Champagne debut from Laurent-Perrier gets Incline Wine + Food’s garden party off to an effervescent start.
A garden-party atmosphere prevailed at the Lake Tahoe beachfront estate hosting Incline Wine + Food’s 2025 Grand Tasting. Part of a two-day early-September fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, the walk-around affair got off to an effervescent start with pours of Champagne Laurent-Perrier‘s just-released, first-ever Héritage Brut. Assembled from reserve wines of several 2010s vintages, the wine was fresh, complex, and fabulous.
Laurent-Perrier’s popular Cuvée Rosé paired well with tuna tartare cups from the talented team at Roundabout Catering of Reno, also responsible for several other winning small bites. Savoring the tartare in the beachside lounging area steps from the water, I was disinclined to exit my Adirondack chair, but the day’s other stars, Napa Valley Cabernets from a dozen-plus family-owned wineries, awaited.
A few highlights from my social media posts:
Classy and Magnificent
Checking in with winemaker Jim Duane of Seavey Vineyard and sampling his classy 2022 Merlot and magnificent 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Exuberant Cabernets
Chatting with IG pal Margaret Tench and husband Rem Reigersman of Tench Vineyards about their Oakville estate, her family’s California roots, and two exuberant 2023s, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Cabernet Franc.
Terroir Reflected
Marveling at how well the two luxurious 2023 Bure Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignons reflected the terroir of their vineyards, Beckstoffer To Kalon and the winery’s St. Helena estate. Husband and wife Valeri Bure, a former pro hockey player, and actress and TV personality Candace Cameron Bure launched their winery in 2006.
Vintage Variation
Pondering vintage variation in the 2017, 2020, and 2021 The Mascot Cabernets winery director Mollie Maisch poured. Also getting the skinny on the restoration of owner Bill Harlan’s Floating Taj Mahal in Sausalito.
Supple Cabernet
Sipping flinty Willamette Valley Chardonnay as a prelude to the supple 2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (100%) of Revana Vineyards.
Race-car Driver’s Wine
Hearing the backstories from Somnium Wine’s general manager, Tracy Smith, of the smoothly high-test 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon and proprietor, race-car driver, and serial entrepreneur Danica Patrick’s Burning Man social media posts.
Meticulous Winemaking
Being reminded of how meticulous the winemaking is at Vineyard 7 & 8. The Spring Mountain Chardonnay is always a treat, and the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, inching out of youth, was in a lovely place.
Cuvée Claire
Catching up with Cole Ballentine, assistant winemaker at William Cole Vineyards (his dad, William Ballentine, is the winemaker), whose 2009 Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon showed fruit and elegance. Great meeting Cole’s wife, Brooke.
Congratulating Katie
Congratulating Katie Leonardini of Whitehall Lane Winery on her 2018 Leonardini Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, grown near our favorite Harvest Inn (St. Helena) room.
Winery’s Renaissance
Sipping superb 2022 Cabernet Sauvignons with winemaker/GM/scion Matt Sherwin of Sherwin Family Vineyards and hearing about the Spring Mountain District winery’s renaissance following the 2020 Glass Fire (much damage).
New and Old
Reconnecting with Chris Morisoli, fifth-generation farmer at Morisoli Vineyard, whose 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (by Joel Aiken) was classic Rutherford. The Morisolis sell most of their grapes to other producers. At three decades old, the 1995 Elyse Winery Zinfandel remained vibrant.
Thanks, Daniel
Posing upon arrival with impresario Daniel Clark – thanks for the wine, food, and mesmerizing lake views.
More About Napa Valley
Daniel Mangin covers Lake Tahoe for Fodor’s California and Fodor’s Northern California (print/ebook), and Napa Valley wines for Fodor’s and other outlets.
Two-day event supports Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe.
Zipped up to North Tahoe the weekend after Labor Day to sip Napa Valley wines at Incline Wine + Food. Part of a two-day fundraiser held at a lakefront estate for the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, the event’s Grand Tasting garden party got off to an effervescent start with pours of Champagne Laurent-Perrier‘s just-released, first-ever Héritage Brut. Assembled from reserve wines of several 2010s vintages, the wine was fresh, complex, and fabulous.
Laurent-Perrier’s popular Cuvée Rosé paired well with tuna tartare cups from the talented team at Roundabout Catering of Reno, also responsible for several other winning small bites. Savoring the tartare in the beachside lounging area steps from the water, I was disinclined to exit my Adirondack chair, but wine tasting beckoned.
A few highlights from my social media posts:
Classy and Magnificent
Checking in with winemaker Jim Duane of Seavey Vineyard and sampling his classy 2022 Merlot and magnificent 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Young but Pretty
Chatting with IG pal Margaret Tench and husband Rem Reigersman of Tench Vineyards about their Oakville estate, her family’s California roots, and two exuberant 2023s, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Cabernet Franc.
Terroir Reflected
Marveling at how well the two luxurious 2023 Bure Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignons reflected the terroir of their vineyards, Beckstoffer To Kalon and the winery’s St. Helena estate. Husband and wife Valeri Bure, a former pro hockey player, and actress and TV personality Candace Cameron Bure launched their winery in 2006.
Vintage Variation
Pondering vintage variation in the 2017, 2020, and 2021 The Mascot Cabernets winery director Mollie Maisch poured. Also getting the skinny on the restoration of owner Bill Harlan’s Floating Taj Mahal in Sausalito.
Supple Cabernet
Sipping flinty Willamette Valley Chardonnay as a prelude to the supple 2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (100%) of Revana Vineyards.
Race-car Driver’s Wine
Hearing the backstories from GM Tracy Smith of Somnium Wine of the smoothly high-test 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon and proprietor, race-car driver, and serial entrepreneur Danica Patrick’s Burning Man social media posts.
Meticulous Winemaking
Being reminded of how meticulous the winemaking is at Vineyard 7 & 8. The Spring Mountain Chardonnay is always a treat, and the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, inching out of youth, was in a lovely place.
Cuvée Claire
Catching up with Cole Ballentine, assistant winemaker at William Cole Vineyards (his dad, William Ballentine, is the winemaker), whose 2009 Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon showed fruit and elegance. Great meeting Cole’s wife, Brooke.
Congratulating Katie
Congratulating Katie Leonardini of Whitehall Lane Winery on her 2018 Leonardini Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, grown near our favorite Harvest Inn (St. Helena) room.
Winery’s Renaissance
Sipping superb 2022 Cabernet Sauvignons with winemaker/GM/scion Matt Sherwin of Sherwin Family Vineyards and hearing about the Spring Mountain District winery’s renaissance following the 2020 Glass Fire (much damage).
New and Old
Reconnecting with Chris Morisoli, fifth-generation farmer at Morisoli Vineyard, whose 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (by Joel Aiken) was classic Rutherford. The Morisolis sell most of their grapes to other producers. At three decades old, the 1995 Elyse Winery Zinfandel remained vibrant.
Thanks, Daniel
Posing upon arrival with impresario Daniel Clark – thanks for the wine, food, and mesmerizing lake views.
More About Napa Valley
Daniel Mangin covers Lake Tahoe for Fodor’s California and Fodor’s Northern California (print/ebook), and Napa Valley wines for Fodor’s and other outlets.
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