In an effort to visit all
600 wineries(400 and counting), our travels took us to Gargiulo Vineyards. The
winery is owned by Jeff and Valerie Gargiulo and daughter April. They
purchased their first vineyard Money Road Ranch in 1992 then added 575 OVX 7 years later. Located in the famous appellation of Oakville next to the Screaming
Eagle property, some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon wine has been produced for
over 100 years. Rich soil, sun drenched summers and cool fall weather is a
perfect combination to create this world class wine.
Winemaker Kristof Anderson
has been making great wine here for many years. His gentle and patient approach
to winemaking results in exceptional wines from the two Oakville
estate vineyards, Our host was Garett
who has been with the winery for 5 years and bubbles with enthusiasm sharing
his vast knowledge on these great wines. The tasting room is very unique with a
wooden floor from the local high school gymnasium and 4 guitars displayed
reflecting the owners passion for music.
We began our tasting with
the 2017 GV Wood Ranch Chardonnay that was refined and very refreshing. The next tastings were from the
Money Road Ranch Vineyard. First, was a 2015 100% Merlot that was described as
a Cabernet in silk pajamas that was deep and rich yet soft and complex. Next we
enjoyed the 2015 Money Road Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a clear expression
of the famous Oakville terroir. Garett described this wine as being like a “2
month old Black Labrador puppy that will grow to be big and beautiful.” We
enjoyed it so much that we took 2 bottles home with us. Both of these wines
were perfectly paired with Piave cheese and Creminelli Salami.
From the 575 OVX Vineyard
we tasted the OVX G Major 7 Cabernet Sauvignon. The name represents a 4 note
cord and blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petite Verdot
and 2% Merlot. The wine strikes an optimal balance between power and grace from
this mineral rich soil.
We were not able to taste
the 2015 Aprile Super Oakville Red as a result of it being sold out, however
this ode to the great Sangiovese wines of Brunello di Montalcino was available
to purchase in large formats. We took a 1.5 liter bottle home with us and look
forward to a special occasion to share with friends.
For lunch, we enjoyed
nearby Brix which has been voted as one of the top view restaurants in the
United States. We enjoyed an outside table overlooking their beautiful gardens,
vineyard and heavenly vistas. All of the
food was great. We especially enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich. It was a
generous proportion and we would recommend splitting it,
For more information and
to make an appointment go to: http://www.gargiulovineyards.
