Bella Oaks Vineyards
Very exciting celebration today at the trendy The Modern restaurant as Bella Oaks Vineyard in Rutherford celebrated its 50th anniversary.
To mark the occasion owner Suzanne Deal Booth came to New York with winemaker Nigel Kinsman to present fifteen wines with Bella Oaks fruit to top wine journalists. The vintages ranged from 1976 to 2021,
Best known for producing one of Heitz Cellar’s most revered Cabernet Sauvignons, this historic site and its owners played a significant role in fortifying Napa Valley’s Cabernet revolution and renowned hospitality culture. 6
Bella Oaks Tasted at The Modern in NYC
While journalists sipped, tasted, and took notes, both Nigel Kinsman and Suzanne Deal Booth spoke about the origins of the history of the vineyard.
First, its stellar location is between the expanse of the valley floor and the imposing heights of the Mayacamas Mountains. Then its historic aspect, as the vineyard’s wine-growing legacy dates back to the mid-19th century, Bella Oaks was at the forefront of Napa Valley’s earliest and most legendary single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
After acquiring the winery in 2010, Ms. Booth brought on some of Napa’s most celebrated names in winemaking and viticulture, including Nigel Kinsman, David Abreu, and Michel Rolland.
The vineyard is now certified organic, has an estate bottling for the first time, and a forthcoming winery will complete its transformation into a hub of wine, food, art, and culture.
Bella Oaks Wine Food Culture
The 1976 vintage, a clear favorite, was as fresh as the day it was bottled with vibrant acidity and concentrated fruit. This wine, and the wines until 1998, were made by Joe Heitz. A change occurred in 1999, when David Heitz took over the winemaking. Then, in 2012, Winemaker Fredrik Johanson took over as winemaker to produce “Booth Bella Oaks” Cabernet Sauvignon, Staglin Family Vineyard””
As Nigel mentioned during the presentation, there was a continuity of flavor, structure, and quality across all the wines from the different winemakers that spoke of the terroir and transcended the winemaker’s art.
It was an exciting event and will look forward to visiting the estate for its wine and the forthcoming hospitality center.
