On the Napa wine trail: Tasting with the Frank Family

Once a single-bar tasting room, offices, and shipping area, Frank Family’s sentimentally regarded “double-wide trailer” attraction is no longer used.  But their new fully-equipped tasting facility is still just as fun and friendly.  And now, there are more wines to pick from and even sparkling wines for those in love with the bubbly.

Frank Family Vineyards is located just north of St. Helena, Calif., making it an easy jaunt over from town.  Neatly integrated into the surrounding countryside, it’s the perfect place to end the day and just chill.

They never rush the tastings and the discussion at any of the tasting bars can range from wine to just about anything else.  There are even a few long-time staffers who will reminisce about the “old operation” and provide interesting insight into what is happening in the Napa Valley today.  If you do get to meet some of the people who mange the winery, be sure to ask plenty of questions.  Their perspective on wine can be truly unique.

But the best thing is tasting the wine.  There are a lot of them to cover, bubbly, whites, and an excellent selection of reds.  It all makes for a fairly wide spectrum of flavors, so be ready to expand your taste buds.

Their first Chardonnay is traditionally California.  They simply describe it as Crème Brulee and nice oak.  Even though many wineries are going away from this style of Chardonnay, we’re glad Frank Family has continued to maintain this California classic approach as a selection in their lineup.

Don’t forget the bubbly.  It comes from a background that dates back to the days of the Hans Cornell Sparkling Wine Cellars and before.  They have managed to carry on this tradition with variety of sparklers that are the perfect start to a tasting flight.  Not many other wineries offer such a full range of tastes ranging from sparkling wine to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Their other offerings include Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, a newly-added Petite Sirah, and several levels of Cabernet.  In fact, if you really need to keep track of the experience, you may want to jot down a few tasting notes by the time they start pouring the reds.  Things can get a little indefinite in the late afternoon.

After picking some favorites, you’ll discover why visiting this particular winery toward the end of the day is a good thing.  Afterward, it is just better to go back to the ‘ol B&B and relax.

Later, find a good spot in the cellar for your goodies because they will only get better as time goes on.  Enjoy, and you’ll soon discover why FF has so many repeat customers.

Article by Tom Peiffer, Phoenix Wine Shopping Examiner at Examiner.com

View more of Tom’s articles on Examiner.com by visiting his writer’s page.