Cliff Lede’s love of rock music is evident to all who visit his Napa Valley Stag’s Leap District winery. The Canadian-born vintner shares his appreciation of the classics via the tasting room sound track, the art on the walls, and even on his wine labels, where various subtle nods to the recording industry can be detected. Here, sophisticated and refined varietals are juxtaposed with an edgy, rock ‘n’ roll vibe. Whether The Who and The Rolling Stones find a place within your Spotify playlists or not, a Cliff Lede wine tasting experience is not to be missed. Here are four reasons why:
The Rock Blocks. It is the rare individual who cannot find at least one song title he/she knows within the Cliff Lede ‘Rock Blocks,’ vineyard parcels named for Lede’s favorite songs and albums. Standard vineyard blocks are typically mapped out with a straight-forward A, B, C or 1, 2, 3 system, but Lede tags each block in his Twin Peaks and Poetry vineyards with names such as ‘My Generation’ and ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’ The winemaking team joins the fun by annually crafting a small-lot ‘mash up’ bottling of two or more blocks such ‘Cinnamon Stardust,’ ‘Lonely Wizard,’ and ‘Landslide Fire.’
Rock Block Spotify Playlist. Cliff’s son Jason, who serves as the winery’s hospitality manger, maintains a Spotify playlist featuring the songs and albums for which each Rock Block is named. That playlist serves as the winery’s background music.
Backstage Tasting Lounge. Part tasting room, part rock ‘n’ roll museum, this on-site venue features rotating exhibits by some of music’s biggest names. A gem for music lovers and art enthusiasts alike, the walls are lined with artwork available for purchase by Bernie Taupin, Grace Slick, and Jerry Garcia, to name a few. Gain entry by booking an exclusive tasting experience that includes the opportunity to sample limited-production and library wines from Cliff Lede Vineyards and FEL Wines.
The Subtle Rock ‘n’ Roll Nods. From red blend ‘High Fidelity’ and its spindle adapter logo, to the Rock Block Series ‘Dancing Heart’ and its tagline, ‘These go to eleven,’ such subtle nods are Lede’s ‘wink’ to those in the know.
Pictures courtesy of Cliff Lede Vineyards
Pictures courtesy of Cliff Lede Vineyards