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WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEKMichael Mondavi’s Folio Winemakers’ StudioThe name Mondavi is synonymous with wine in America. In theMichael Mondavi family (he is the eldest son of the late RobertMondavi) that equates to four generations of winemaking. This is nowthe solid heritage that is the foundation of the Folio WinemakersStudio on Dealy Lane in the Carneros region of southern Napa County,right on the Napa/Sonoma County line.Folio is a venture of Michael Mondavi and his family: his wife Isabel,daughter Dina and son Rob. The Winemakers’ Studio serves as the basefor Folio’s locally produced wines. Their labels include Isabel Mondavi,Medusa, Oberon, Hangtime, Oberon Emblem and Spellbound.Hangtime, which focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from theCentral Coast, now has added to its lineup aCarneros Estate Pinot Noir from the Gallery Vineyardthat surrounds the Folio Taste Gallery. Hangtimealso features a new varietal: a Syrah from theMounts Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley.Inspired by Isabel Mondavi, the Isabel Mondavilabel features wines that are made the way that shemost enjoys. These include a Sonoma CountyChardonnay, a Pinot Noir and a refreshingly dryRosé that is perfect now that warm weather hasarrived and summer picnics are clearly on thehorizonZinfandel is the varietal that Medusa concentrateson. The coveted Old Vine Zinfandel to beexact, from the Creekside and Lover’s Lane Vineyards.There is even a much-coveted ZinPort that simply has to beexperienced.The Spellbound wines feature a very food-friendly Chardonnay, aPetite Sirah Reserve, Petite Sirah, and an off-dry Riesling that simplycries out for fresh fruit or spicy food such as Thai or Chinese, or evenbetter I think, Vietnamese. These are well-crafted wines for daily (ifyou desire) consumption.The wines of Oberon include a serious Napa Valley CabernetSauvignon and Merlot, both well-priced, as well as a fruit-filled SauvignonBlanc. There is also the Hillside Reserve Napa Valley CabernetSauvignon.“The big thing we have is the variety of wines at Folio, and the factthat it is a Michael Mondavi family venture,” said the affable MichaelAbernathy, Taste Gallery Manager and a partner in the Folio Fine WinePartners venture. “We have long-term relationships with vineyardowners and managers in Napa and Sonoma counties, and throughoutCalifornia. That is invaluable. That, and the hands-on involvement ofMichael Mondavi.“Here we focus on making great wines that we enjoy drinking, butthey are also wines that we love sharing with family and friends. Andof course with those people who come out here to our tasting room.”And quite a pleasant trip it is. The tasting room is surrounded byvineyards in an area that is, to be conservative, almost all vineyardsMichael Mondavi Familywith a bit of pastureland and open space thrownin. “We’re off the main highway, in real winecountry, and we don’t have – and don’t want tohave – a big, showy winery and barrel room,”Abernathy adds.What they do have is a tasting room you willnot want to leave, because of the space, thesetting, the climate, the friendly staff, the wines,the views and the list goes on.The fog that rolls in from San Pablo Bay just afew miles away results in cool year-round temperatures.In the tasting room, which looks most likea thoughtfully restored farmhouse, there are lightwalls, plenty of natural light year round, lots of polished wood and anicely proportioned tasting bar backed up by a large stained-glasswindow. There is a country tile floor and a fireplace at one end of theroom further softens the open two-storied space. Behind this isanother airy room that opens onto a porch that stretches the width ofthe building and looks out over the hills and vineyards, and off in thedistance on a clear day you can see Mount Diablo. With its comfortableseating it is the perfect spot to enjoy the wines of Folio.During crush – as harvest is known here – the seating on thecovered front porch is the place to be to catch the oft-times hectic andalways fascinating action that defines that season of winemaking.The tasting room offers two different tasting menus: the GalleryTasting has a selection of good, honest wines, and visitors can pick sixfor $10. The Artisan Tasting includes single-vineyard and reservewines, and visitors can pick half-a-dozen for $20.The Folio Winemakers’ Studio is located at 1285 Dealy Lane inNapa, which is just off Carneros Highway and Old Sonoma Road.They are open from noon until 5 p.m., (and closed Wednesdays andThursdays until May). Note that they open at 11 a.m. on Friday,Saturday and Sunday. Private tastings are available by appointment.For more information call (707) 256-2757. Also be sure to take a lookat their website, www.foliowine.com. You can also find information ontheir popular wine clubs there.26 www.WineCountryThisWeek.com