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Mt. Veeder Appellation Wine Tasting

 

On Saturday, September 21st, the Hess Collection Winery is hosting the 14th annual Mt. Veeder Appellation Wine Tasting. During this incredibly special event, over 20 wineries – many not generally open to the public – will be offering their small production wines from this very unique AVA.

An AVA (American Viticultural Area) is a specified geographical location that produces at least 85% of a wine’s grapes. The Mt. Veeder Appellation is the largest AVA in the Napa Valley, but accounts for less than 2% of the region’s grape production. This is due to the fact that only about 1000 acres of the 25 square mile area actually grows grapes. The appellation (another term for a legal definition of the geographical location of a wine’s source grapes) is very mountainous, with slopes ranging from 10° to 30° and shallow topsoil.

Almost all the work in the Mt. Veeder vineyards is by hand because of the rugged conditions and steep slopes. This unique set of growing conditions – the slopes cause extended sun exposure and minimal water retention – produces crops of tiny grapes with an intense, concentrated flavor and soft tannins of over 15 varietals.

Several of the Mt. Veeder Appellation wineries have tasting rooms open to the public, and others offer appointment-only tastings. However, the annual Wine Tasting provides you the opportunity to sample wines from most of the wineries in one location!

Throughout the afternoon, enjoy live music from the high energy blues band The Hummingbirdz; food pairings from Hess Collection Executive Chef Chad Hendrickson; raffle drawings; and a silent auction. It will be another year before you will have a chance to taste and purchase the small production, hard to find, gems produced by Mt. Veeder wineries.

An EXTREMELEY limited number of discounted advance tickets are now on sale through the Mt. Veeder Appellation web site (www.mtveederwines.com). Advanced tickets are $75 per person. Once sold out, entry is $100 per person at the door.

Mt. Veeder is about 9 miles from the Candlelight Inn and about a 20 minute drive to reach Oakville Grade by taking the Highway 29 Route…