Wine 101: Decanting Napa Valley Wine
By Clif Family Winemaker Laura Barrett Wine consumers often wonder if, and when, they should decant a wine. There are two main benefits to using a decanter – aeration, and decanting sediment. Aeration is most useful for young wines that need some extra air to open up. Oxygen can help a wine express its aromatics.…
The Story Behind the Wine: Clif Family Rosé
By Winemaker Laura Barrett In my first weeks as Winemaker at Clif Family Winery I got straight to work on finishing our very first vintage of Mendocino Rosé of Grenache. It was the 2014 vintage and 150 cases of very, very pale pink wine. It was fruity and delicious and sold out in just 3…
Wine 101: Red Wine vs White Wine
A wine grape is made up of many parts – the skin, the seeds, the pulp and the juice – all playing an important role in the winemaking process.
Cabernet Facts to Know Before You Visit Napa Valley
We’ve curated some quick tips to get you up to speed so you can hold your own in a conversation about Cabernet Sauvignon.
Fuel Up for Harvest in Napa Valley
Blog Post By Meg Barkley Harvest is a festive time in Napa Valley between early morning vineyard picks, long days crushing fruit and welcoming the many visitors who come to the valley to experience the fall colors and taste our Napa Valley wines. With grapes getting most of the focus, we have limited time to…
5 Things I Learned at Clif Family’s Valle di Sotto Vineyard
Blog Post By Brien O’Brien Friday August 5th, 2022 was a beautiful day in the Napa Valley. A high of 86 degrees and a slight breeze turned this into what some would call a “perfect day” in the valley. My day started out with a few meetings and connects at the office, but the afternoon…