Disclosure: I was invited out to Sequoia Grove Winery in Napa Valley to experience, A Taste of Cabernet, all opinions are my own.
I have to say I’ve experienced many Wine Tastings in my life. Every single one I walk away learning something new, but now and again, you experience a Tasting that is unlike any others. This was exactly the case at Sequoia Grove Winery with the “Taste of Cabernet” tasting.
Entrance to Sequoia Grove Winery
As I sat in a room filled with wine enthusiasts from all walks of life, I could tell how the Wine Educator, Dean Busquaert, grabbed our attention, but taught EVERY one of us something new especially when it came to realms of Food and Wine in relation to Cabernet.
As a serious wine lover for the past 3 years, I’ve devoted a lot of time to learning about wine. Trying different varietals, but I still have a TON to learn especially when it comes to the different varietals. Cabernets were always one of my favorite RED go-tos, but how much did I really know about this Varietal. Dean walked us through the different areas of the Cabernets we were tasting through maps, photos, and soil samples so we’d have a better understanding as to what we were tasting.
During “A Taste of Cabernet,” our Wine Educator took us through 5 different Cabernets made all around the Napa Valley, in different terroirs and conditions, at Sequoia Grove Winery. As we went through the tasting, some Cabernets really stood out for me (Morisoli Vineyard) while others were good, but weren’t always my favorite (Healy Vineyard.) This private, small group experience is completely worth partaking in.
BUT where I learned the most was when our wine education, Dean, took us on an absolute journey of Food and Wine pairings with Cabernets. Exploring the taste bud regions of Bitter, Sweet, Salty, and more!
As a plate filled with Apple, Lemon and cheeses sat in front of me, we walked through the Cabernets, and HOW these flavors affected our palette. The one thing I walked away learning that I didn’t realize BEFORE was that anything sweet SHOULD NOT be your pairing choice for Cabernets especially when it comes to Chocolate. BUT, think about Barbeque, that Sweet Sauce you slab on your Ribs just MIGHT not be the right choice for Cabernets.
This was a TASTING experience that truly left an impression, and afterwards, couldn’t wait to practice at home food and wine pairings with some of my favorite Cabernets.
A Taste for Cabernet:
Reservations are required for this tasting, and can be made by contacting Dean Busquaert at 707-494-0905 or [email protected]
Maximum Group Size is limited to 14 guests to ensure individualized attention.
The cost is $50 dollars per person, and the fee is waived for those who join the Sequoia Grove wine club or purchase six or more bottles of wine. (It’s TRULY worth EVERY penny!)
About Sequoia Grove Winery:
Sequoia Grove Winery sits on 22 acres of some of the most sought after vineyard land in the world. The combination of warm sunshine, mineral-rich alluvial soil and cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean create the ideal location for producing beautifully balanced and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Sequoia Grove is a family-owned winery founded in 1979 in a 110-year old barn beneath a grove of Sequoia trees in Rutherford, Napa Valley. It is here where we’ve honed our craft of creating world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and other Napa Valley wines that emphasize elegance, finesse, structure and balance. ~SequoiaGrove.Com
