead of it.
One of the most impressive portfolios from Flora Springs that I have tasted has emerged from their extensive vineyard holdings. Flora Springs’ single vineyard offerings are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with somewhat limited availability production ranges from 370-400 cases of each.-Robert Parker
Last Saturday night, I was at the St. Helena Native Sons Hall for the June Bug Dance, a concert to benefit local farmworkers. Organized by Sean and Lindsay Garvey, the event built on last year’s success, and raised considerably more money than the 2009 concert. A portion of the proceeds went to the Work Connection in St. Helena, a non-profit that matches Napa Valley farmworkers with employers who pay fair-wages and provide safe work environments. 
Even if I have an arbitrary limit of, say, $18 for a red and $15 for a white, I am willing to spend a bit more if I believe I'm getting a bang for the extra bucks. Value isn't necessarily a synonym for cheap. Nor should it be.
