A Gourmet Experience Guests at Cliff Lede Vineyards can choose a variety of settings to taste the unique wines paired with gourmet cheeses and charcuterie.

A Gourmet Experience

Cliff Lede Vineyards
Yountville, California

When Canadian businessman Cliff Lede (LAY-dee) first happened upon the site of his future 60-acre vineyard in the northern part of the Stags Leap District in 2002, he was delighted to find some of his favorite Bordeaux vines already planted. Gazing at the rows of hearty Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, he saw his opportunity to take Bordeaux varietals to a whole new level.

Cliff formed a seasoned winemaking team, consisting of Vineyard Manager David Abreu, Winemaker Michelle Edwards, and Winemaking Consultant Michel Rolland. By the 2005 harvest, a new state-of-the-art winery was in working order, complete with an expanded 25,000 square feet of caves, three-stage hand-sorting system, and unique truncated tanks designed to create a higher skin-to-juice ratio for deeper color and greater concentration.

Drawing on grapes from estate vineyards named after rock-'n- roll songs rather than letters or numbers, the winery offers two wine brands. The Cliff Lede brand highlights Bordeaux varietal wines from its Stags Leap District estate, while the grapes for the Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon hail from the steep terraces of its Stags Leap District acreage.

The vineyards are located off the beaten path, offering visitors a respite complete with splendid views. Visitors are welcome to taste without an appointment, but those who call ahead can relax and sample each wine paired with a type of cheese or charcuterie, carefully selected by the resident chef. For those who want to stay longer, Poetry Inn, the only public accommodations in the Stags Leap District, is located on the property. The quiet inn provides three rooms for nightly rental. Each room boasts a wood-burning fireplace, fine Italian linens, and a private terrace. Guests have the privilege of choosing rare wines from the inn's private cellar, which, not surprisingly, focuses on Bordeaux wines and rare Napa Cabs. Recently, Cliff Lede Vineyards received high praise from leading U.S. wine critic Robert Parker who wrote, "Readers looking for a future superstar from Napa need look no further." With kudos like this, sunglasses may be in order for Cliff and his team.

What To Buy:
ང Sauvignon Blanc Napa ValleyCitrus, honeysuckle, guava, desert wildflowers, dry land honey $22
ག Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags LeapExotic spices, sweet marjoram, cardamom, star jasmine, persimmon $60
ག Moon Sympathy, Stags LeapBlueberries, tart cherry, fresh lavender, bounty of fruit, plum, perfume, cocoa $90
ག Poetry, Stags LeapBlack licorice, blueberry pie, kirsch, sandalwood, nutmeg, dark ripe cherry, cassis $150

Contact:
707.944.8642; Fax: 707.944.8020
cliffledevineyards.com
1473 Yountville Cross Rd
Yountville, CA 94599
Tasting Room Open Daily 10-4

Getting There:
From Hwy 29, exit at Madison St. Turn right. At dead end, turn left onto Yount St and immediately turn right onto Yountville Cross Rd (1 � miles).

Editor's Pick

Side Hustle

Anyone Can Start a Passive Income Side Hustle For Easy Money — But Only If You Know These 5 Essential Tips First.

The rise of digital automation technology has made starting a passive income side hustle easier and more accessible than ever before.

Growing a Business

Grief, Death and Entrepreneurship — 6 Useful Ways to Manage Loss While Growing A Business

Grief is inevitable. Everyone has or will experience grief in life, business and relationships and everyone grieves differently.

Side Hustle

He Launched His Creative Side Hustle Out of a Garage. Now It's Worth $225 Million.

Tom Humble, CXO and founder of E.C.D. Automotive Design, followed his passion for custom auto design into big business.

Growing a Business

Transform Your Sales Team and Generate a Steady Stream of Revenue Using This Proven Framework

Building a reliable sales machine is vital to win in a complex business environment. Here are some tips on how to do it successfully.

Business News

This Company Promised to Transform Drive-Thrus With AI — But the Secret Powering Its Tech? Humans.

Presto Automation Inc., one of several major players in AI-ordering tech, has made headlines for using off-site employees in places like the Phillippines.

Marketing

Don't Just Babble on LinkedIn — You Need to Carve Out Your Own Niche. Here's Why.

To ultimately unlock the full potential of your LinkedIn experience, you need to establish yourself as a thought leader in a specific niche. This is why (and how).