In the heart of the Oak Knoll District in Napa Valley, California, sits a winery that is beautiful, welcoming and is also the home of incredible wines. Trefethen Family Vineyards is a third generation, family owned and sustainably farmed winery that has deep roots in Napa Valley. The best way to describe the founders, Katie and Gene Trefethen, would be as true pioneers of the area. Their touches are still evident daily at the winery by the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve and the amazing gardens that are intertwined throughout the grounds of the estate.
Second generation family members and co-founders Janet and John Trefethen created their own footprints in the wine world. John was the founding president of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and later led the charge for the Napa Valley Vintners during the early critical years. For 25 years, Janet hosted the Napa Valley Cooking Class and became an ambassador not only for the winery, but also Napa Valley as she became a leader in establishing the now famous Oak Knoll District.
The entrance to Trefethn is impressive, awe-inspiring and welcoming. The long drive also has an interesting history behind it. We won't spoil the secret but there is a great story about this long drive, a pilot and a cowgirl that you have to hear from your winery tour guide!
Everywhere you look, you see manicured grounds, clean lines and beautiful gardens. You could spend the better part of a day walking around here and taking in all of the beauty.
Huge trees create a canopy in many areas of the Trefethen property, providing shade, a gorgeous setting and a natural nature preserve for Napa's smallest residents.
Each winery ambassador is extremely knowledgeable about "all things Trefethen" and their passion is evident in the stories that they tell. You learn about the history, the family, the wines and the future of Trefethen.
Trefethen offers many tasting experiences. We were blessed to enjoy the "Taste the Estate" tasting on the porch of the old house. We tasted five unique and wonderful wines accompanied by delicious food.
The foods that were served with our tasting featured estate-grown ingredients, which was as equally impressive as the wine. We stepped outside of our comfort level and despite any preconceived notions we may have had (we are not cucumber fans), we thoroughly enjoyed all of the food pairings.
It's no secret that Napa Valley and red wines are synonymous. But don't discount the fact that you can enjoy breathtaking white wines as well! Pictured here are the 2020 Dry Riesling and the 2019 Katie's Acre Chardonnay. These wines were both over the top delicious!
The Chilled Summer Melon Soup with tarragon goat cheese, sunflower and compressed melon introduced all of us to flavors that were unique and extremely pleasing.
Winery Chef Chris Kennedy and his team construct dishes that were absolutely mind blowing at times. The Hen of the Woods Mushrooms with roasted white corn cake and créme fraiche was one of the best dishes we have ever tasted in our lives! Chris is a culinary genius!
Pictured here are the three red wines from our "Taste the Estate" tasting. They were all fabulous and we bought them all to bring home!
- 2017 Cowgirl and the Pilot
- 2018 Dragon's Tooth
- 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine tasting is fun. Wine tasting with friends is more fun! Wine tasting in an intimate setting creates memories that will last a lifetime.
You could get lost in the gardens (on purpose, of course) across these sprawling grounds. These beauty of this place reminds visitor of Katie Trefethen's influence on what would become a magnificent winery and a favorite place to visit.
Despite being one of the larger, family owned wineries in Napa Valley with about 500 acres currently planted, Trefethen makes you feel welcome and like an extension of their own family. The attention to detail, the kindness and the remarkable wines display the embodiment of the vision that was started decades ago. So what does the future look like for Trefethen? There is no doubt that the visionaries of Trefethen have helped them succeed for three generations. They are eco-friendly, sustainably farmed, and keenly aware of how nature helps them thrive.
Cover crops aid in decreasing carbon dioxide in the vineyards. Nesting boxes for predatory birds help control varmint population. Only the actual juice from the grapes leaves Trefethen's property. All other parts of the grape (stems, seeds, skins) are used to form a compost that is re-entered into the vineyard soil annually. Trefethen takes sustainability very seriously and they have been a role model for other wineries in both Napa Valley and around the world to learn from.
Recently, Trefethen released their very limited JOY BOX in honor of Earth Day. This box included their OKD Four wine blend, a cotton tea towel with water based ink, white flake salt and an olive pinch bowl. The Joy Box is a wonderful and special gift idea that any wine lover will enjoy. We strongly encourage you to sign up on Trefethen's web site to be notified when these boxes become available, as they sell out very quickly!
If we could say how we feel about Trefethen Family Vineyards and the people behind the label, it would simply be expressed as "Visionaries with a love for wine, the environment and Napa Valley who create beauty through grapes, food and beautiful gardens".
We strongly hope that you will consider connecting with Trefethen Family Vineyards during your next trip to Napa Valley. You will create memories and enjoy experiences that you will talk about for years!
