Larkmead Vineyard is a winery that has been on my radar for some time. We’ve sipped and enjoyed their wine on a few occasions, most notably at a dinner party, with a friend who is quite the wine snob. (Don’t worry, he won’t be offended that we call him that, he’s very proud of the title.)

Established in 1895, Larkmead is one of the oldest wineries in California. The proprietors, Cam & Kate Solari Baker have carefully kept the history of the property while transforming the land, farmhouse, barn and production house into a renowned wine estate.

The state-of-the-art winery sits on 110 acres of prime Napa land in Calistoga. Unassuming and welcoming, we felt it’s charm the moment we drove up to the entrance.

We booked the group tour & tasting that included a guided tour of the property followed by a tasting of the current spring release wines. Upon arrival, we were handed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. It was the perfect wine to enjoy as we waited for our tour to begin. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. He gave us an in-depth summary of the history of the property and explained the benefits of microclimates and the diversity of the soils as they relate to wine making.

As much as I love a good history lesson 🙄, nothing beats being escorted into a room set with multiple wine glasses.😃 🙌

Once we were seated, our host explained the wine line up. We will be tasting three wines that represent the estate vineyards. The wines are only available for purchase through a Larkmead Membership or by visiting the estate.

We started with Firebelle, an easy to drink, Merlot heavy blend. I’m a Merlot fan, always have been. I know not everyone is, especially after it got some backlash from the movie Sideways. But this wine is good, real good. It’s more intense than your average Merlot with strong hints of dark cherry. We will be having this on Memorial Day with grilled chicken and cheeseburgers.

Larkmead’s Cabernet Sauvignon, is fabulous, it never fails. This is the perfect wine to enjoy with a steak. Give it to your boss, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a raise.

Our host suggested we spend a little time swirling and sniffing the next wine, The LMV Salon. A blend of Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine smells so good, your taste buds get impatient. The LMV Salon tastes great served with just about anything, but skillet browned scallops would be especially nice. This wine came home with us along with some Dr. Olmo.

Dr. Olmo was not on the spring release menu, however, our host treated us to a taste. Made with vines that have been planted for 15 years or more, 100% Cabernet, this deserves to be sipped slowly with indulgent cheeses or served at a special dinner.

Larkmead Vineyard estate is easy to get to, located just off of the Silverado Trail. If you visit, tell them SippnSunshine sent you.

Cheers!

Winery: Larkmead Vineyards

Address: 1100 Larkmead Ln, Calistoga, CA 94515

Phone: (707) 942-0167

Visiting Hours: 10am to 3:30pm

Reservations: Tastings by appointment only.

Tasting Fee: $75 - $90

Duration: 90 minutes

Cancellation Policy:

Website: Larkmead.com

Please, drink responsibly.

If you are planning a trip to Napa and would like information on where to stay, eat and sip wine, check out our Guide to Napa Valley.