Stony Hill Winery
For a gal who likes (ok, loves) my wine to be of a big robust red varietal, one that is well balanced with explosive dark red fruit yet smooth & elegant, I have been on the hunt for a white to enjoy on these hot and humid North Carolina days. OK I know, it’s fall now, but I never stop looking. Great news for those in the same position as I am – have I got some whites for you to try!
Stony Hill is one of the last fully estate wineries in Napa as well as the oldest continuous vineyard in the Napa area. Purchased in 1943, Fred and Eleanor McCrea created their winery from an old goat ranch. Their grapes are grown, produced and bottled 600 feet above the floor of Napa Valley in St Helena. Mike Chelini, the winemaker, has been at Stony Hill for over 35 years now and makes some incredibly balanced & structured whites (that is all they do, white wines). Over the years they haven’t changed how they make wine and boy am I glad of that! They crush & press the grapes with little skin contact and ferment in oak, then rack the wine off the lees when fermentation is done to avoid that yeasty flavor you can get. They then age in neutral oak barrels; many of which are over 10 years old, allowing the wine to develop and mature without absorbing that oak flavor that sometimes hide the natural fruit flavors. They also avoid a secondary fermentation in order to keep the original acid structure and again, protect those natural flavors. Unlike many California wines that are made to drink right away, these wines (which are fantastic now) can sit for 20-30 years and still show beautifully.
Stony Hill sits on a beautiful property with stunning views of the valley. When we arrived I immediately felt comfortable and at home, like I was visiting on old friend. The tasting was conducted outside with mature trees and blooming flowers around us. I love round tables because they stimulate conversation with everyone so no one felt left out. Of course no winery is complete without the resident dog and Ralph was right there to greet us. We weren’t rushed and Mary is very knowledgeable and welcoming. The tastings are by appointment only Mon-Fri. Expect to stay for at least an hour. They are a small production winery and well worth making room in your collection for. Also check out their website at www.stonyhillvineyard.com because they have some great recipes on there to try!
