Story By: Fran Miller // Photos Courtesy of Artesa Winery
Born in Barcelona. Raised in Napa Valley.
With more than 400 wineries within the Napa Valley, Amy Poehler had her pick of picturesque sites from which to film scenes for her Netflix film Wine Country. She chose Artesa. One peek at this Carneros-based winery and its panoramic vistas, and it’s no surprise that it found its way into key movie scenes. Poehler was obviously enchanted, as are all those who visit this uniquely designed winery that routinely finds itself the backdrop for many a marriage proposal. Offering breathtaking views of San Pablo Bay, and on the clearest of days, San Francisco, Mount Tam, and Mount Diablo, Artesa is a wine taster’s dream locale.
Modern and sleek, with Catalonian flair, the winery is an homage to its Barcelona roots. Founded and owned by Spain’s Raventós Codorníu group, the world’s oldest producer of bottle-fermented sparkling wine, Artesa embraces its Spanish heritage not only within its delectable wines but also throughout its striking grounds that include significant statuary, vast water features, and a serene inner courtyard.
Guests can choose amongst four distinct tasting experiences that take place throughout the stunning property: The Terrace Tasting features a seasonal flight of Artesa’s single vineyard and reserve wines enjoyed on the expansive terrace overlooking the Carneros hills. The Artisanal Tasting features six hand-selected wines from the Artesa portfolio. Both of these experiences are complimentary to Artesa members. Tapas and Wine includes a taste of Artesa’s beautiful sparkling wine, followed by a brief facility tour and a private salon sampling of five of the winery’s most iconic wines paired with traditional Spanish small bite tapas. And the Wines and Vines Vineyard Tour introduces guests to a full exploration of the winery’s 400-acre Los Carneros estate, with tasting amongst the vines. These two experiences are discounted for Artesa members, who are also invited throughout the year to special members-only events.
Photo by Laura Larson
Artesa’s winemaker, Ana Diogo-Draper, brings her own Iberian Peninsula flair to her Spanish-influenced varietals: Albarino, Tempranillo, Malbec, Pinot Noir Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé, Sparkling Wine and a variety of specialty blends. Born and raised in Portugal, Diogo-Draper moved to California to pursue her winemaking dreams after studying at the University of Évora with Paulo Laureano, one of the biggest names in Portuguese winemaking. An instinctive winemaker, she revels in winemaking trials and trusts in her intuition. “While walking through the rows of a particular vineyard block, tasting those grapes as they mature throughout the growing season, I have a vision of what that wine could be and start plotting on how to achieve it,” said Diogo-Draper.
“Artesa is the complete Napa Valley experience,” said Celeste and Darryl Woo, Artesa Wine Club members since 2007. “In a word, spectacular. The wines, ambience, and vistas! Their warm and knowledgeable staff make everyone feel welcome.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.artesawinery.com
