A Rifugio in Wine Country
Blog Post By Meg Barkley
As you cruise back and forth on Napa Valley’s Highway 29 during your Wine Country sojourn, do you often find yourself breezing past a winery, restaurant or shop and think, “I need to stop there, maybe next time?”
We encourage you to make that next time now. Our doors are open, and we invite you to Clif Family.
Our Tasting Room experience on Main Street in downtown St. Helena is based on the infamous hospitality found at Rifugios of the Italian Alps. Rifugios or “places of refuge” are havens that welcome hikers, cyclists, motor bikers and all types of wanderers as they traverse through the Alps on their adventures. These “mountain huts” can be modest with just running water and shelter from the elements. Yet many Rifugios have restaurants with a community table, coffee, a warm fire and staff eager to help you map out your next destination. Imagine a rustic cottage with a wrap-around porch and scenic views of the mountainside, filled with tables of hungry visitors enjoying local delectable dishes while enjoying a glass of red wine and sharing their travel stories.
During Kit and Gary’s travels through the Dolomites they encountered the rifugio hospitality, and the idea was born to recreate this experience in the Napa Valley.
In 2011, we opened the Clif Family Tasing Room’s doors to our friends, family, community and visitors.
During a typical day at Clif Family, you’ll encounter all kinds of adventures at our Tasting Room. Locals meeting friends for lunch and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc on the piazza, road cyclists stopping during their ride to fill their water bottles and grab a Clif Bar, or Wine Club Members tasting through our latest Cabernet Sauvignon releases on the patio.
We offer Wine and Food tasting flights by appointment, wines by the glass, hand crafted espresso drinks and seasonal Farm to Table eats from our Food Truck. One of our favorite activities to share is our Tour de St. Helena cycling package. A bike is waiting for you upon arrival, with a suggested bike route, a coffee, and a Clif Bar. After your cruise through quiet vineyard lanes, we welcome you back to the table for a wine and bruschetta tasting.
Our Tasting Room bar usually always has a seat available. We welcome you to come in, join us for a shot of espresso or a glass of wine and enjoy our Clif Family hospitality.
Saluti!