Experience the generous hospitality of Flora Springs at our annual Trilogy Release Party, where we pull out all the stops to celebrate our newest vintage of Trilogy at our lovely estate in St. Helena. In an effort to capture the sense of the vintage, with wine, food, music and excitement each year we plan surprises that make each Release Party special. You’ll be treated to an assortment of experiences to please the palate and awaken the senses and have the most fun wine country has to offer.See more details and watch our latest video to see what we have in store for you!
Over the years, our Black Friday offers have become legendary. This year, don’t miss out. Join our mailing list now, and you’ll be among to first to hear when we announce the sale.
A sophisticated, iconic eatery owned by Wolfgang Puck, since opening in 1983 Chinois on Main has boldly combined Chinese tradition and fresh California ingredients with contemporary French techniques, and introduced the world to Asian fusion cuisine. Today, Chinois remains a culinary landmark.
Join Flora Springs National Sales Director John Schulz for a spectacular evening of exquisite cuisine and fabulous wines. Enjoy a special menu created by Executive Chef Rene Mata to pair with our best wines and served in the Private Dining Room.
This evening of indulgence begins at 7:00 pm.
MENU
~Passed Hors d’oeuvres 2017 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
~Pan Roasted Loup de Mer with fresh Santa Barbara uni 2017 Family Select Chardonnay
~Pan Roasted duck breast with foie gras potstickers, cabernet, port wine, 5 spice sauce 2013 Trilogy (library selection) 2014 Trilogy (library selection) 2015 Trilogy (current vintage)
~Seared Wagyu Rib Eye, cauliflowers puree, warm ponzu sauce 2013 St. Helena Rennie Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
~Dessert
$175 per person, all inclusive
Limited seating
For reservations and more information, please contact Bella at the restaurant at 310-392-9025.
It’s no secret that Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, and it’s that time of year again when we conjure up the ghosts of spirits past. October 1 – October 31, join us at The Room for a frightful good time.
Enjoy an exclusive tasting of our seasonal, winery-only Halloween wines that will send shivers down your spine, including our limited-production 2016 Ghost Winery Malbec.
This past weekend, we took Wine Club Members and Flora fans to watch the San Francisco Giants as they took the win over the Texas Rangers.
It was a gorgeous, sunny day at AT&T Park. Guests enjoyed the weather and stunning city and bay views from the McCovey Cove Portwalk and Triples Alley where we hosted a rousing pre-game party – complete with a posh buffet of ballpark favorites and plenty of Flora Springs wine, including our highly-acclaimed 2015 Trilogy.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us – you made it a grand-slam day!
Interested in attending our next game? Be sure to join our mailing list and you’ll receive invitations to all of our events, as well as priority notice of exclusive offers and access to wines made in limited quantities or available only at the winery.
Note: The following article was originally written by Julia Hollister and published in the Capital Press on July 22, 2018 and can be found here.
Western Innovator: Vineyard, winery work in progress
John Komes constantly experiments with new techniques at Flora Springs Vineyards and Winery.
Flora Springs Winery John Komes and his son, Nat, sort grapes at Flora Springs Winery in the Napa Valley of California.
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — John Komes can tell you a lot about viticulture and the changes he’s witnessed; he’s been at it for 41 years.
“My ‘first’ career was as a contractor, and I worked on construction projects all over the Bay Area,” he said. “But in the early 1970s I took a wine appreciation course and my fascination with wine just took off. When my parents bought the Flora Springs property in 1977, I convinced them to let me start making wine from the vines there.
“Part of my motivation was that I wanted to move my family to Napa Valley. It was so unspoiled, so bucolic, and it seemed like a good place to raise children. And I loved the idea of having the whole family involved in the winery. Today I work closely with my son, my brother-in-law and my nephew, which is very satisfying.”
Komes said there have been many changes in viticulture since he got started, and he’s learned much over the years. At Flora Springs he is constantly experimenting, both in the vineyard and the winery. They were one of the first wineries to try barrel fermentation with Chardonnay.
“Our flagship wine, Trilogy, which we introduced in 1984, was one of Napa Valley’s the first proprietary red Bordeaux-style blends,” he said.
“Because we’ve owned our vineyards for so long we’ve had several opportunities to replant, and every time we do, we experiment with different spacing, rootstocks, clones, trellis systems, you name it,” he said. “It’s all about fine tuning as you go along, and I can tell you that the wines we make today are more compelling than ever because of the experimenting we’ve done over the years.”
Napa Valley is a superb place to grow grapes, but over time Komes admits he has learned a lot about which varieties grow best here. This is a region where Cabernet Sauvignon thrives, and the Sauvignon Blanc also grows well.
“I guess to answer the question, the hardest grapes to grow are the varieties that are planted in the wrong place,” he said.
The family has 500 acres throughout the Napa Valley, 300 of which are planted to vineyard.
“We have estate properties in Carneros, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena, and we produce varietal wines ranging from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and other red Bordeaux varietals,” he said. “All of our vineyards are sustainably farmed, and many are farmed organically.”
Wine tastes are changing, and Komes sees more people gravitating to reds these days, but that’s not to say there aren’t a lot of white wine lovers out there.
“In fact, we happened to notice recently that there is no white wine emoji, just a red one! So Flora Springs launched a ‘Where’s the #WhiteWineEmoji’ campaign, and we’re inviting people to sign a petition to have one created,” Komes said. “People can go our website at www.florasprings.com to learn more.”
In spite of the excellent weather and high-quality grapes, Komes said two challenges stand out.
“The two that stand out to me are climate change and labor,” he said. “But the wine industry has faced a lot of challenges, and when we work together we usually find solutions.”
One more thing: What about the big wineries in Napa?
“People often ask me if I think there are too many wineries in Napa Valley. I don’t think there are too many wineries; I just think there are too many big wineries,” he said. “In the last couple of decades the wine industry has experienced what many American industries have undergone: conglomeration. A few big guys buying up the little guys.
“But the little guy is the genius of this industry. The one who discovers new techniques in the vineyards and wineries, who finds and develops small plots of land that produce outstanding grapes, who innovates and creates. I like to think we still have that spirit at Flora Springs, and I certainly think it shows in our wines and hospitality. I also think there will always be little guys, people willing to risk everything to pursue their life’s passion. And to them, I raise my glass!”
John Komes
Residence: Napa Valley
Occupation: Founder, president and proprietor of Flora Springs Vineyards and Winery
Years in Business: 41
Family: Married to Carrie Komes. Son is Nat Komes. Sister and brother-in-law are Julie Komes Garvey and Pat Garvey.
We invite our Wine Country Neighbors to join us at The Room. Stop by for a wine flight, check out our new tasting experiences, or enjoy our Vineyard Courtyard picnic area and Rooftop Lounge, both with stunning views of Napa Valley’s western hillsides and vineyards.
Enjoy extended benefits and offerings just for locals:
Complimentary “The Room” Tasting and 10% off wine purchases at The Room – now available seven days a week for the month of July!
Valid for Wine Country residents plus one guest, with proof of residency
Please make a reservation for groups of six or more, contact us at (866) 967-8032 or theroom@florasprings.com
Located directly on Highway 29 next to Dean & DeLuca in St. Helena, our friendly, relaxed tasting room is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm.
We are open the Fourth of July. If you’re in town for the holiday, come on in – we look forward to hosting you!
The Room’s modern design mimics the hillside caves and natural springs of our Estate winery, located just down the road. Our Cave Rooms are available for private group tastings hosted by our friendly, informative hospitality staff.
First observed in 1958, National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.
This year, National Library Week will be observed April 8-15, with the theme “Libraries Transform.”
Nat Komes, third generation family member and Flora Springs General Manager, has a particular affinity for libraries, as his mother worked as a librarian when he was growing up. Nat developed a great love of reading, which continues to this day, and which he is sharing with his own children now. In fact, after spending time at the library reading to them, Nat has found inspiration for several of his wine projects.
We will be celebrating National Library Week by opening our wine library throughout the week. Library wines are older, unique, and rare wines that have been purposefully stored to age. Like libraries transform minds, the aging process transforms wine – often in unexpected and delightful ways.
Stay tuned as we will be releasing select library wines, available exclusively online.
Join us at The Room or The Estate for our limited-time Libraries Transform tasting experience and discover for yourself how age has transformed three select vintages of Trilogy.
Both The Room and The Estate, located at 1978 West Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena, are open 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week. Reservations are required to visit The Estate. Additional tasting fees for the library wines may apply.
You can also join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – and follow along with hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek and #LibrariesTransform.
Flora Springs Celebrates the Contemporary Artist at Work
The Room celebrates contemporary art with demonstrations, installations and performances that showcase the creative genius of artists at work. Throughout the month, visitors will enjoy artwork from metal artists Taped Metal Canvas and Snapped With Love Photography, and on featured dates we’ll invite visual artists working in a variety of mediums – spray paint, chalk, metal, paint – for live demonstrations of their artistic process. These intimate, behind-the-scenes experiences will be accompanied by live music and a spectacular selection of Flora Springs and Jon Nathaniel Wines featuring popular artistic labels.
Artful wine flights:
Saturday, April 14: Dashaway Chardonnay Ghost Winery Malbec Skull Ring Red Blend Trilogy Red Wine
Saturday, April 21: Honest Bucker White Wine Skull Ring Red Blend Pumpkin Owl Halloween Red Blend (Magnum) Bodacious Red Blend
Saturday, April 28: Honest Bucker White Wine
Dashaway Chardonnay Black Arrow Cabernet Sauvignon Smoke Signals Merlot Trilogy Red Wine
Featured artists will be working with breaks between 2 pm – 4 pm:
Founder of Arrow Art Studio in Napa Valley, Sarah specializes in calligraphy and letter work with designs that are cleanly styled with an elegant edge. She often works in less traditional materials like chalkboards, plexiglass, mirrors, butcher paper, and leather.
Inspired by the female form and spirit, Amandalynn depicts strong, seductive women and illustrates their strength through line work and decorative patterning.
Saturday, April 21: Brett Crawford/Large Scale Paintings: startvault.com
Painter, metal sculptor, printmaker, illustrator and street artist are a few of the titles California native Brett Crawford holds. His work can be found in galleries and on walls all over Los Angeles. His preferred medium for large works is spray paint, but he is versatile and not limited to one material.
Tape and metal artist Dominic uses various methods and materials to carve, weave, and layer colorful metallic tape. He often transforms each piece into a balanced, symmetrical, and often abstract piece of artwork.
Featured Musicians will play with breaks between 2 pm – 4 pm:
Saturday, April 14: Rebecca Mimiaga an Indi Rock vocalist is known for her strong, intimate voice, piano songs, and orchestral arrangements.
Saturday, April 21: Katie Colver is a singer-songwriter and guitar player. Her voice is earthy and powerful, and her music is most influenced by folk and rock music of the 70s.
Saturday, April 28: Lauren Hulbert is a folk-rock singer-songwriter. She has a sultry, warm voice and a wide variety of raw and authentic songs.
The 2015 Trilogy Release Party is sold out! Please contact (707) 967-6723 or email theestate@florasprings.com to get on the wait list.
Each year we devote one day to celebrating the release of our signature red wine, Trilogy.
The creation of Trilogy goes back to 1984 when our family set out to make the best wine possible by selecting the highest quality wine lots culled from our estate vineyards. By blending traditional Bordeaux varietals — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc — we created one of the original Meritage wines. Over the years we’ve added other Bordeaux varietals to this Cabernet-based blend, always seeking to create the very finest wine from each individual vintage.
*If you are attending our Trilogy Release After Party, for your convenience, we will have a Trolley operating from 1-7pm to take you between The Estate and The Room.
