When our family founded Flora Springs in the late 1970s, harvest was a family affair, with relatives and friends joining us from around the Bay Area to help us pick grapes over a couple of weekends.
As our vineyard holdings grew, we hired a full-time vineyard crew to help with harvest, though we still reserved a few rows for our family. In the early 1980s, everyone in Napa Valley picked during daylight, starting after sunrise and finishing up in the afternoon.
But our family came up with a better idea: why not pick the grapes at night when itâs nice and cool, and deliver them to the winery first thing in the morning for processing? It would be more comfortable for the harvest crew, and the fruit would better retain its acid and structure.
We jerry-rigged some lighting on a tractor and gave it a try, and quickly concluded it was a better way to go. Today, of course, nearly every winery in Napa Valley harvests at night; it results in superior fruit and happier vineyard crews.
This year weâre celebrating the fact that Flora Springs was among the first to implement night picking with a one-of-a-kind label created for our 2020 All Hallowsâ Eve Cabernet Franc label. I worked with comic book illustrator, graphic novelist and digital comics pioneer, Steve Ellis, who developed one of my favorite labels to date. Against the backdrop of a full harvest moon, a menacing bat hovers above the Flora Springs vineyard where the crew brings in the Cabernet Franc for this wine. As I mentioned, harvesting at night keeps the grapes and pickers cool, but it may also attract the attention of these fierce creatures of the night!
Halloween is always a cause for celebration at Flora Springs, and all year long we look forward to releasing our Halloween Wines.
For 13 years now, weâve paid tribute to our ghostly history by producing special Halloween wine bottles for our Wine Club and Mailing List Members. Some years a favorite label is sold out upon release to the Wine Club. We enjoy giving exclusive access to wines crafted with our Napa Valley estate-grown Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
General Manager Nat Komes has done it again! This yearâs one-of-a-kind Halloween-themed label is sure to delight club members and All Hallowsâ Eve lovers everywhere. Nat worked with comic book illustrator, graphic novelist and digital comics pioneer, Steve Ellis, to develop a label that just might be our scariest ever. Steve is no stranger to Flora Springâs Halloween shenanigans, as he created the label for our 2017 All Hallowsâ Eve Cabernet Franc. Against the backdrop of a full harvest moon, a menacing bat hovers above the Flora Springs vineyard where the crew brings in the Cabernet Franc for this wine. Harvesting at night, a practice the Komes Garvey family pioneered in the 1980s, keeps the grapes and pickers cool, but it may also attract the attention of these fierce creatures of the night. Harvest crew beware!
This limited-production Cabernet Franc has lovely aromas of sweet hay, black cherry, boysenberry and cassis that might just send shivers down your spine! With a warm entry and flavors of plum, cherry tobacco and worn leather, the wine is swathed in soft tannins and lengthened by notes of caramel, vanilla and mocha. Lavishly flavored and lush on the palate, the wine is finely balanced with a lingering finish of brown sugar, marshmallow and sassafras.
Halloween is always a cause for celebration at Flora Springs, and all year long we look forward to releasing our Halloween Wines.
For 13 spooky seasons now, weâve paid tribute to our ghostly history by producing special Halloween wine bottles for our Wine Club and Mailing List Members. Some years, as with our 2020 All Hallows’ Eve Cabernet Franc, a favorite label is sold out upon release.
We invite Wine Club Members, locals, and friends to come and taste this one-of-a-kind new release and kick off the Halloween weekend at Wilfred’s Lounge in Downtown Napa. The 2020 All Hallows’ Eve Cabernet Franc is sold out, but we’ve held some in reserve exclusively for this event â very limited availability.
The Greasy Gills, the creatures from Oakland, will be playing instrumental twangy rock ân roll from 6:30 pm â 9:30 pm. To guarantee a table during the live music, make reservations for dinner. Seating at the bar is first-come, first-served.
Napa’s first and only tiki bar, the inspiration behind Wilfredâs Lounge lies with longtime Napa Valley family John & Nat Komes that brought you Flora Springs Winery. Our familyâs take on a modern tiki bar is a layered experience that takes our passion for the beauty of Hawaii, the heritage of our vineyard and wine family, and an inspiring combination of food and beverage â that will take you on a journey you never expected, the way Uncle Wilfred would have imagined it. Weâve taken our roots and given them a twist to create a watering hole where both locals and visitors alike can experience the same touch of warm hospitality weâve cultivated for over 40 years in Napa Valley. Learn more.
Join the 8th Annual Online Celebration of Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is often considered a blending grape, but after farming a small block near John Komesâ home on the Rutherford side of the Komes Ranch for decades now, we know this grape can produce a luscious, smooth and rich wine that stands on its own.
For ten years now, Flora Springs General Manager Nat Komes has paid tribute to our ghostly history by producing special limited-edition, one-of-a-kind Halloween wine bottles for our Wine Club and Mailing List Members, one of which is a Cabernet Franc named All Hallows’ Eve. Some years a favorite label is sold out upon release.
Cabernet Franc Day
How to participate:
Join us online December 4. Weâll be talking about Cabernet Franc all day.
Our Halloween wines from Napa Valley are some of Flora Springsâ most anticipated annual releases. Learn more about our Wine Clubs to ensure an allocation of these limited, popular seasonal releases.
*Must be 21+ to enter. Void where prohibited. Wine will not be included in prize pack. Chance of winning depends on number of entries.
Halloween is always a cause for celebration at Flora Springs. After all, with one of the few remaining Napa Valley Ghost Wineries in Napa Valley, we are constantly reminded that there are phantoms and spirits who walked here before us. For the last decade weâve paid tribute to our ghostly history by producing special Halloween wine bottles, which have become some of our most anticipated and highly sought after annual releases.
Whether youâre fully ready to get your spooky on with all of your friends or just looking to amp up a chill hang, we worked some magic to round up a few tips to conjure up a spooktacular Halloween.
At-Home Halloween Party Inspiration
1) Cast Your Spell With These Bewitching Halloween Wines Treat yourself and your guests with our one-of-a-kind Halloween-themed labels. Order early, as these limited-edition wines sell out quicklyâplus, shipping may take longer this year. See this year’s spooky selections.
“With Halloween fast approaching, treat yourself to special bottles from Flora Springs. This iconic Napa Valley winery celebrates every Halloween with flair. This collectable bottle changes annually, but for each Halloween-themed label the wineryâs General Manager, Nat Komes, collaborates with a variety of artists. Marc Sasso, an artist from New York known for comics, skateboards, and album covers, designed this âwitches at a partyâ label. The sumptuously sleek wine inside is made with Cabernet Franc (the Good Witch of red grape varieties). It showcases dark berry fruit, mineral notes, and a supple texture for a serious wine with a whimsical touch.”Read more. âLeslie Sbrocco, San Francisco Bay Times
2) Impress With Jack-o-Lantern Baked Brie by The Okayest Moms Easy to make, fun, and deliciousâthe perfect appetizer! Find the recipe here.
3) Serve Up Pumpkin Cacio e Pepe by My Diary of Us A seasonally-inspired twist on a favorite pasta dish that’s cozy and hearty, find the recipe here.
4) Decorate Sustainably and On a Budget Look around your house and repurpose your succulents, houseplants or other decor to create a festive setting.
5) Experiment With a Different Color Palette Look to unique sourcesâlike our 2019 All Hallows’ Eve Cabernet Franc labelâand go beyond orange and black.
6) Make Your Photos Insta-Worthy Wow your followers with an epic photo of your Halloween celebration featuring a surprise smoke bomb, just like @wishesandwine.
Or, dress all in black and find a gorgeous background like @napavalleytip.
What ideas do you have in your bag of tricks? Share your Halloween photos with us on Instagramâtag @florasprings and use #florasprings. We’ll share the best of the bunch and one lucky Flora Springs fan will win a Flora Springs prize pack.*
*Must be 21+ to enter. Void where prohibited. Wine will not be included in prize pack. Chance of winning depends on number of entries.
Join the 7th Annual Online Celebration of Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is often considered a blending grape, but after farming a small block near John Komesâ home on the Rutherford side of the Komes Ranch for decades now, we know this grape can produce a luscious, smooth and rich wine that stands on its own.
For the past seven years, Nat Komes has delighted in creating a limited-edition, one-of-a-kind Halloween Wine, a Cabernet Franc named All Hallows’ Eve.
Cabernet Franc Day
How to participate:
Join us online December 4. Weâll be talking about Cab Franc all day.
Our Halloween wines from Napa Valley are some of Flora Springsâ most anticipated annual releases. Learn more about our Wine Clubs to ensure an allocation of these limited, popular seasonal releases.
*Must be 21+ to enter. Void where prohibited. Wine will not be included in prize pack. Chance of winning depends on number of entries.
Halloween is always a cause for celebration at Flora Springs, and all year long we look forward to releasing our Halloween Wines. Over the last decade, these seasonal bottlings have become some of our most anticipated and highly sought after annual releases.
And though Halloween is different this year, we’re still going big. We’ve partnered with several very creative people who love Halloween as much as we do. Need Halloween inspiration? Look no further.
Creative Inspiration for your Halloween wine party and entertaining with Flora Springs and Recipes
Join the 6th Annual Online Celebration of Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is often considered a blending grape, but after farming a small block near John Komesâ home on the Rutherford side of the Komes Ranch for decades now, we know this grape can produce a luscious, smooth and rich wine that stands on its own.
For the past six years, Nat Komes has delighted in creating a limited-edition, one-of-a-kind Halloween Wine, a Cabernet Franc named All Hallows’ Eve.
How to participate:
Join us online December 4. Weâll be talking about Cab Franc all day.
Halloween is more than just a day at Flora SpringsâŠitâs an entire season! After all, with one of the few remaining Napa Valley Ghost Wineries on our property, weâre reminded year-round that there are phantoms and spirits who walked here before us. So we celebrate in a big way, dreaming up fun costumes, planning spooky tastings and events, such as our Ghost Winery Tour, and looking for new ways to decorate The Room, The Estate and our own homes. For General Manager Nat Komes and his wife Anne thereâs another reason to celebrate: their wedding anniversary falls on October 31st!
Napa Valley Halloween
Of course in Napa Valley the wine you serve on Halloween is nearly, if not just, as important as the candy bowl! Itâs the adult version of the âtreat,â and thatâs why we put so much effort into producing special Halloween-themed wines for our Wine Club and Mailing List Members. These are not your average Halloween wines, made to drink and forget. We set the bar high in terms of quality, using some of the best fruit from our estate property, including Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Because these vineyard blocks are small, they lend themselves perfectly to these limited-edition wines.
Unique Labels
Our Halloween labels are also a labor of love. Each year Nat Komes and his team let the creative juices flow as they seek inspiration from album cover art, comic books, childrenâs book illustrators and other artists to create brand new one-of-a-kind labels and packages. Skeletons, witches, pumpkins and black cats have all found their way onto these labels, in whimsical designs meant to treat, not trick. The only exception is our Ghost Winery Malbec, which always features a hand-drawn etching of our historic stone cellar on a label reminiscent of Flora Springsâ earliest releases.
Weâd love to hear about your Halloween traditions and party ideas. If you have a story or tradition to share, email us at info@florasprings.com or check out our We LOVE Halloween Pinterest board where we have collected all types of creative entertaining tips and ideas for a spooky wine tasting party.
Itâs no secret that Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, and itâs that time of year again when we conjure up the ghosts of spirits past. September 1 â 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. Taste the new release of our limited-production 2017 Ghost Winery Malbec and 2017 All Hallows’ Eve, each year recognized by Catherine Bugue, the St. Helena Starâs tasting panel writer who writes “Itâs Halloween…gather up friends and good wine on the 31st for a nightâs respite from the weekly grind? Adding a wine like Flora Springâs iconic All Hallowsâ Eve Cabernet Franc brings good fun to the mix.”
Since everyone loves Halloween decorations, we will have our favorite skeleton art installed on the front of the building.
