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NAPA VALLEY | WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEKWILLIAM HILL ESTATE WINERYby Diana GreenwoodWilliam Hill Estate Winery claims a sweet slice of scenery in theSilverado Bench region known for its rocky, volcanic soil and dreamyweather. Barely a stone’s throw past Silverado Country Club at 1761Atlas Peak Road where Napa turns quiet countryside, the wineryperches on a knoll overlooking 140 acres of vineyards on rolling hillswith views to forever. The air is heady with the scent of lavender androses and the grounds are open-armed friendly for exploring. Thecharming picnic arbor and patio are ideal for outdoor wine tasting.Bring a lunch, buy a bottle of wine, and relax in Adirondack chairs inthe afternoon sun. William Hill is a bird lover’s paradise with yellowfinches and scrub jays, hummingbirds, wrensand red-winged blackbirds swooping, diving,splashing in the courtyard fountain andsinging amongst the vines. If you’re looking forexceptional wine in a setting that’s undisturbedby traffic or clutter or confusion, take it fromthe birds, William Hill is a sanctuary.Open seven days from 10-5, tasting andtours are by appointment but appointmentsare simple to get; just sing from your cell at thebottom of the winding driveway. Expect a warm welcome when youarrive. The tasting room is squeaky-clean in minimalist design withsleek, contemporary lines in seating and counter and decorativedetails. No fuss. Instead, you’ll enjoy every sensory moment of theChardonnay Experience, a wine for which William Hill is celebrated.Smooth as a sonnet, the 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay has elegantaromas of honeysuckle and ripe fruit flavors of white peach and pearwith a tickle of vanilla on the creamy finish. One of the most admiredwines year after year; it’s pretty in the glass and gorgeous on the palate.The Chardonnay Experience highlights style and aging practices ina flight of three wines. In addition to the 2007 Napa ValleyChardonnay, you’ll also try the 2007 Bench Blend Chardonnay, acomplex wine with intense flavors and notes of toasty oak, butter,citrus, vanilla and coconut that extend through a lingering finish. Only1,200 cases of this vintage were produced so this is a wine to buy nowand pour for guests as you enjoy long summer evenings.The third wine in the flight is the 2006 Dijon Clones Chardonnay.A beauty in all features, from Clones 76 and 77, this wine is amidnight canoe ride on a moonlit lake. Rich with silky layers of tropicalfruits and honeydew melon on the palate, melt-in-the-mouthbutterscotch slips in for the finish. This wine is very limited productionwith only 181 cases produced. William Hill Winemaker, RalfHoldenried, remains focused on the importance of the vineyard in allthe wines he makes and the Dijon Clones Chardonnay shines.Ralf suggests that you spread your wings and consider two additionaltasting flights. Exploring Cabernet is a flight of three exceptionalCabs from the Estate and surrounding area and the Estate Exclusive,from vines seen while resting in your Adirondack chair, includes the2005 Estate Cabernet Franc, the 2005 Estate Malbec and the 2006Estate Petit Verdot. William Hill devotes 116 acres to Cabernet, 13 toMerlot, nine to Petit Verdot, two and a half toCabernet Franc and two to Malbec. AllChardonnay is from the Carneros region wherewarm southern sun trades time with cool seabreezes and the grapes express characteristicsunique to the terroir.Although William Hill is one of the mostpeaceful settings in the Napa Valley, there’s a lot ofbehind-the-scenes energy in this sanctuary. Senior Tasting RoomRepresentative, Claire Gabaldon, described a selection of events thatwill get you walking, perk up your palate and stimulate your senses.“We’ve planned a Vineyard Hike for Saturday morning, June 12, from10-12,” she said. “You’ll walk the rows of Estate vines with our VineyardManager, Jake Terrell and he’ll share in detail what’s happening inthe vineyards this season while you participate in a canopy managementactivity. Following your hike, you’ll enjoy a release day tasting ofWilliam Hill Estate 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the2007 Estate Petit Verdot as well as the ever-popular 2007 Napa ValleyChardonnay.” Birds will sing background sonatas, sun will shine andhors d’oeuvres will be served. This event is $25, $15 for wine clubmembers. (A little bird may mention that now is a good time to jointhe wine club.)There’s a Lobster Feed and Movie Night coming up in Augustthat you won’t want to miss and a new tour experience to plan for thissummer. The new tour includes wine tasting of four wines from aselection of the Napa Valley, Bench Blend and Estate tier and yourguide will expand upon the history of William Hill Estate Wineryincluding a deep dive into Chardonnay in the media room with a livearoma seminar. There will be food pairings, grape sugar testing in thevineyards, as well as discussion on winemaking techniques and barrelaging. The fee for the tour experience is $40 per person, ages 21 andover.Tastings, tours and events are by appointment or reservation so call(707) 265-3024 to reserve a spot or visit the website atwww.williamhillestate.com for additional information and onlineordering. The William Hill Estate Winery staff is friendly and knowledgeableand it’s a beautiful place to visit. No wonder the birds sing itspraises. So will you.42 www.WineCountryThisWeek.com