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About This Business:
It is our pleasure to welcome guests to Rutherford Hill Winery. Incomparable views of the Napa Valley and our extensive wine aging caves are just the… read more »
50 reviews for Quintessa Vineyard
50 reviews in English
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Review from Patricia K.
Miami, FL
10/31/2011
A group of us went on a wine-tasting weekend to Wine Country, CA, and after the weekend was over, we all agreed that this was our favorite tour and tasting (out of 6). This is a MUST, specially with groups of 5 or more. I found out about this place through a co-worker and was convinced when I read the Yelp reviews to book a tour and tasting.
They reserved the private room for us (since we were a group of 6 and called 2months in advance) and offered each one of us 3 big glasses of their wine (3 different years), with cheeses and crackers. On top of that, if we really enjoyed them, they'd serve us more.
More importantly, the tour guide (Michael) was awesome. He gave an excellent tour of the property and of the vineyards' wine-making processes (descriptions and history: not too long and not too short). He was also very eager to answer all of our questions. I say every penny spent here was worth it! -
Review from Elma C.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012 6 photos
If you believe that wine has a great part in human history and if you happen to like Cabernet Sauvignon visit Beringer (http://www.beringer.co...) and stay away from Quintessa. We've been Beringer members for a long time and have never received a bottle we disliked.
If you believe you should visit a winery because you've been impressed with its architecture like me (http://archrecord.cons...) enter at your own risk. Quintessa offers private wine tasting for $65/person and its by appointment only. We unfortunately didn't make an appointment earlier and they said they couldn't accommodate us. Right after we thanked them and left, they followed us and said they just had an opening. The four of us were taken to a tasting room and offered Quintessa 2008 (ever tasted only sulfur and acid in wine? Here is your chance), Quintessa 2007 and Quintessa 2006. I am not a sommelier-neither is any of the people who were with me. I'm not even a wine connoisseur, the only context I can use that word attached to my name involves chocolate and/or coffee. I'd still like to say (and stand behind my words): Quintessa 2008 was one of the worst Cabs I've had, period.
We were told about the harvest and shown a five minute video (that is available on their website under "the films" http://www.quintessa.c...) I'm not sure why they waste both their and our time on something that's available for everyone to see anyway?
Who says Quintessa winery can't insult your intelligence? Not me. -
Review from Benjamin L.
Oakland, CA
12/2/2011
My overall experience of Quintessa is not very high. I took my gf here for her birthday, and what you pay for is totally not worth it. We had a private tasting and it was about $35 for i would say 2 glasses on wine? It was good wine but worth it? I'd probably wouldn't be back here again to taste? Probably not, the property although is beautiful and your paying more for the tour than the wine, but if you have been on a tour, it's pretty much the same thing.
Oh also keep in mind, Costco has their wine for Sub-$100 sometimes, try not to pay the increase cost of 140+ a bottle? I was livid when i bought 2 bottles then saw the same two bottles for almost half the price at costco.
EPIC FAIL on my part. -
Review from Erik S.
Updated - 10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
The one thing I absolutely love about Quintessa is the time allocation they give you. Both times I have been to the long table private room and the cheeses they accompany with the last pour are UNREAL. The service has never been rushed, which goes with their philosophy of letting nature take its course, not to rush things, and not even press the grapes down the chute but rather let gravity help crush the grapes.
I got to taste the cabernet sauvignon grapes on the vine - they are amazing.
Taste and Tour price went up to $65.
Complimentary for trade.
anyway, this place is fantastic, despite the low 90s ratings that it gets. If you like lots of fig, jammy huge california wines.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/12/2009
Quintessa has a second label Faust and Illumination (the screening of Angels & Demons played off… Read more »
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Review from Carol S.
8/20/2011
Good Lord! Talk about an experience. We started off with an uphill hike to check out the beautiful view while sampling a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc called Illumination. We followed it up with a very cool cave tour.
And finally, the moment we'd all been waiting for...we sat in the main room to enjoy the extraordinary juice. Our tour guide served 3 magnificent cabs ('06, '07, '08), some fantastic locally made cheeses but not enough crackers. I forgot our tour guide's name, but that young guy was great. I believe the tasting is $30-$40, and it's worth every penny. -
Review from cricket j.
Fullerton, CA
9/13/2011 7 photos
Seriously you gotta be in shape to do this tasting! We starting out climbing a small hill behind the winery to taste the first wine and boy, I needed that drink when we got to the top considering it was 95+ degrees outside!
The view was superb and so was the Sauvignon Blanc. We sat atop the hill we the tour guide taking in the wine and view as he explained the nuances on the wine and the history of Quintessa.
After a brief tour of the facilities, we entered the tasting room to sample the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Cabernet blends. My personal favorite was the 2006 which stood out without needing the cheese provided by Quintessa.
Overall, a fantastic experience from start to finish. Unique winery with top quality wine now among my top 5! -
Review from Mrs T.
San Francisco, CA
12/1/2011
Worth EVERY PENNY! Our Seattle friends were visiting and had just returned from a wine tour in France, so I knew I had to up our game. My husband and I were big fans of Quintessa, cracking open bottles on very special occasions, so I had a feeling this would be a place that would impress.
When we arrived, we quickly realized we were the youngest people there...until we saw our guide Adrian G. with his braces and all. I thought, "What is this kid gonna tell us about wine?" A whole lot apparently. Adrian's passion was evident from the start and he was incredibly knowledgable. On top of that, he was way fun and exceedingly patient as we frolicked about the vines and geeked out amongst the barrels. But the tasting at the end was absolutely the best part; sampling different years, comparing and contrasting, and even trying a rare one at the end.
Quintessa was the first of 5 tastings I had planned for the day, but I have to admit, it ruined us for all subsequent vineyards. For those who scoff at the cost of the tasting fee? I say, Bah! Just do it! You won't regret it. -
Review from Carolyn B.
Berkeley, CA
5/7/2011
What a gorgeous winery with a beautiful approach to growing. The guide for my group's tasting was passionate, knowledgeable and not too pushy with his own opinion on the wine. He showed us the owl boxes (natural pest control) and other unique little touches that truly make Quintessa the beautiful and innovative place it is.
A tasting fee per bottle purchased is waived, but to be honest, who wouldn't want to buy a bottle anyway? Their 2005 is simply gorgeous, and given time, the 2007 will soon follow in it's footsteps (though perhaps a bit chalkier in finish). The best part about tasting the triad of wines was that our host stepped back and allowed us to experience them ourselves, without the influence of his opinion or the winery's "official" judgement of the wine. The wine was quite good, and our guide was fantastic. -
Review from Lindsey M.
San Francisco, CA
12/5/2011
Quintessa was just gorgeous and a wonderful experience. It is a very personalized tour and tasting. Each couple had a private tour guide. Our guide was Caitlin and she was warm and fun and knowledgeable. She took time to sit down with us while we were tasting and got to know us a little bit. It was a fun experience. The winery itself is gorgeous and the wine is excellent. The tour and tasting fee was $65 per person, so $130 total, but those fees are waived if you buy a bottle, which is $145, so only $15 more. The tasting comes with a cheese plate and you can try more of the wine if you like it.
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Review from Jeff C. J.
Emeryville, CA
1/30/2011
Quintessa continues to make tremendous wine. Their 2007 release has a somewhat chalkier mouth-feel, but this is probably due to its youth, but nonetheless it is delicious. The 2005 is ready to rock - comparable in quality and sophistication to a 2003 Opus I, but less expensive.
We had a somewhat disappointing tasting experience; we were not greeted in the lobby, and sat down to our tasting 15 minutes late. It's a pricey tasting (~45 / person for 3 vintages), but unlike in the past, they now waive a tasting for each bottle purchased.
I think I will skip tasting visits, but will continue to be a fan of the wine. -
Review from Jeannie L.
San Francisco, CA
7/18/2011
This place was awesome. It looks like a fortress! We didn't have an appointment (which was a big mistake) but we chatted with one of the ladies at the front who tried REALLY hard to find some availability to squeeze us in. Still didn't work. Yet the reason I give this place five stars is because she took us on a mini hike to the most wonderful view and let us try their Illumination wine. It was so crisp, refreshing, and delicious. She gave us a quick summary of the secrets behind the vineyard and it was just informative and amazing.
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Review from Patrick D.
Henderson, NV
12/16/2010
Quinta: pure essence.
The winery that is Quintessa attempts to manifest purity through a simple design. From the road, it is a slight arc that blends right into the surrounding hillside. The interior is classy and oozes refinement. From checking in with the receptionist/hostess to taking the tour and tasting, the experience is pleasant and relaxed. I don't remember her name, but our hostess really made us feel as if we were the center of her universe while we were on her watch.
Walking the property was a very relaxing, if not tiring, excursion for a bunch of out of shape tourists who've been doing nothing but eating and drinking.
The tasting was also laid back and, even when we were finished, they let us just hang out for a while until we were ready to leave. Lucky for them they didn't give us too much to nosh on, or we might never have left. Definitely the quintessential Napa Valley experience. -
Review from Ron H.
Stevenson Ranch, CA
5/24/2011
Quintessa is quintessential good time in Napa! A fine wine is like...a fine wine. This experience was enhanced by our group's foresight to plan ahead. A reservation for a private tour means everything here. Quintessa is right off Silverado Trail, a modern wedge of a building that is as impressive architecturally as any we visited on this trip. After a brief check-in process, we were met by our guide, who seemed grateful to be out from behind her desk to give a tour vs. merely arranging them (her usual job). We belong to a sister wine club (Chappellet), who made the arrangements for us, and she took great care to make sure we had a good experience. We immediately bounded (well, as it was the third winery tour of the day so we more like staggered) up the hill behind the winery overlooking a beautiful lake where we could fully appreciate the land from whence these fine wines were made. And fine wines they were. She whipped out of her picnic basket-like satchel pulled out a marvelous wine or two that we sipped while gazing upon the fine Napa scenery.
Life is good. After a more detailed tour of the winery itself, we settled into their tasting room and had one primo cab after another. Great, great time, and some great great wine. What more can you want? The wine itself comes at a hefty price, though, you can easily spend close to $100 a bottle. Not for the faint of heart or faint of wallet. For a brief afternoon, though, we were high rolling wine snobs sipping some of the finest Napa has to offer. -
Review from Sarah S.
San Jose, CA
1/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hubby and I had plans to tour this winery during a one night getaway in Napa. When we arrived to the private, gated entry we drove up the long beautiful driveway and knew right away this was no ordinary place. The staff was incredibly hospitable. Due to a small miscommunication by our hotel concierge Quintessa did not have us on the books however they very kindly accommodated us and took us on a private tour. Marcelo was an awesome guide. We took walking tour of the grounds, the cellars and topped off with a tasting and cheese. It was a very special afternoon and we can't wait to return for harvest in the Fall.
Thank you Quintessa! -
Review from Erin S.
Santa Rosa, CA
9/4/2010
One of the most elegant and classy tasting experiences I have ever had. Its been about two years since my visit, but it is still one of my favorite wineries. Marcelo welcomed us and led us into the vineyards. Reminder: Don't wear heels! Its a walk. We ventured up the hill, which overlooked their vineyards. The property is 280 acres with 7 hills and 2 bodies of water. There are 4 different micro-climates and everything is farmed biodynamically.
We tried their 2007 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc with 24% Semillion with layers of honeysuckle, very creamy aromas, lemon and grapefruit as it opens. Silky and long finish, very refreshing.
We toured around their facility and he led us upstairs to try some of their Cabernet Sauvignon's. We tasted a barrel sample of their Bench, Cabernet Sauvignon. I'm not sure what vintage it is, but a softer style Cab with blackberry, raspberry, fine pepper, tobacco. Very aromatic wine with cocoa powder and wonderful acidity.
Their 2005 Quintessa Cabernet Sauivgnon 88% CS, 8%M, 3%CF, 1%PV with traditional herbaciousness, raspberry, some blackberry aromas with a wonderful structure.
All the wines had little pairings prepared by Chef Todd Humphries of Martini House. We had a mortadella with onion marmalade and tarragon aioli on a crostini. Another pairing was a caramelized onion tart with olive tapenade, andlocal cheeses and really brought out more flavors. A truly memorable experience. -
Review from Will R.
San Francisco, CA
11/13/2011
Driving back to SF with a couple of friends, we impulsively decided to stop in. I was prepared for pretension, but was shocked by the warm greeting we received. We were told that they were by appointment only, but one party was late so she showed poured us tastes - including their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon - like she was sharing secrets between new friends. I left with a great memory shared with friends, and 2 bottles of wine that were beaucoup expensive, but gave us an oppty to relive that memory.
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Review from MICHELLE C.
Miami, FL
4/20/2010
What a great winery and tasting experience. This is quintessential! They know how to make you feel special and appreciated. This really gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. They have excellent wines and we were happy to be experiencing the latest vintages.
A very nice lady gave us a private tour and tasting. She took us to a private sitting area poured the first wine and excused herself saying she would be right back. Upon her return, she brought a platter of cheese and crackers. Oh very nice, and paired so nicely with the wines. She gave us great information about the winery and wines, very knowledgeable. They are now partnering up with Flowers, oh wow, another excellent wine.
We tasted :
2008 Vineyard Block Barrel Samples: Bench and Cruz del Sur Cabernet Sauvignon.
2006 and 2007 Quintessa
Elegant, perfectly balanced with sophistication and elegance. A impeccable meritage!
The cheese:
San Andreas, Sheep's Milk, Bellwether Farms Petaluma, CA
Estero Gold, Cows Milk, Valley Ford Cheese Company
Cheese pairing by Nick Peyton, Cyrus Restaurant, Healdsburg, CA
This winery is all class and elegance. The wines were all excellent quality as usual but my favorite was the 2006 Quintessa, lush fruit, full bodied, mocha, licorice, vanilla spice, lingering finish. Oh nice!
Thank you for a wonderful afternoon, as we enjoyed our visit very much.
The views are amazing and service is superb! Class act with such sophistication.Listed in: Stellar Vineyards the BEST of…
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Review from Anne D.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2010
We went here based upon a friend's recommendation. We actually received a bottle of this wine as a wedding gift and were very excited to experience the vineyard.
Marcelo was our guide and he was very personable and knowledgeable. It felt like we were walking around the vineyard with an old friend. We have been on a couple of different tours throughout Sonoma and Napa and this was the first time we were able to go down to the actual vines and be on the vineyard. He took us down into the caves and then we ended up in the tasting room where we were given pairings and the opportunity to taste wine from the barrel and then compare that to the finished product. We spent 2 hours here and would definitely recommend this winery to anyone coming to Napa. -
Review from Christin Z.
Oakland, CA
7/19/2011
Our Napa tour guide suggested this place. We didn't have an appointment and the lady who helped up was really nice about finding a slot for us. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to. She was such a sweetheart because she did offer to take us somewhere else during her break. She took us on a little hike and we saw the REAL Quintessa. It was such a beautiful view. I would love to sit up there for a whole day enjoying their wine. It was great. I will definitely make an appointment next time for the whole tour.
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Review from Peter B.
Laguna Beach, CA
9/6/2010
Our friends surprised us with a limo tour of a few vineyards as an early anniversary gift! Gotta love good friends!
This was our first stop on our tour yesterday. Beautiful vineyard, seemed to have great grounds (which we will explore next time).
We did the private tasting with food pairing. 3 vintages 2005,6,7 Bordeaux style. 2007 is going to certainly turn some heads as it continues to mature. YUMMO.
Our server was Kina and she was delightful. Super friendly and had some great background info to share. Wife and I have likely done 30-40 tastings over the past few years and this was certainly a highlight.
If you have a chance, book a reservation (walk ins are not always possible) it was well worth the visit. Our next visit will include the tasting AND the tour as I think we missed out by not taking it this visit.
There is always next time.... :) -
Review from Mami T.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2007
SUPERB tasting room service. Most impressive of all wineries in Napa visited so far.
You make an appointment (the same day appt is OK), you show up, and you are seated at a table with two glasses filled with the same wine from different vintage. The staff sits next to you, takes out a brochure, and educates you on the vineyard and its wines.
Then the staff leaves you alone, and you start savoring the wine.
After a minute, the staff comes back with a cheese plate and answers any question that you may have. Yes, two kinds of gourmet cheese with fruit preserve are included in the tasting. And so you get to enjoy the wines in 2 ways, with and without food pairing. How nice!
All this for $35. Not bad, considering how horrible Opus One was (per my other review). In fact, when we made a purchase, they waived the tasting fee. Again, how nice. -
Review from Britt M.
San Francisco, CA
6/17/2010
Such a five-star experience. From the moment you walk into the impeccably designed tasting room you're greeted by name, led to your private tasting, and educated about the different vineyard blocks and the history of Quintessa.
The guide we had is currently studying to get his winemaking degree, so it was an amazing experience to learn about the different varietals that go into the blend each year from him and find out how Quintessa's winemaking process (which is quite different from many others in the area) is different.
The wine itself is delicious...I could've sat there and sipped it all afternoon. And although the tasting fee is on the expensive side you get quite generous pours, a little gourmet cheese to pair with it, and a really special experience.
I'd recommend it to people who are really into wine or who are looking to impress a special someone. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time as it's appointment only! -
Review from Shanna K.
1/18/2009 3 photos
We had an appointment for four on a glorious, surprisingly sunny day in January.
Located on the Silverado Trail, Quintessa is an impressive and beautiful winery to behold. Modern and luxurious but thoughtful and understated in it's design.
The tour started with a complimentary bottle of Voss water and short walk up the gravely steps of the hill. At the top you are treated to a magnificent panorama of the valley and the Quintessa property. We listened to our friendly hostess tell us about the owners, the land and the biodynamic farming methods that Quintessa employs while we drank in the spectacular view and a delicious glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Ladies, do wear reasonable shoes (or bring them with you just for this part) ... I didn't and the walk back down was a bit difficult.
Next, we visited the cellar areas and learned about the winemaking efforts from raw materials to blending to cellaring.
Finally we returned upstairs for another tasting featuring a current release Cab and two barrel samples. Seated in their tasting room we were able to relax, enjoy and discuss the wine without being upsold, hovered upon or rushed in any way. All three tastes were wonderful, but the current release (2005) and the Bench sample were my favorites.
The wines were paired with a few delicious nibbles including foie and truffle rolled in pistachios with red wine syrup, wild mushroom phyllo cups with sweet onion confit and an artisan gouda. We were told that they feature different chefs regularly so as to highlight the variety of restaurants in the area.
The tasting and tour is a pricey $65 per person as of this writing, but it certainly was a worthwhile treat compared to some of the other places I've been to in Napa. No circus atmosphere here... this is an elegant, world class winery worthy of making a destination spot on your next visit to the area.Listed in: Bacchanalia, Beautiful Napa Valley
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Review from brenda s.
New York, NY
2/29/2008
Hype. Hype. And more Hype. You can't just buy lots of acres of
prime land, plant it quickly, and become a top estate. One senses
its about the money here, not the love of the wine. This is no Stag's
Leap. This is not in the league of its neighbors.
I had to make a reservation with a snooty clerk. When I arrived, I had to wait for a long time for the tour--45 minutes. What was the point
of the reservation. It was a very expensive tour with a know-nothing
guy.....a waste of time.....and we did not go to the vines because
there wasn't enough time.
The wine was good, not great. not worth the tour. A total waste
of time and money. -
Review from Kevin H.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2010
Just calling to set up a time and to ask questions is a pleasure here. Completely helpful staff who do care about having a nice, mellow and elegant experience.
Call in advance (a couple weeks is a good idea) and they'll find a time for you to come up. It's $45 for a tasting and a tour of the 200-acre estate. They set up a private itinerary for you that can last up to 90 minutes. This fee is waived if you buy regular-sized bottles of wine given the number of people you go with. They recommend going during harvest time with a group of wino friends, e.g., 6 to 12. -
Review from audrey s.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
3/3/2011
Hands down, my favorite tour. It's a little expensive, but worth it. This is a stunning contemporary winery and a beautiful tasting room and food pairing. The tour is great. I suggest only going on one tour a day and then going to just tastings the rest of the day. This tour is perfect any time. I love how you walk up to the top of the hill and taste their savignon blanc and looking at the napa valley below. It's truly stunning and a memorable wine tasting experience.
Listed in: Napa Places
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Review from BIll W.
Napa, CA
8/20/2010
This is one of the best tasting experiences you will get in Napa.
All of their groups are hosted privately. You always have the option for the tour.
Their estate wines are incredible. The best of the best from Rutherford.
Carly was our host and she did a great job. Quite knowledgeable about the wines and about Napa in general. Their staff knows what is going on in the area.
They have a unique wine making facility and they try to show it off on their tour. Check out their cement fermentation eggs!
Yes, visit here. You must have an appointment. This is one of the best spots in Napa -
Review from c. k.
Pleasanton, CA
4/17/2011 2 photos
My group and I had a wonderful tasting experience, and were able to try the Quintessa 2005, 2006, and 2007. The pairing of cow, goat and sheep's milk cheeses was not only delicious, but was interesting/fun in that it changed the flavors of the wines. The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. My favorites of the tasting were the 2006 without food, and the 2005 with. If you get the chance, take the short hike to the back where you can take in the gorgeous views of the lake and mountains.
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Review from Sarah G.
Beverly Hills, CA
5/30/2011
Great experience, beautiful grounds. Tasting fee is expensive but worth it. Definitely worth the trip up to Napa. Great design and architecture, with delicious wines. We came here after Kelly Fleming Winery and Kenzo Estate. Great Napa trip!
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Review from Stephanie C.
San Mateo, CA
8/28/2007
This is one of the most personal Tasting rooms i've been to napa so far! You have to make reservatinos ahead.. and there's about 3- 4 groups tasting their two glasses of wines at their own table. We were lucky as we stopped by and managed to sit in for someone that had cancel their reservation!
for $35 per person i belive you get two taste glasses.. we had the 03 and 04 meritage. The host will seat you and the wine is poured from a decanter. He'll explain the wines to you give you a little history of the winery.. and even leave you a little cheese plate!!!!
I loved it... -
Review from Carmen H.
Daly City, CA
10/24/2007
We were very fortunate to get in here - without a reservation - because I was with a dear friend from India who works in a fine dining restaurant in Houston that sells Quintessa wines. We did have to come back the next day - but my friend wanted me to have the Quintessa experience and I will be forever grateful. What exquisite
wine - we tasted two vintages, the 2003 and 2004. Blissful. Nice touch with the accompanying cheese plate. Expensive wine but well worth the splurge for a special occasion! -
Review from Yu T.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2007 1 photo
We got a last minute reservation thanks to our hotel concierge.
We arrived at the winery and got a fully guided tour and tasting. The architecture and location is fantastic... very modern and you can overlook Rutherford from the top...
The Cave was also very impressive. You just see rows and rows of barrels in a very modern setting.
We were then shown to the tasting room, a beautiful room with the owner's private wine collection as a backdrop, and we were served the 2004 and 1993. The 1993 was excellent, it was a batch that was produced prior to the wine's launch and is only served here.
I bought a bottle for my father and a half bottle for ourselves... we hope to enjoy it soon! -
Review from Diana E.
Sunnyvale, CA
6/26/2008
So, me and my date are out and about drop topping zooming through wine country. We see this rather odd looking building so I said what's that--let's check it out. It's rather unpretentious and somewhat non-descript off the beaten path.
We go in. It's very quiet, a few people there sitting at tables, nibbling on plates the staff are bringing out to pair with the wines. So, we ask about a tasting to be informed, it's reservations only. Hmmmmmm, not to worry. I'm in the industry, I present my card and viola, we're in.
We picked up a very nice conversation with the person serving us who happened to live close by. We discussed the area, the architecture of the building the viticulture and viniculture methods they use to produce the wine. We saw pictures, learned about the history of the winery while now sampling goodies and having some of the precious Quintessa wines.
So now I'm luring to the back of the room at this cave like structure with a huge table. We inquire. We learn, they host dinners here, hmmm. Interesting. Well, all in all good wines at nice prices. Fortunately, being the industry has it's benefits, the tasting fee was comp'd. -
Review from Lewis E.
Napa, CA
5/29/2010
Great visit this week at Qunitessa!
Tasting is a bit pricier than I remember it being in the past however the wines were fairly solid.
Faust is the crowd pleaser. That being said I noticed that the bordeaux blend Quintessa seems a bit more comercialized for taste and is not that classic French feminine throughback as I remember. Could be because of score chasing HOWEVER - this is a sold wine!
Great job to the winemaker and to the staff - an amazing experience with grand delivery. Thank you for not being snobby. You guys rocked! -
Review from jen r.
5/24/2010
this place was gorgeous!!!
we started out inside the main room and learned a little bit about quintessa. i sneaked a peak at the tasting room in there and it was large, but still very cozy and nice.
then we headed up a trail around the side of the building. it was quiet a "hike" for a bunch if tipsy miamians but we made it up and it was soo worth it. the view was absolutely breathtaking!!
we opened up a bottle of white up there and sat and chatted while taking in the scenery.
then we headed back down and went into the cellar. it was a room made of steel, super modern and cool. this is where the wine is made i believe. we had a private tasting room right in the middle of it all and got to try 2 reds accompanied by delicious cheeses and crackers.
this place is all about elegance but not in a stuffy way. prices are steep but well worth it!!Listed in: rice-a-roni.. the san…
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Review from J Y.
Grass Valley, CA
5/13/2010 2 photos
If I'm ever rich and open a vineyard I will model it off of Quintessa's. Each guest will be treated as if they were the personal guest of the owner, each tour guide will have the knowledge of a true viticulturist, and every glass will be filled only with the very best wine we could make.
Usually leisure in Napa is the result of a gentle form of neglect, but here comfort is the goal. There's no clamoring around a crowded tasting bar, there's no rush to finish the tour in time for the next tour, and if you want seconds of a glass they'll bring it to you.
Enough about the experience. Upon tasting the wine you would never guess you were in Napa. There's no trace of the usually bold cacophony of tannins and young cab sauv grapes overwhelming your mouth (don't get me wrong, I like that too). Instead you'll find this wine to be a very easy drink that subtly lets you know you're drinking a great wine. I wouldn't say it'll make you go, "WOW!" but maybe more like, "mmm :)" Also, this was the favorite vineyard of my girlfriend who much prefers white wines. They don't serve any whites here, but the bordeaux blend was certainly pleasing to both our tastes.
Also, unlike most other vineyards, Quintessa will still apply the tasting cost toward the purchase of your bottle! Old school Napa hospitality in a beautiful state of the art facility.
Great Job, I'll be back often! -
Review from Laila P.
2/14/2009
This is an excellent place for experienced tasters looking for something a bit more unique than your average winery on the Silverado Trail. The only wine to taste is the current vintage of Quintessa and two single vineyard samples which are tasted individually and then blended if you so choose. They feature a different restaurant every month and the tasting is accompanied by small plates and a cheese tray. It's a very elegant experience and certainly a place to take that special (bordeaux loving!) wine taster in your life. Great views, great wine.
Listed in: Wine Country & Bay Area…
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Review from Bianca C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/21/2011
i have to give quintessa 5 stars. i loved the location, i loved the wine, and i loved our guide, katie. she was so knowledgeable, knew the answers to all of our questions, gave us advice on where else to go and where to eat. overall, she was just so personable and lovely. i wish i had bought some bottles, but to be honest, they were too expensive for me. but, i am positive the prices were worth it. the tasting came with some delicious cheeses and the environment was nice and quiet. i felt very special to be here. they even customized our tasting by printing our name on the tasting menus. great experience and would definitely come back again in a heartbeat!!
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Review from Laurel B.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2009
I have been eyeing Quintessa from the Silverado trail for years now. The architecture absolutely slays me: it's organic in a modern way (meaning something along the lines of, it looks like it emerged from the hills), which is fitting given that they farm the grapes biodynamically (complete with burying cows' horns filled with cow manure). We did an industry tour/tasting, which meant that we started with a climb to the top of the hill, a bit of the owner's own sauvignon blanc, and a discussion about the different microclimates of the different fields, and then we had a full winery tour that ended up with a wine tasting and food pairing. Great wines (I like the winemaker Charles Thomas, who used to be at Cardinale), and a very good tour and tasting.
Listed in: The Wine Country: Napa to St.…
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Review from Ross R.
Foster City, CA
5/21/2008
By far one of the most enjoyable winery experience I believe I've ever had. The first time I came here was due to the person I was with saying "ooo let's try to get into Quintessa." We got in w/o an appointment thankfully. The facility here is gorgeous - modern yet refined. Sophisticated. Great use of space. Friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff.
My most recent visit was the best however. This time I had an appointment. It's worth sharing with you that it now costs $65 - but this is for more than just a tasting. My question was...well Quintessa is one wine, what will I be tasting for $65? I'll explain later.
First things first - they assign a person to your group and your group alone who will be your guide through the winery and for your tasting. We had a great guide - Mo, from Morocco, show us around - I certainly scored points when I mentioned I'd heard of Aziza - his fave Moroccan restaurant in SF. What a great guy, answered all of our questions, knows the story in and out - and without sounding like he memorized a script. You have several options for a tour: you can climb the hill behind the vineyard to admire the 5 hills for which Quintessa is named and learn about their biodynamic and sustainable farming, how Agustin and Valeria Huneeus won over the hearts of the land owners with their vision for this superb patch of Rutherford Dust. The Huneeus's are Chilean - and it was Agustin who helped start perhaps one of the most well known Chilean producers - Concha y Toro. What a view...unbelievable sprawling hills - a lake in the middle for helping with irrigation. Many oak trees still stand as they strive to be conscious of the ecosystem. You can go to the caves or see the where production takes place. How about all 3? We did.
The caves are impressive to say the least - laid out as a circle with a equal armed cross inscribed within it - a fountain at the intersection of the cross's arms. Barrels from various purveyors of french oak line the walls - your nostrils are filled with that smell that can only be described as "winery." These barrels by the way? About $1,000 each.
Within those 5 hills there are 20 vineyard plots, from which the top 10-20%'s production are used to make Quintessa (the other 80-90% is sold off). So for our tasting I wondered...so what will be tasting other than the 2005 Quintessa? So there are several blending grapes for a bordeaux style wine: Cab.Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. We asked "how about Malbec?" The answer? "You want Malbec, go to Argentina!" Funny. So what we actually tasted was some Cabernet from two of the 20 or so vineyard plots: the bench and riviera sur - something mind you that would never be released - that would, in some combination, make it into the next Quintessa vintage. Then the 2005 Quintessa. Awesome. The former chef from Franciscan winery prepared some skewers of beef with a salsa verde specifically to allow us to enjoy some food to go along with the wine. Great touch.
After making some purchases one of our $65 fees was waived. I would have gladly paid it though. Terrific - if you could only visit one winery ever...EVER...you should give this place consideration.
Well worth it for that personalized experience that doesn't require you to compete for room at a bar to taste some lesser juice. You need to make this part of your Napa visit. As I've said before - get off of 29 and onto Silverado Trail.
I received a nice letter from Mo a few days later thanking me for my visit. A great finishing touch on a great experience.
