January 28, 2021
by John Komes
It was the early 1990s and Flora Springs had been in business for just over ten years when I decided we needed to have a tasting room on Highway 29.
There wasn’t quite as much tourism in Napa Valley as there is now, and I wanted a place right on the highway where people could easily visit us. I bought a building – an old HVAC shop – just south of the old Dean & DeLuca gourmet grocery (now Gary’s Wine & Marketplace) in St. Helena. I cleaned it up, installed a circular bar, hired an artist to paint some wall murals, and opened up for tastings.
But business was slow. I kept hearing folks say they hadn’t “noticed” the tasting room, even people who stopped at Dean & DeLuca. I decided to do something about it. My wife, Carrie, and I had recently visited Barcelona and seen many of the buildings designed by renowned architect, Antoni Gaudí. I loved the flow and imagination of his structures, the fanciful nature of his designs.
You can guess what happened next.
When I returned to St. Helena I consulted with a local architect, and together we designed a new Tasting Room that echoes, in Gaudí-like fashion, the look and feel of a wine cave set into a mountainside. We used bent plywood to give the structure its curvature and painted the outside to represent geologic striations in the earth.
Inside we created separate tasting areas made to feel like private rooms in a wine cave, and installed a curved tasting bar with a modern bistro vibe. The rooftop, which has magnificent views of mountains and vineyards to the west, feels like a comfortable living room, a place where people can relax and enjoy a glass of wine.
Wine Tasting in Saint Helena
Thanks to my son Nat, our Tasting Room has gotten some upgrades recently, and I’m excited about the improvements. I always wanted it to be a place where people could indulge their sense of sight as well as taste and smell. Most of all, I want the Tasting Room to inspire curiosity and delight, to be the place where people come to learn more about the legacy of Flora Springs.
Now we are thrilled to be reopening for outdoor wine tasting, by appointment. Plan your Napa Valley wine tasting adventure today.
Flora Springs Tasting Room
677 S. Saint Helena Highway
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 967-8032
January 27, 2021
We have missed you and can’t wait to welcome you back to our Tasting Room in Napa Valley for wine tasting while enjoying views of flourishing vineyards and the western hillsides. We are now accepting reservations starting February 1.
By Reservation Only
To ensure the health and well-being of our guests and employees daily capacity is limited. For now, Tasting Room reservations are required. Reservations may be made online, or contact us at (866) 967-8032 or theroom@florasprings.com.
Outdoor Seating & Open-Air Tastings
As the safety of our Tasting Room guests and staff is of utmost importance, all tables are placed six feet apart for our outdoor, open-air wine tasting.
Curbside Pickup
We are also pleased to offer safe, touch-less and convenient curbside pick up at the Tasting Room, by reservation.
Plan Your Visit
Learn more about visiting the Flora Springs Tasting Room.
Flora Springs Tasting Room
677 S. Saint Helena Highway
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 967-8032
January 11, 2021
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is China’s most important traditional festival. Each Chinese zodiac year begins on Chinese New Year’s Day. The Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February. In 2021, Chinese New Year begins February 12th.
Year of the Ox
2021 is the Year of the Ox, the second of the twelve Zodiac animals. The ox symbolizes quiet strength, and a person born during the Year of the Ox is said to be self-confident, balanced and resilient.
Flora Springs celebrates this Zodiac sign with an etched and hand painted magnum featuring the playful resilience of this joyful beast of burden and the beauty symbolized by bamboo. Twice the size of a standard wine bottle at 1.5 liters, magnums are ideal for entertaining, for extended aging – and also make stunning gifts. Only 66 bottles were produced, with a limit of six bottles per person.
Learn more about this very limited wine.
December 25, 2020
Wishing You a Happy Holiday
May all that is beautiful, meaningful, and brings you joy be yours this holiday season.
There is no better time than this to say thank you. We are deeply grateful for your continued support of our small, family-owned winery.
Wishing you and yours good times, good cheer, good health and good fortune in the New Year.
Happy Holidays,
The Komes & Garvey Family
and The Flora Springs Team
December 23, 2020
Despite its many challenges, 2020 also offered new ways of interacting with you, a few “firsts,” and many reasons to be grateful. Here are just a few:
Our family presented leis to the first 100 guests at our 2017 Trilogy Party.
We found new ways to connect with you through virtual tastings and curbside pickups.
We were named “Best Hidden Gem Winery” in Napa Valley Life Magazine.
We released the 2017 Howell Mountain Dust & Glory Cabernet Sauvignon—our first new Single Vineyard Cabernet in over two decades, with a 94 point score from James Suckling.
We celebrated John Komes’ 80th birthday.
We released our first wine in cans, the 2019 Honest Bucker Pinot Grigio from sister brand Bodacious Wines.
We shipped a record amount of wine to Wine Club Members and customers; thank you for your support!
We completed our 42nd harvest.
We supported Napa Valley wildfire relief efforts with a Halloween Dinner & Wine event and other initiatives, and thanks to you, donated over $5,500 to the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s Fire Disaster Relief Fund.
Maximilian Riedel, 11th generation glassmaker at the world-renowned Riedel Wine Glass Company, shared his experience of opening and tasting our 1991 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with his 88,000 Instagram followers: “..what a joy. The wine has been in my cellar for a very long time…look at that color, fun. Cheers!”
As another year comes to a close, we want to take a moment and thank you for letting us be a part of your lives. We are fortunate and grateful that you choose Flora Springs to accompany your meals, toasts, celebrations and special occasions. Here’s to a healthy, happy 2021!
December 21, 2020
Greetings Great Tastes and Preferred Palates Wine Club Members!
We have a lot of exciting things planned for you in 2021, including new wines, new benefits, and more. We are so pleased you will be joining us for another great year.
Please remember that this schedule is subject to change, but we will always keep you updated.
Great Tastes
| Shipment |
Wine |
Billing Date |
| January |
2018 Sangiovese & 2018 Poggio Del Papa |
1/4/2021 |
| March |
2020 Pinot Grigio & 2018 Trilogy |
3/1/2021 |
| May |
2018 Petit Verdot & 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet |
5/3/2021 |
| July |
2020 Soliloquy & 2017 Three Keys Cabernet Sauvignon |
7/5/2021 |
| September |
2019 Ghost Winery Malbec & 2019 All Hallows’ Eve Cabernet Franc |
9/6/2021 |
| November |
2018 Holiday Etched Wines – 2 different designs |
11/1/2021 |
Great Tastes Red Wines Only
| Shipment |
Wine |
Billing Date |
| January |
2017 Napa Valley Merlot & 2017 Poggio Del Papa |
1/6/2021 |
| March |
2018 Trilogy – 2 bottles |
3/2/2021 |
| May |
2018 Petit Verdo t& 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet |
5/4/2021 |
| July |
2017 Three Keys Cabernet – 2 bottles |
7/6/2021 |
| September |
2019 Ghost Winery Malbec & 2019 All Hallows’ Eve Cabernet Franc |
9/7/2021 |
| November |
2018 Holiday Etched Wines – 2 different designs |
11/2/2021 |
Great Tastes White Wines Only
| Shipment |
Wine |
Billing Date |
| January |
2019 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc – 2 bottles |
1/6/2021 |
| March |
2020 Pinot Grigio – 2 bottles |
3/2/2021 |
| May |
2020 Rosé – 2 bottles |
5/4/2021 |
| July |
2020 Soliloquy – 2 bottles |
7/6/2021 |
| September |
2020 Family Select Chardonnay – 2 bottles |
9/7/2021 |
| November |
2020 Flora’s Legacy Chardonnay – 2 bottles |
11/2/2021 |
Preferred Palates
| Shipment |
Wine |
Billing Date |
| February |
2018 Trilogy & 2018 Flora’s Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon |
2/1/2021 |
| April |
2018 Wild Boar Cabernet Sauvignon |
4/5/2021 |
| June |
2018 Rutherford Hillside Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
6/7/2021 |
| August |
2018 Out of Sight Cabernet Sauvignon |
8/2/2021 |
| October |
2018 Holy Smoke Cabernet Sauvignon |
10/4/2021 |
| December |
2018 Celebrating our 40th Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon |
12/6/2021 |
Please note: Prices reflect the cost of wine only, not shipping & handling. Schedule and pricing is tentative.
Please contact the Wine Club department directly at (800) 913-1118 or wineclub@florasprings.com with any questions or if we can be of assistance.
Interested in our Wine Clubs? Learn more about the benefits of membership.
December 20, 2020
Thank you to Maximilian Riedel, 11th generation glassmaker at the world-renowned Riedel Wine Glass Company, for sharing his experience of opening and tasting our 1991 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with his 88,000 Instagram followers:
“..what a joy. The wine has been in my cellar for a very long time…look at that color, fun. Cheers!”
December 1, 2020
December 1, 2020 is #GivingTuesday, a day that inspires millions of people all over the world to give generously to the non-profit organizations they care about. In the spirit of the day, Flora Springs is proud to announce that thanks to our big-hearted customers, today we donated over $5,500 to the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s Fire Disaster Relief Fund.
The idea came to General Manager Nat Komes after two devastating fires upended lives here in Napa Valley, impacting many locals and their families. He launched several initiatives, including 2-Pack offerings of our Halloween and Thanksgiving wines and a Napa Valley Fire Relief Halloween Pasta Dinner with Flora Springs wines. Thirty-five percent of all proceeds from these projects will be donated. We can’t thank our customers enough for helping us to help others.
Napa Valley Community Foundation
Here’s a little more from the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s website about how they are assisting those affected by the fires this year in Napa County:
“The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund is responding to the LNU Lightening Complex Fires and the Glass Fire. So far, the Foundation has granted nearly $2 million to supply gift cards for immediate needs and temporary shelter to those displaced by the fires, to provide essential emergency services, like counseling, mental and physical healthcare, food access and insurance navigation, and to seed the cash aid program.”
The Komes and Garvey Family are thankful for your continued support of our small, family owned and operated winery. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
As seen in the Wine Spectator
November 23, 2020
Renowned for its Southwestern décor and luxurious amenities, the Inn at Eagle Mountain is offering Flora Springs Wine Club Members 50% off the best available rate, through June 30, 2021.
The Inn at Eagle Mountain Resort is nestled in the foothills above the eighteenth green of the Golf Club at Eagle Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona. Guests enjoy panoramic views of Phoenix and Scottsdale, Red Mountain, and the Sonora Desert canyon. The resort offers a secluded ambience and an exclusive retreat location, yet is just minutes from Scottsdale’s galleries, shopping, dining and golf. Flora Springs President & Proprietor John Komes invites you to enjoy this boutique luxury hotel where the good life of Napa Valley’s wine country combines with the ambiance and beauty of the American Southwest.
Learn more about the Inn at Eagle Mountain. To make reservations, please call (844) 318-5183 and mention you are a Flora Springs Wine Club Member.
November 10, 2020
Our etched and hand-painted Holiday Bottles are one of Flora Springs’ most treasured traditions, a way for us to give you exclusive access to rare wines in festive, one-of-a-kind bottlings.
This year Nat Komes found inspiration from a vintage greeting card he uncovered in his Grandmother Flora’s attic, an illustration of a cardinal perched on a holiday wreath. Christened the “Christmas bird” for its spectacular red color, the cardinal is a symbol of the beauty and warmth of the holiday season. This brilliant bird found its way onto each of our holiday designs, our Holiday 2020 Gift Guide, and even throughout our holiday photo shoot.
See our entire collection of Holiday Wines.
