2023 Harvest: Slow and Steady…
As the harvest season concludes, we wanted to share with you an exclusive recap of Harvest 2023 – A year that is one for the books.
The weather conditions during the growing season played a pivotal role in timing and duration of harvest this year. We were blessed with a combination of cooler temperatures throughout the year and abundant rainfall early in the season, creating the ideal environment for lengthy grape development on the vine. This all created a bit of an unusual harvesting schedule. The biggest aspect being that a majority of our Napa Valley Cabernet grapes were harvested before our Chardonnay!
Catch up with winemaker, Andrew Wright as he provides an up close update on harvest at Merryvale Vineyards from the crush pad in this video:
Our Tasting Room Dynamic Duo
Featuring Alison and Monica
Pictured above from left to right: Monica Roux, Luna the Winery Dog and Alison Capps
Tasting Room Manager – Alison Capps
Originally from Florida, Alison has called Napa Valley her home for the past seven years, the last five of which have been devoted to Merryvale. She’s the heart and soul of our Tasting Room, starting her journey as a wine educator and swiftly climbing the ranks to Assistant Manager and now, Tasting Room Manager.
But it’s not just the job title that makes Alison special; it’s her genuine love for both the people who visit us and the wines we serve. In her free time Alison enjoys exploring the great outdoors and hiking with her canine sidekick, Luna.
Assistant Tasting Room Manager – Monica Roux
Monica recently joined the team as our Assistant Tasting Room Manager. She brings over 15 years of expertise in customer service and hospitality to Merryvale. Her passion lies in creating positive environments that bring people together, and she’s also an aficionado of the history and romance of wine and the great outdoors.
We’re thrilled to welcome Monica to our Merryvale family and look forward to watching her and Alison craft unforgettable new Tasting Room experiences for you all to enjoy.
Pictured above from left to right: Barb, Evelyn, Roger and René
Member Spotlight
Roger and Evelyn McClung
For more than 15 years, we’ve had the pleasure of having Roger and Evelyn as cherished Wine Club Members here at Merryvale. They’ve made it a tradition to visit Napa Valley every year from their home in Florida, often bringing along friends and family, with Merryvale as their must-visit destination.
When we asked Roger what keeps them coming back year after year, he shared, “It’s the warm and welcoming atmosphere, the exceptional wines, and the incredibly friendly staff.” As for their favorite wines, Evelyn has a special place in her heart for our Silhouette Chardonnay. Roger’s favorites are Profile and Cab Franc, which he enjoys with The Burger Butler Experience in our beautifully renovated Barrel Room. Always warm and incredibly generous, they once treated the entire Merryvale team to burgers during one of their visits!
Roger and Evelyn have discovered their home away from home right here at Merryvale, and we are so grateful that they, like all of you, have found us.
Please join us in raising a glass to celebrate Roger, Evelyn, and all our devoted Wine Club members. We look forward to hosting you all at our 40th Anniversary Holiday Dinner in the historic Cask Room. It’s going to be a night to remember!
For four decades, Merryvale has excelled in producing top-notch wines, and the Wine Club aims to offer a membership experience that reflects this excellence. We sincerely appreciate all our members and messengers. To explore further details about the Merryvale Messenger program and its associated perks, please visit Refer a Friend to view program details.
Merryvale Winter Wine Pairing
Featuring delicacies from Quiche and Carry Bakery
Winter is coming, and there’s no better way to embrace the season’s charm than by joining us for an exclusive Winter Wine Pairing experience. We welcome you to a delightfully cozy and indulgent tasting adventure, featuring a carefully curated selection of wines and delectable mini quiches from the renowned “Quiche and Carry” bakery. The paring includes Goat Cheese and Butternut Squash Quiche with 2021 Silhouette Chardonnay, Mediterranean Roasted Tomatoes Mushroom and Olive Quiche with 2021 Stanly Ranch Estate Pinot Noir, Quiche Lorraine with 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pumpkin Spice Quiche with Antigua. This experience is $85 per person and available only by appointment during November and December. Your Merryvale Wine Club membership grants you complimentary access for up to four, so book your reservations early to secure your seats at this one-of-a-kind tasting event. Click here to book today.
Holiday Dinner
Saturday, December 9th 6 – 9pm
The holidays are just around the corner, and there’s no better way to celebrate the season than attending our Holiday Dinner in our Historic Cask Room. A beautiful meal will be created by Chef Nash of Tre Posti, followed by a performance from local band The Hots to dance the night away. Tickets now available!
40th Anniversary Library Wine Tasting at Merryvale Vineyards: Uncover the past and celebrate the future
Sunday, February 4th, 10AM-12PM
Join Proprietors, René and Laurence Schlatter, and winemaker Andrew Wright amidst the captivating ambiance of our historic Cask Room to enjoy a hand-picked selection of our finest cellared bottlings.
This event begins with a taste of our latest Silhouette Chardonnay release and continues with a Silhouette Library Selection, showcasing the exquisite 2003 vintage from 3-liter bottles —a true gem from our cellar. We’ll then transition to Bordeaux varieties and blends featuring select vintages of Reserve Merlot, Cabernet Franc, St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon and the historic Beckstoffer Clone 6 among others. This tasting adventure will be accompanied by a selection of light bites, including delectable cheeses and artfully prepared charcuterie.
Acquire your tickets today and ensure you don’t miss out on this unforgettable opportunity to taste history, elevate your wine appreciation, and create lasting memories. Tickets now available!
Find more information about all our events here!
For more information about upcoming Merryvale events call Events Manager, Casey Curiel at 707-968-3429, or email ccuriel@merryvale.com.
Updates to the Club
Merryvale Rewards Program
We are always looking for ways to make your Member experience even better, and feedback from our biggest fans tells us that we hit it out of the park with our Merryvale Rewards Program. As an active Club Member you’ll earn points on every purchase that can be redeemed towards future orders. Take a moment to view program details.
IN THIS SHIPMENT…
YOUR WINTER WINE CLUB RELEASES
Your membership wine preferences determine which of these wines you will receive.
2021 Silhouette Chardonnay, Napa Valley
The 2021 Silhouette is everything we love about great Chardonnay — bright, fresh, full, complex, long and delicious. Sourced from our Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard, the Silhouette has been our very best Chardonnay bottling since the first vintage in 1993.
Food Pairing: Enjoy this chardonnay with a harvest squash soup.
Ageability: This stunning wine will continue to evolve over the next 10+ years.
2021 Pinot Noir, Stanly Ranch Estate, Carneros
Produced from the top Pinot Noir barrels from Stanly Ranch Estate, this wine showcases the elegance and charm that Carneros is known for.
Food Pairing: Our Estate Pinot Noir pairs well with roasted turkey or duck dishes.
Ageability: This wine will evolve over the next 5+ years.
2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, sourced from our Estate vineyards.
Food Pairing: Try this wine with Braised Beef Short Ribs with Pancetta and Crimini Mushrooms.
Ageability: With proper cellaring, this wine will drink beautifully for the next 10+ years.
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Saint Helena
Drawn from our Profile Estate Vineyard, this Cabernet is a bold wine from a warm vintage that still maintains balanced acidity and refined complexity.
Food Pairing: Our Saint Helena Cabernet will pair well with Roasted Lamb Shank with Garlic and Rosemary.
Ageability: With proper cellaring, this wine will drink beautifully for the next 10+ years.
User Choice Wines:
Solstice Brut Sparkling Wine, Napa Valley
Sourced from the Napa Side of the Carneros AVA, from our Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard.
2020 Stanly Ranch Estate Chardonnay, Carneros
A stunningly gorgeous example of a New World Chardonnay crafted with an Old World approach.
2018 Chairman’s Selection Red Wine, Napa Valley
A red blend showcasing mountain vineyards and the incredible character that they produce.
2017 Oakville Grade Red Wine, Napa Valley
A classic Oakville Bordeaux blend from an elegantly powerful vintage. A complex wine with integrated tannins and incredible depth of character.
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
This wine exhibits classic Napa Cabernet characteristics with surprising depth.
Special Savings on Club Shipment Wines
Take advantage of your discount on case purchases of this shipment’s featured wines through the end of December. Click here to choose your favorites!
Until next time,
The Merryvale Family
