Enjoying Artesa and Farm at Carneros

I kicked off my Napa series with an article about my visit to Yao Family Wines. That was followed by an article about Kieu Hoang Winery. Today, the focus is on our visit to Artesa, one of my favorite Napa wineries, followed by our light dinner at FARM at Carneros, a lovely restaurant with a delightful outdoor patio.

Why I Love Artesa Winery

Artesa has been one of my favorite Napa wineries for many years. Here are just a few of the reasons I love this winery:

• The view is stunning – Their website says it beautifully: “Set high into a verdant hilltop with panoramic views of Napa Valley, the San Pablo Bay and its own lush expanse of estate vineyards.”
• The tasting room is beautiful – Truth be told, I used to like it even more when they devoted a lot of space to art. They recently remodeled and now devote much less space to art. But it’s still a beautiful room, with both indoor and outdoor seating.
• The winery is owned by Spaniards – “Owned by the Raventós family of Spain, whose winemaking history dates to the mid-sixteenth century, the winery derives its name from the Catalan word for ‘handcrafted.’”
• The wines are delicious – Since they’re in the Carneros region, they focus on the Burgundian wines, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But because of their Spanish heritage, they also do one of the best Albarinos I’ve ever tasted. Every time I’m there, I buy a bottle.

Artesa’s Winemaker

Perhaps one of the reasons I especially like Artesa is that its winemaker, Ana Diogo Draper, is a woman. Ana was born and raised in Portugal, and moved to California in 2005. She joined Artesa in 2013 and has been their Director of Winemaking since 2015.

According to their website, “She credits her professional success to a passion for agriculture and winemaking, nurtured from a young age in Portugal when she first planted vines with family and neighbors immersed in the European tradition of wine appreciation… ‘For me, the calling came once I took my first winemaking class. I enjoy the creative aspect of winemaking – blending is a true alchemy and it has been a thrill to discover what kind of styles and approaches I most enjoy.’”

Artesa Is Green!

Three cheers to Artesa, whose winemaking philosophy is based on responsible management of land use for future generations. Their estate vineyards are Napa Green Land Certified by the Napa Valley Vintners Association and the grapes are farmed and harvested by hand.

About FARM at Carneros

After three fantastic wineries, we wondered if we would be able to find a food establishment that kept up with our great day. Farm at Carneros was the answer. It is the restaurant associated with Carneros Resort and Spa, and it doesn’t disappoint.

We ate outside on their patio where we thoroughly enjoyed “simple, elegant food based on the natural abundance of the Wine Country.” Our favorite dish was their Ahi Tuna Sashimi, which featured crushed fava beans, black garlic, shaved garden turnips and onion ash. YUM!

Our only sadness at FARM was that we weren’t able to enjoy any of their cocktails or wines, having done enough imbibing already.

If you have the chance, please check out Artesa Winery and FARM at Carneros.

Cheers!

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