Back Room Wines

Napa, California Wine Shop & Wine Bar

Owner Daniel Dawson started out in life to be a serious chef, flipping burgers while still in high school and moving up the kitchen ladder.

In 1989, after graduating from the Hospitality Management Program at the University of Nevada, he worked in restaurants as a Chef and Maitre d’.

Developing an interest in wine, Dawson eventually moved to Napa Valley and found work in a wine shop. In 1998 he became the first Sommelier at Yountville’s now-famous French Laundry. By 2002, feeling confident in his knowledge of wine, Dawson opened Back Room Wines. He moved to the current spacious location in 2008.

The Back Room Wine shop specializes in eclectic, small-production wines from Napa and elsewhere—and the in-house Wine Bar offers a great opportunity to increase your wine knowledge by sampling those wines in various ways.

For a small fee you can try the always-changing Featured Wine Flight, or you might prefer to purchase a featured half-bottle (or any bottle in the store) and enjoy it in the bar.

The popular—and frequent—special events offer themes such as Southern Rhône Wines, Summer Sparklers, Favorite Barbecue Reds, and Old World/New World Comparison Tasting. The bar nibbles are good, too.

Fascinating Fact:

Daniel Dawson recalls a 1992 Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc as one of the major “taste awakenings” in his life.

Amenities: Retail Shop, Wine Club, Wine/Cheese Pairings
Founded: 2002
Wine Tasting: No appointment needed
Hours: Mon-Sat, 10–7; Sunday, 12–7

Back Room Wines
1000 Main Street
Napa, CA 94559∑
877-322-2576

website: www.backroomwines.com

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Suzie Rodriguez writes about travel, food, and wine from her home in the wine-country town of Sonoma, California. You can follow her travels and musings at The Culinary Gadabout.

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