Walking In a Vino Wonderland

The diversity of delicious New World vino that comes from North America is largely attributed to the blessed terroir of Napa Valley. A recent trip to the picturesque region enables Kenneth Tan to discover some of the transcendental vintages that linger long in both mouth and mind.

Part of California’s great charm is its almost always cloudless forget-me-not skies; it feels like someone had been called away hurriedly just before selecting the type of clouds to put in place. In the mornings, the heavens take on a golden pink hue, like the blush of a white Zinfandel, and the tiniest wisps of clouds scurry across almost apologetically, as if they knew they shouldn’t be there.

Here in Napa Valley, an hour north of San Francisco, the rarefied atmosphere speaks of wine at every turn. I almost feel that to not have a bottle on my person would be committing an offence, such is the kindred spirit of the county with the industry that supports its existence.

As part of my introduction to some of the wineries here in Napa, a stretch limo has been arranged to ferry me around and I’m being driven by a gregarious walrus of a man, Tim Wolfe, a decades-long resident of Napa, having moved here when he was but a tot. We turn onto Highway 29 and, immediately, my field of vision is filled with well-manicured lawns, trimmed hedgerows and, once a while, the arching jets of water that feed the vines.

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