Only a ten minute drive from your romantic Napa Bed and Breakfast Inn, The Inn On First, lies a corporate park of which there are many tasting rooms and even a wine country hotel. We were invited to come and try out the Spelletich Family Wines, SpellWine.com, by daughter and tasting room hostess, Kristen, and her co-host, Miguel. I would be remiss if I forgot to mention the wonderful greeting from Molly, the house dog.
On entering the tasting room you immediately sense how much work they put into the detail of the tasting room, providing a seating area with big, comfy chairs and a coffee table, as well as a large table with bar stools. The colors, the layout, the wine display, have all been carefully crafted together to give you a homey and yet elegant feel to the room. With nuts and crackers on the table we were escorted to our tasting chairs and presented with a menu of wines we were to enjoy for the day. From a crisp and yet creamy Chardonnay, to a lovely, toasty Pinot Noir, and even a taste of their soon to be gone Zinfandel Port.Barb and Tim Spelletich are the creators of these wines, and surprised us with a French Bordeaux they make. Yes, I said French, not Napa Bordeaux-style. They import the juice from France and make a Bordeaux of their own with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Wonderful berry notes with a bit of tobacco bring pleasure to the palate as you taste. Then we were given the 3Spells Cabernet Sauvignon, a seductive wine that is soft, with a lot of fruit and very soft on the finish.
We liked everything they poured and, even better, their price point is phenomenal: $10 Chardonnay, $35 Pinot, $22 Bordeaux, and $30 Cabernet. You can't beat that for these lovely, very enjoyable and drinkable wines. Tasting fees range from $15 to $40 depending on how many and which wines you want to try. I know we all think of vineyards and large wineries with spectacular views as part of the Napa experience, but finding great value and flavor in wine is part of that experience too. The whole winery operation is there, it's just not surrounded by vineyards. Especially for those who have been to Napa before, or are looking for something new, different, and unusual, I would encourage you to seek out Spelletich Family Wine Company as part of your stay in Napa.
