photo linked to cadewinery.comPlumpjack has always been a favorite of ours. So, you can imagine our excitement when we learned their sister winery, CADE, opened a new tasting room. With the tagline Live Green, Drink Green, we were intrigued and had to visit ~ what a great discovery!
The drive to the winery alone is amazing. CADE is located on Howell Mountain, and has views spanning Napa Valley from North to South. The day we visited it was overcast in the valley, but we sat high above the clouds at CADE. We enjoyed our tasting in the lounge area, taking in the amazing views while sipping the equally enjoyable wine. CADE is Napa Valley’s first LEED Gold Certified Winery ~ a distinction earned for their sustainable farming practices, as well as design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The tasting room showcases their commitment to the environment. Very cool.
CADE winery produces four wines, two of which are high on our list:
Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Howell Mountain ($72)
98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot
This is a big cab ~ with big fruit and big tannins. For those that like a bold red wine, you’ll love this one. The nose has fruits of black cherry and currants, with a hint of smokiness. The flavors carry through in taste, adding in a dash of cocoa powder. There is no question on what to eat when you pop open this bottle ~ meat and cheese...a juicy blue cheese burger would be awesome with this one!
Sauvignon Blanc ($26)
93% Sauvignon Blanc, 6% Sémillon, 1% Viognier
Another great screw cap wine! This is a very lovely sauvignon blanc that has an interesting balance of citrus, crispness, and a little bit of oak. It is a very versatile wine ~ great on own, and pairs well with lighter fare such as salads, grilled chicken/seafood and vegetables, or even herb flavored goat cheese.
If you find either in your local wine store, or on a restaurant list, give them a try. They also have a list of nationwide distributors available on their website. And, if you are in the Napa Valley area, visiting the winery is a must ~ it’s an experience you won’t soon forget!
Wine is hanging out on our new bistro table found on our pizza and wine adventure...thought it appropriate to display on a re-purposed wine barrell!