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NAPA VALLEY | WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEK
RAYMOND VINEYARDS
by Michelle J. Baker
40
Save the Date!
February 6, 2010
GENERATIONS RELEASE PARTY
Do you remember when you stopped
trying to keep up with all the newest music
trends? Suddenly you realized that none of
the new music had the complexity, the depth,
or the warming familiarity of the classic tunes.
Every once in a while you still dial up the new
stuff, but you always go back to the classics.
That’s the same way you’ll feel when you
stop for a visit Raymond Vineyards, an “oldie,
but goodie” when it comes to Napa Valley
wineries. With five generations making great
wine in the Napa Valley, Raymond has tuned
its approach so finely that you can count on
consistency, quality and complexity vintage
after vintage.
And there have been lots of great vintages
at Raymond. Raymond Vineyards is still a
privately-owned, family-run winery whose
president, Walter Raymond, and Executive
Advisor, Roy Raymond, Jr., are fourth generation
Napa Valley vintners. They are also the
great-grandsons of Jacob Beringer, who along
with his brother Frederic founded Beringer
Brothers Winery in 1876.
Walt and Roy’s father, Roy Sr., was instrumental
in helping re-establish the Beringer
winery after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.
The Raymonds all worked for the family business
until 1971, when Beringer was
purchased by Nestle. Then the Raymonds
decided to set out to make wine under their
own label. They purchased a 90-acre property
in the heart of Napa Valley on Zinfandel Lane,
planted vines and produced their first vintage
under the Raymond label in 1974.
Now the fifth generation of Raymonds has
taken on major responsibilities at Raymond,
including Walt’s daughter, Krisi, who is
involved in sales, marketing and winemaking,
and Roy Jr.’s son Craig, who is manages all of
the Raymond vineyards. Craig’s wife
Margaret, Raymond’s Wine Club Director, has
been taking Raymond Vineyards on the road,
with stops in major cities to visit with the
winery’s wine club members.
Raymond is still firmly in touch with its
family-winery sensibilities. Last year the
winery introduced a line of small lot wines
available exclusively at the winery. The tasting
room is currently featuring the 2007
Raymond Napa Valley Small Lot Syrah, the
first Syrah the winery has ever produced.
This one is an enticing big boy, with delicious
creamy oak framing dark fruit flavors and
some exotic spice notes. Sadly, the 2007
Small Lot Zinfandel, the first Zinfandel for
Raymond since 1999, was released and sold
out in just a few weeks.
This holiday season Raymond Vineyards is
Decking the Halls with Cabernet from the
library. What better way to celebrate the holidays
than with a special tasting of Raymond
Vineyards Library Cabernet Sauvignon? On
Saturday, December 19, the staff will feature
this selection from the cellar 1989 Private
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 1993 Napa
Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 1998
Generations Cabernet Sauvignon, 1999 Napa
Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and 2001
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.
While you’re there, finish your tasting with
a sample of Raymond’s decadent dessert wine
Opulence, a late harvest Chardonnay from
the winery’s Monterey vineyard. The 2006
Opulence is smooth and moderately sweet,
with lovely flavors of apricot, brewed tea and
honey and a high note of lemon that balances
the wine perfectly. Opulence comes in an
elegant box, making it a wonderful hostess
gift or special surprise to put under the tree.
Raymond Vineyards is located at 849
Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena. The tasting
room is open daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
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