Sequoia Grove Winery marries the best of wine and food with incredible tasting experiences.
Photo by David Collier.
Known for its majestic coastal redwood trees—and its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends—Sequoia Grove Winery offers the best of both worlds in wine and food, all combined with Michelin-level hospitality. For starters, winemaker Molly Hill crafts each wine, especially the top-tier Cabernet Sauvignon, with an awareness of how each wine might someday be enjoyed with a meal. Then, the winery’s Chef, Britny Maureze, teases apart nuances of flavor and aroma in each of the finished wines to develop a seasonally changing menu for the winery’s signature Terroir Tasting.
Photo by Bryan Gray.
At the heart of Sequoia Grove Winery are two estate vineyards, the original 24-acre Sequoia Grove estate and the 50-acre Tonella Vineyard. The winery also recently purchased 21.5 acres in the Yountville AVA, of which 15.5 acres are currently under vine. Sequoia Grove is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and other Old-World varietals.
When making Sequoia Grove’s wines, Hill focuses on striking a balance of fruit, oak, tannin and acid. “Great wines that are made in a balanced, thoughtful way, will also pair well with food that is made in a balanced, thoughtful way,” she says.
Photo by David Collier.
Meanwhile, the goal of Sequoia Grove Winery’s wine pairing program is to educate guests on how pairings work by making the experience interactive. “Giving them the keys to understanding the pairing process will hopefully empower them to go home and challenge themselves,” Maureze says.
On the Summer menu, Maureze selected grilled swordfish with mole rojo, prickly pear glaze and lime brown butter to go with a vineyard-designate Cabernet Sauvignon. Other outside-the-box red wine pairings have included vegetable tartine, salmon ramen, squid-ink gnocchi with shrimp and calamari, and duck four ways.
Photo by David Collier.
Currently, Sequoia Grove Winery offers two tasting experiences: the Terroir Tasting and Patio Tastings. The Terroir Tasting is an immersive four-course pairing, focusing on the winery’s top-tier Cabernets. The Patio Tasting options include a Current Release Wine Tasting, a Single-Vineyard Wine Tasting or a Cambium Vertical Tasting. Patio pairing bites can be added for an additional fee. 8338 St Helena Hwy., Rutherford, 707.339.5757, sequoiagrove.com/indulge
Photography by: David Collier, Bryan Gray
