August Briggs Wines

A Napa Valley Winery on the Silverado Trail

August “Joe” Briggs worked for years as a winemaker and consultant for other wineries, dreaming all the while of having his own winery.

Finally, in 1995, he took the step.

At first he leased space, but in 2002 Briggs and his wife Sally bought land on the Silverado Trail and built a state-of-the-art winemaking facility.

The winery searches out the best possible appellations for its wines, ultimately sourcing the finest possible grapes from selected vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Lake counties.

The tasting room is on the small side, but it’s bright, sunny, and—with windows overlooking the barrel room—has lots of atmosphere. It also has a firm reputation for the knowledgeable and friendly people who do the pouring.

The facilities are newly-built and technologically modern, but the 8000-square-foot building was designed to resemble a typical California barn from the early 20th century. Made of whitewashed redwood, it looks as if it’s always been there.

Fascinating Fact:

Well-known NASCAR Driver Jeff Gordon has his private-label wine (the Jeff Gordon Collection) made at August Briggs and occasionally drops by the winery.

Amenities: Wine Club (includes invitations to members-only special events throughout the year)
Founded: 1995
Signature Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Zinfandel
Wine Tasting: Basic, no appointment needed (Groups of 5 or more: by appointment)
Hours: Daily, 10:30-4:30

August Briggs Wines
333 Silverado Trail
Calistoga, CA 94515
707-942-4912

email: info@augustbriggswines.com
website: www.augustbriggswines.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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