NVL wine
HERON HOUSE YOUNTVILLE
Pours Napa Wines and Shares Their Stories BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR
The current Heron House portfolio of wines features Bench Vineyards, Eponymous Cellars, Hobel Wines, Lindstrom Wines, Myriad Cellars, Steltzner Vineyards, Switchback Ridge, and Zeitgeist Cellars, with two more due to join. Allison assures that there is not a more talented group of families committed to making incredible wines to be found anywhere, especially in one spot. Heron House guests will have the opportunity to taste unbelievably small production wines, passion projects that are sometimes fewer than one hundred cases from just a few acres in an enviable location. Therefore, by definition, no two visits will likely be the same.
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f Heron House Yountville didn’t already exist, it could be described as a dream. Not a wine bar, not a gift shop, not an art gallery, it’s all of these things rolled into one lovely space--and more. Creative Director Allison Steltzner describes the “incredibly popular” Heron House as a warm and friendly lifestyle space that feels less like a tasting room, a store, or an art gallery and more like a comfortable lounge in a private home.
MORE THAN JUST WINE Starting with the wine experience of an eight-vineyard collective, guests can expect a curated selection of artisanal, handcrafted Napa labels from family-run estates. Every engaging, leisurely, seated tasting involves all the senses; it’s personalized and guided 72
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by a knowledgeable wine expert who is also a naturally good storyteller. An all-female staff pours curated flights into top quality Riedel Extreme Glass stemware. It could be six Napa Cabernets side-by-side or three Pinots served in the outdoor courtyard and enjoyed with black truffle chips from Spain. “The wines I’ve brought into our portfolio are a collection of my own personal relationships and experiences growing up in Napa Valley,” said Allison Steltzner. “At Heron House, our team are all sharing stories of good friends and incredible winemakers to provide unique perspectives on the wines, including labels from Stags Leap District, Rutherford, and Calistoga that we choose to integrate into our collective.”
With an emphasis on the aesthetics, unexpected handmade items are handsomely displayed throughout Heron House. Browse locally crafted jewelry, appealing gifts, fabulous imported rugs from South America, textiles, artwork, steak knives from Argentina, and Allison’s personal penchant—handmade ceramics sourced in Angwin, Napa Valley. Walk-ins are welcome every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Groups of up to four can be accommodated. It is recommended to call ahead to allow optimum preparation for each 90 -minute tasting experience, including decanting the wines before guests arrive. Experiences range from $50, $75, $100, or $125. Tasting fees are waived with a minimum purchase per guest. FOR MORE INFORMATION
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