Hagafen Cellars

Napa Valley Kosher wine producer on the Silverado Trail

Prepare to be stunned by the number of international and U.S. competition medals hanging in the tasting room here. This small, artisanal, family-owned wine producer has won countless awards for its wines, which have been served regularly at the White House for State Dinners since Ronald Reagan was President. The influential magazine Wine Spectator has called Hagafen’s Cabernet Sauvignon "one of the top fifteen Cabernets produced in this country."

The Weir family harvested their first commercial vintage in 1980, ultimately releasing 300 bottles. Today Hagafen has 21 Napa Valley acres under cultivation, producing about 8,000 cases per year.

These prize-winning wines are Kosher, produced according to Jewish dietary laws. However, unlike most Kosher wines, Hagafen has found a way to circumvent the traditional practice of “boiling” the wine (instead, they use a flash pasteurization technique).

Winemaker/Grower Ernie Weir interferes with the natural process of winemaking as little as possible, utilizing tried-and-true “Old Napa” techniques like superb and hand-selected fruit, small lot bottlings, a respect for lineage, and environmentally friendly viticulture practices.

The tasting room, open since 2002, is small and the staff is low-key.

Fascinating Fact:

Framed menus from decades of White House dinners featuring Hagafen wines hang on the tasting room walls.

Amenities: Tours, by appointment. Wine Club. Picnic Tables. Art exhibits.
Founded: 1979
Signature Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Tasting: Basic, no appointment necessary. Groups, please call ahead. Free tasting coupon available on website
Hours: Daily, 11-4

Hagafen Cellars
4160 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA 94558
707-252-0781

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