The Best Of Both Worlds
Calistoga, Napa County, California USA
Wine Style: New World / Merlot
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 84 points
Article Written: July 2017
Article Updated: September 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Twomey Cellars Zomato rating:
Château or Vineyard Owner:
Duncan Family of Silver Oak
Winemaker:
Daniel Baron
Erin Miller
Twomey Cellars is owned by Silver Oak Cellars in Napa Valley. Their portfolio comprises vineyard-designated as well as appellation-driven wines, using grapes sourced from our eight estate family-owned vineyards in California. As of 2019, they will also be opening a pinot-driven vineyard and tasting room in the Willamette Valley of Dundee, Oregon. Their approach to winemaking is holistic, combining leading-edge wine-growing practices with traditional techniques and sensibilities.
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| Twomey Cellars / Silver Oak sister wines |
They embrace modern scientific methods which include mapping, planting, tracking, pruning, irrigating and tending to each block, each row, and each vine individually. In their cellars, they are constantly experimenting with innovative techniques and technologies that improve the quality of the wines. Sort of a best of both worlds.
Sustainability includes saving water, conserving energy, protecting the environment and promoting healthy vineyards. They follow modern IPM (Integrated Pest Management) protocols which partial use pesticides, to keep phylloxera in check but making it to where they attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, spiders, bees, and butterflies. They place nesting boxes in the vineyards for bluebirds and owls, which help keep unwanted insects and rodents at bay. They combine this philosophy, experience, and a sense of curiosity to craft their Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.
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| Twomey Cellars / Wine Tasting |
The nine-acre West Pin vineyard in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley is where they produce the pinot noir as they have a 50-year land lease. The Anderson Valley AVA is carved into the West side of Mendocino County, where along the hillside slopes can reach up to 2000 feet on either side. Then down to the coastal area, which receives double the rainfall that Sonoma County typically experiences in a year, and its low-fertility soils produce grapes known for an intense yet delicate flavor profile.
After touring the Silver Oak Cellars location and having a wine tasting, I was introduced to Twomey through them, and order some wine for tasting a few months later. Of the different choices, I preferred the Merlot and the sauvignon blanc more than I did their pinot. They are at a cheaper price point than Silver Oak, and given a little more time will join the big leagues to provide an excellent quality wine.
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| Twomey Cellars / Sonoma Vineyard |
Wine and Grape:
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Nose (Bouquet):
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Palate Experience:
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Sauvignon Blanc
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Winemaker Notes:
Light straw color with green highlights. It has an enticing nose of guava, honeydew melon, pineapple, custard apple, wet slate, and lime zest
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Winemaker Notes:
On the palate, it has a fruit-sweet attack and a shy mid-palate that retains crispness due to perfect acid balance. The finish is long and focused, redolent of ripe tropical fruit balanced by citrus freshness.
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Merlot
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Winemaker Notes:
It has a garnet color with purple edges and an enticing nose of perfectly ripe, fresh black cherries, violets, nutmeg, and dark chocolate.
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Winemaker Notes:
A rich black-fruit character and extraordinary complexity. It has a bright attack and a satiny mouth-feel. The fresh cherry fruit returns on the palate and the wine are full-bodied without being cloying. The finish is vibrant with notes of dark chocolate and enough tannic grip to ensure good cellaring.
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Final notes, review basics, and observations:
*** NOTE TO THE READER ***
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
I refer to myself as an oenophile though, oenophilia is defined as “a disciplined devotion to wine, accompanying strict traditions of consumption and appreciation.” In a general sense, oenophilia also refers to the enjoyment of wine, often by a layman — which I am, and not qualified as a professional. I just enjoy drinking it, so my rating is based on enjoyment and the overall experience, not the science of an expert, and thus subjective, not objective. See the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ on how I arrived at the rating percentage below:
Overall Star Rating For Twomey Cellars:
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84/100:
Exceeded my Expectations in a Tasting Experience
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Wines Produced by Twomey Cellars:
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Red: Merlot, Pinot Noir
White: Sauvignon Blanc
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Grape Blends:
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Red:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, & Cabernet Franc
White:
Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon or Muscadelle du Bordelais
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Barrel Types and Aging:
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New French oak, for 24 months
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Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Sub-Mendocino AVA’s:
Other California wines, wineries (Château’s), or food articles on Wine Dine and Play:
Napa - A Sip and Taste in Wine County A 3-day tour of wineries and fine dining restaurants in Napa County, California
Blackbird Vineyards Wine Tasting An ultra-premium terroir in Napa, California
Castello di Amorosa Tuscan inspired castle with wine — friends of the Baron - Calistoga, Napa, California
Chateau Montelena The famed Bottle Shock “Judgement of Paris” winner in Calistoga, California
Crocker and Star Wine Tasting Capturing the essence of Cabernet in St Helena, California
Emmolo Wine Tasting A merlot comparable to no other in Rutherford, California
Flying Horse Wine Tasting A spirited winery with Arabian horses in Oakville, California
Gustavo Winery Artisan winemaker whose story is tied to “The Judgement of Paris” in Napa, California
Hoopes Winery Tasting Cult cabernet winemaker with Liparita and Hoopes labels in Oakville, California
Jonata Winery Tasting Screaming Eagles sister winery, El Desafio cab, in Santa Barbara, California
Kamen Estates Low yield, high quality + film writing in Sonoma, California
Ma(i)sonry Wine Tasting An aesthetic portfolio of wines in Yountville, California
Mirror Wine Tasting A beautiful Cabernet from a family of entrepreneurs in St Helena, California
Ottimino Winery Exclusive red Zinfandel producer partnered with William Knuttel in Sonoma, California
Row 11 Santa Maria Pinot An Old World style Pinot from Santa Maria, California
Row 11 Tasting Pinot grapes using Dijon clones in Santa Maria, California
Silver Oak Cellars Near the Silverado Trail, known for high-end Cabernet in Oakville, California
Volker Eisele Wine Tasting An elegant family estate in the Chiles Valley district of St Helena, California
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine (integrating disparate cooking styles and ingredients) and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients. The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation. Foods low in saturated fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits with lean meats and seafood from the California coast often define the style.
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse Chain (180+) for pub grub and brewed beer; reviewed in Pinellas Park, Florida
Casita Taqueria a fast-casual taqueria serving homemade artisan Mexican food specializing especially in tacos and burritos in St. Petersburg, Florida
Ciccio Cali inspired cuisine from California using antibiotic-free meats, organic and Non-GMO vegetables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Cowgirl Creamery Artisan Cheese Shop “aka” Cowgirl Cantina in Point Reyes Station, California
FarmTable Cucina organic, sustainable, and local with a focus on Italian and New American themes in St. Petersburg, Florida
FarmTable Kitchen Casual Cal-Italian cuisine and chef tables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
Gaia Restaurant Organic and sustainable concept in American Canyon, California (Renamed Table 29 Bistro and Bar)
Greystone CIA Restaurant CIA School restaurant formally called Wine Spectator now GateHouse in Calistoga, California
The French Laundry French-American fine dining restaurant in Yountville, California
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine and fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few New World Favorites:
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, United States (California, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State,Virginia),Thailand, and Uruguay.
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Yearly tasting event at Hyde Park
Sydney, Australia
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Wine and food tour
Cape Town, South Africa
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A tour of food and wine from a 2015 tour in Oregon wine country
Dundee, Willamette, Oregon
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Some Old World Favorites:
Old World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. These countries include Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey.
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Wine tours and restaurants
Bordeaux, France
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A tasting of the Vougeot AOC, caves, and the Hospices de Beaune
Burgundy, France
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Sancerre wines
Loire Valley, France
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Bottle Prices
(excluding taxes)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major wine countries and connoisseur’s**
Currency rates in the top wine-producing & wine purchasing countries:
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Price Chart :
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2008-2017 (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Australian Dollar (AUS)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
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$$
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South African Rand (ZAR)
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RRRRR
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Twomey Cellars:
Napa Vineyards for Merlot:
1183 Dunaweal Ln
Calistoga, CA 94515
Sonoma Vineyards for Pinot Noir:
3000 Westside Rd,
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Tasting Room Information:
Website:
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Tasting room:
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+1 707-942-2489
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Emails:
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Tasting Room Hours:
Pacific Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC-8:00)
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Monday - Sunday:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for
Twomey Cellars:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Refined and elegant creole fare since 1880
New Orlean’s, Louisiana, USA
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Old-world classic Italian & Mediterranean
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA
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Country-style local ingredients w/French flair
Constantia, South Africa
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Other Twomey Cellars Pictures:
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| Twomey Cellars / Vineyard Map |
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| Twomey Cellars / Sister logo |
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.”
- David Auerbach
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
