V Madrone Cellars

This is classic Napa as far as winery choices go. 500 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and about 200 cases of Chardonnay are all that this small, 3.5 acre winery produces in any given year. Additionally the estate sources an incredibly small number of Petite Syrah grapes and Zinfandel which help to create a more balanced portfolio for potential customers.

The V Madrone estate dates back to well before settlers occupied the area, but the historic site of the estate can trace a history back at least into the 1880's. As the original site of the August Hersch winery, the site once produced at least 20,000 gallons of wine and now after sitting fallowed for some time has made a comeback into wine lovers consciousness the world over.

The tasting room is open by appointment only, which should be expected for a winery with production levels this small, but the wines are also available at a range of restaurants both inside the Bay Area and farther afield with allocations sent to New York and other east coast cities, as well as more unusual destinations such as Omaha.

At this point, you might be wondering about quality levels associated with the wine itself. Quite good, but then again you might expect that as well for a smaller production winery. The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon which is the estate's flagship wine was scored at 93 points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and offers what I believe is a good example of the type of quality produced in each vintage.

In your next trip to Napa, I'd encourage a short stop at V Madrone Cellars. It offers a look both into the past of Napa, but also shows the type of micro-production winery which has become all the rage today.

By: Mark A Aselstine

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Wine Clubs are the focus at Uncorked Vetures, but we also have a variety of wine gifts while doing a good amount of wine tasting fundraisers.