Napa Valley Wine Scene Expands with New Tasting Rooms

Napa Valley, a renowned wine region, has recently seen the opening of several new tasting rooms, particularly in downtown Napa. Among these new establishments are Gentleman Farmer, Bella Union Winery, and Simon Family Estate.

Gentleman Farmer, located at 1564 1st St., Napa, is the brainchild of vintners Joe Wolosz and Jeff Durham. The duo, who started their label in 2005, have transformed an old law office into a unique tasting room, where they personally serve multicourse meals inspired by family recipes. The space also encourages guests to express their creativity through music and art.

Bella Union Winery, situated at 1695 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, opened its winery and tasting room in Rutherford in September. The winery, which is part of the Far Niente Wine Estates portfolio, offers guests a French modern design with Napa Cabernet vineyards as the backdrop. The winery features an outdoor patio, an indoor space named the Wren, and the Atrium, which boasts spacious banquet seating and installations from local artists.

Simon Family Estate, located at 1040 Main St., Suite 303, Napa, is a partnership between vintner Sam Simon and winemaker Maayan Koschitzky. The duo recently moved tastings to a salon in downtown Napa, transforming an early 1900s building into a luxury wine-tasting experience.

In other news, NBA star Donovan Mitchell has ventured into the wine industry with The Prisoner Wine Company in Napa Valley. Mitchell, who only started discovering wine a few years ago, spent a day learning about branding, blending, and pairing wine with food. The NBA star's final blend, unofficially named "The Spida Blend," consists of 60 percent Syrah, 30 percent Zinfandel, and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, all from the 2023 vintage. To commemorate the experience, Mitchell and The Prisoner will donate $25,000 to the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison.