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Tina and Brett
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Located at:
Pine Ridge Vineyards
5901 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA 94558
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Price Range For Tasting
Napa Valley’s Pine Ridge Vineyards was founded by Gary Andrus in 1978 when the region was just starting to gain acclaim. Andrus was a prolific figure in the wine community and also founded Archery Summit, which is considered one of Oregon’s premier Pinot Noir producers.
Today, Pine Ridge is owned by Crimson Wine Group, which also owns Seven Hills Winery, Seghesio Family Vineyards, and Archery Summit, among others. The brand owns and farms 160 acres of vines in Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford, and Carneros regions.
Josh Widaman joined Pine Ridge Vineyards in 2021, and his impressive resume includes this notable data point: of all the wines Josh has produced, over 90% have scored 90 points or higher.
When you consider Josh’s experience, he was previously the head winemaker at Lewis Cellars, and during his tenure, he snagged Wine Spectator’s 2016 Wine of the Year award. It’s no wonder Pine Ridge sought out his talents.
Pine Ridge offers three distinct wine-tasting experiences: the Estate Tasting ($55pp, 60 minutes), Cellar 47 Cave Tour & Tasting ($95pp, 90 minutes), and the Explorer’s Tasting: A Vineyard to Cave Experience ($125pp, 2 hours).
The Estate Tasting is a standard, seated wine tasting, while the two cave tastings are more immersive. Reservations are required for all tastings at Pine Ridge.
We ultimately chose the Explorer’s Tasting because this experience gives you the greatest insight into the vineyard practices, and the tasting itself takes place in the Pine Ridge caves, which, let’s be honest, is just plain cool.
You also have the opportunity to take in the beautiful, expansive vineyard views, get up close and personal with the vines, see where the winemaking takes place, sample wines from the barrel, and, of course, taste the best-of-the-best that Pine Ridge has to offer.
The team at this Napa winery has outdone themselves when it comes to the design of their caves; it really is a picture-perfect experience. You start by entering the caves through a stone arch.
A sleek glass door separates the beginning of the cave from the temperature-controlled interior. The tasting room itself is comfortable, with leather club chairs and couches. Intricate pieces of glass art are adorned throughout the underground tasting room, and these little touches add nice pops of color to all of the natural elements.
As you can imagine, the caves have seemingly endless rows of barrels, and it makes for a terrific photo opportunity.
Pine Ridge Vineyards is known mostly for its estate Cabernet Sauvignons, but they also craft a standout Chenin Blanc and Viognier blend (still and sparkling). These value bottles have their own dedicated winemaker, Colleen Fitzgerald.
Here is a rundown of the wines featured in the Explorer’s Tasting at Pine Ridge.
2021 Locked Horns Cabernet Sauvignon, 94 PTS VG $175
This wine was the standout bottle. The palate is soft and rich, with notes of brambled blueberry, pie crust, vanilla, and brown sugar. A gorgeous wine that we recommend you purchase and cellar for a special occasion.
2022 Chenin Blanc + Viognier White Blend 12% ABV 90 PTS VG $16
The only white wine included in the tasting, this blend is aromatic, vibrant, and vivacious. Crisp melon, delicate orange blossom, honeysuckle, and stone fruit melded together beautifully. At $16 a bottle, this is a great bargain.
2019 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 15.5% ABV 91 PTS VG $140
A juicy Cabernet with layers of black and blue fruit, cinnamon spice, and lush tannins. Notes of black tea, spice, and chocolate linger on the finish.
2021 Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon 15.5% ABV 92 PTS VG $125
The Stagecoach Cabernet is a very nice wine. In fact, it was our second favorite of the group. This bottling had a nice red fruit than the others, along with notes of concentrated black fruit, toasted gingerbread, and floral elements.
2021 Carneros Cabernet Sauvignon 15.5% ABV 90 PTS VG $125
Bright red fruit, hints of chocolate cherry, and captivating notes of fennel create an intriguing wine. A very nice Napa Cab with a distinct palate.
We scored all of the wines 90+ points, and while they were all excellent, the standout was the 2021 Locked Horns Cabernet Sauvignon. The entire Explorer’s Cave Tasting Experience couldn’t have been better. If you want to understand the wines of Pine Ridge from vineyard to glass, this is the tasting you should reserve.
Our two biggest pieces of advice for you when you book this tour are to bring a shawl, sweater, or jacket and to wear comfortable shoes. The caves are pretty chilly, and you’re down there for almost 1.5 hours (the other half hour is spent in the vineyards) while you taste and tour.
When it comes to shoes, leave your high heels at home. The combination of rocky vineyards and walking will make wearing heels a nightmare. We suggest you opt for a flat shoe, an espadrille, or a lower heel.
