I grew up near Napa Valley in California, and I’ve bopped around the wineries and vineyards there alongside my parents for as long as I can remember. Seeing the magic of winemaking, the blending of art and science, and the lifestyle of a glass of wine among friends inspired me to become a wine writer. I still love visiting today.
But here’s the kicker: I’ve never been an outspoken proponent of the wines. In fact, I rarely want to open a bottle.
This may sound blasphemous, but many Napa wines don’t appeal to me. I often found the wines to be too bold, too oaky, too tannic, too much of everything — all the reasons you often hear from someone with negative opinions about Napa Valley wine…