The Stags Leap District has a winegrowing track record dating to the mid-1800s. Back then the Silverado Trail was a wagon route from the cinnabar mines to the docks of San Pablo Bay. This sub-appellation of the Napa Valley appeals to wine enthusiasts for this sense of history, and for the next three months, some Stags Leap producers offer the opportunity to taste rare and aged bottles from their libraries — not as old as the Silverado Trail, of course, but there’s still a measure of intrigue.
The Stags Leap District Winegrowers association rolls out the Library Wine Black Card, granting cardholders access to samples of rare, library vintage Cabernet Sauvignon from 13 Stags Leap District wineries. There is a limited number of cards available, and they are effective from from July 1 through September 30, 2021.
For history buffs, this slice of Napa Valley is storied and meaningful — tales of phylloxera and prohibition haunt the district’s memory along with a legacy of accomplishment. The spot had been considered too cool to support Cabernet Sauvignon, but pioneer Nathan Fay thought differently. He planted the first vines of the now signature variety in the in the 1960s, and the emergence of something truly special didn’t take long. The 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon was a star of The Judgement of Paris in 1976. Ten years later, 1972 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon was announced the winner in an anniversary tasting event.
“Beyond gaining access to some exceptional wines, The Library Wine Black Card offers Cabernet enthusiasts a truly memorable experience,” says Jason Lede, hospitality manager for Cliff Lede Vineyards and director of Stags Leap District Winegrowers, which includes 16 wineries and nine grower members. “There’s no other way to access the cellars of this many wineries within one appellation. It’s an extremely rare opportunity to develop an exclusive appreciation of the Stags Leap District.”
The Stags Leap District Winegrowers Library Wine Black Card.
Sarah Anne Risk
Each Library Wine Black Card is available for $150, and for every purchase the winegrowers association will donate 10%, or $15 to One Tree Planted. According to the organization, this amount will cover the plantation of 15 trees in California.
Elizabeth Vianna is the general manager and winemaker at Chimney Rock and board president for the Stags Leap District Winegrowers. She points out one of the dominant reasons many Napa Valley wine fans to turn to Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap District: age-worthiness. But visits to tasting rooms rarely include an opportunity to sample older wines. “These are wines that can be cellared and enjoyed for several decades,” she says. “This special opportunity allows guests to experience this dimension of our treasured AVA at a deeper level.”
Cards will be made available via the association’s website, www.stagsleapdistrict.com, and can be used multiple times by the cardholders and up to three guests at the following wineries: Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos du Val, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Silverado Vineyards, Stags’ Leap Winery, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and Steltzner Vineyards.
Reservations are still required where applicable (note: the Napa Valley has been busy this summer season) and if the winery has a regular tasting fee, that will still apply.