Wine Country
6126 Silverado Trail, in
Napa, (707) 944-2659. Tasting daily
11-3; by appt. No dogs.
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| entry to Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
Visiting
exotic Quixote Winery in the legendary Stags Leap appellation of Napa is a
treat for the senses. The ride in from
the busy two-lane highway winds along a quiet back-country drive featuring a
grand vineyard vista. A golden dome
marks the spot, while colorful tilework and sod roofs planted with olive trees add
to the visual pleasure. This small-production
winery has only 27 acres, where it grows all of its own grapes, and it produces
only 3,000 cases each year.
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| back-road drive into Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
Named for the book, Quixote was
designed by Vienna-born architect and artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The playful architectural design has no
straight lines. To me, the style is pleasantly
reminiscent of Gaudi works I’ve seen in Barcelona. A 3-D mock-up of the winery and other
artifacts are displayed in the tasting facility.
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| display of wines at Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
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| chilled Rose of Petite Sirah at Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
A
tour begins with a glass of chilled Rose of Petite Sirah, described by winery
host Lynn Kopper as “a bright, crisp, toes-in-the-sand wine.” Indeed.
It is interesting to see the three concrete fermenting tanks which are
credited with giving the wines a lush, velvety feel to the palate. The cold, fragrant barrel room is where wines
are aged for 22 to 36 months . . . and where the winemaker discreetly stores
his surfboards along the back wall.
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| entrance to Barrel Room at Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
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| concrete fermenting tanks at Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
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| barrel room at Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
Quixote
is known for their Petite Sirahs, which are described as savory on the nose
with big, chewy tannins, and perfect to pair with a steak. But it also makes tasty Cabernet
Sauvignons. Tasting an array of the
winery’s silky-smooth reds is a must. My
favorite is the new Rocinante, a Bordeaux blend. As I tasted it, I thought of it as dancing in
my mouth.
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| tasting room at Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
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| individual tasting set-up in tasting room at Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
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| tasting room at Quixote Winery in Napa, California |
A
basic tasting starts at $80 per person. More
elaborate versions can include a gourmet cheese pairing, an unusual chocolate-and-marshmallows
s’mores pairing, and a seasonal culinary delicacies pairing.
More things to do in Napa.
More ideas for exploring Wine Country.
More
ideas for exploring Northern California.
images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
.JPG "sculpture cows at di Rosa gallery in Napa, California")
