Sip + Snacks Spotlight: December

This month, we journey through Napa Valley's dynamic culinary and wine landscape, from a sophisticated new dining destination to one of the region's most respected wineries. Join us as we explore Truss Restaurant + Bar's refined take on wine country cuisine, discover the enduring legacy of Corison Winery under the stewardship of legendary winemaker Cathy Corison and her daughter Grace, and savor the perfection of the 1989 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon – a wine that helped define Napa Valley's potential for elegance and longevity.

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Restaurant Spotlight - Truss

Nestled in the heart of Calistoga at the Four Seasons Napa Valley, Truss Restaurant + Bar has quickly established itself as a cherished destination for both visitors and locals alike. With its stunning views of the Palisades Mountains and surrounding vineyards, this sophisticated dining venue combines casual elegance with exceptional culinary craftsmanship.

Executive Chef Rogelio Garcia and Sommelier Derek Stevenson lead a talented team in creating an experience that celebrates both refined technique and approachable comfort. The restaurant's design, masterfully executed by EDG, creates an inviting atmosphere with its indoor-outdoor flow, strategically placed fire pits, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that frame the breathtaking Napa Valley landscape.

Truss offers an all-day dining experience that begins with breakfast at 6:30 am. Early risers can enjoy sophisticated takes on morning classics, from blue corn chilaquiles with sunny-side-up eggs to smoked salmon accompanied by locally roasted Calistoga Coffee Company's Ethiopian single origin brew. As the morning fog lifts to reveal vineyard views, there's no better way to start your day in wine country.

The lunch menu shines with its cracker-thin tavern pizzas, a crowd favorite that keeps locals coming back. The wild mushroom bucatini offers perfect comfort, while the Calistoga Bowl with Koshihikari rice and yellowfin tuna provides a lighter option. The house cheeseburger, accompanied by indulgent truffle parmesan fries, has earned its reputation as a menu standout.

For the past three years, Truss has been the setting for intimate Christmas dinners, where the warm glow of the fireplace and the restaurant's festive atmosphere create the perfect backdrop for holiday celebrations. This tradition speaks to the restaurant's ability to create memorable experiences that keep guests returning year after year.

This winter, Truss offers a unique dining experience with private igloos available through March, where guests can enjoy a four-course meal under the stars. Wrapped in cozy blankets, diners can savor specialties like cured duck breast and porcini truffle risotto while taking in the celestial views.

Whether you're starting your day with a morning coffee, enjoying a casual lunch on the terrace, or celebrating a special occasion over dinner, Truss Restaurant + Bar offers a dining experience that honors its wine country setting while pushing culinary boundaries. It's a testament to the evolution of Napa Valley dining, where casual comfort meets refined execution in a setting that celebrates the natural beauty of the region.

Truss Restaurant + Bar is located at 400 Silverado Trail North in Calistoga, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Reservations are recommended, especially for dinner service and the special igloo dining experience.

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Winery Spotlight - Corison

In the heart of Napa Valley, between Rutherford and St. Helena, stands a timeless Victorian-style barn that houses one of the region's most respected wineries. Corison Winery, under the guidance of legendary winemaker Cathy Corison, has for decades represented the pinnacle of elegant, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks eloquently of its terroir.

Cathy's journey in winemaking began half a century ago with a serendipitous wine appreciation course at Pomona College. As a Biology major, she was captivated not just by wine's sensory pleasures, but by its nature as a collaboration of living systems. This scientific curiosity, combined with an artist's sensibility, would come to define her winemaking philosophy.

After earning her master's degree in Enology from UC Davis, Cathy honed her craft through positions at prestigious wineries including Freemark Abbey, Yverdon, and Chappellet Vineyard. In 1987, driven by an inner calling to create wines that expressed her unique vision, she established Corison Winery, focusing exclusively on Cabernet Sauvignon from the valley's renowned benchland vineyards.

What sets Corison wines apart is their unwavering commitment to elegance and balance. Unlike the bold, high-alcohol Cabernets that came to dominate Napa Valley, Corison's wines showcase finesse and restraint, earning them a dedicated following among collectors and critics alike. Each vintage is crafted to be 100% varietal, allowing the pure expression of Cabernet Sauvignon to shine through.

The winery's crown jewel is the Kronos Vineyard, purchased in 1995, which surrounds the iconic barn designed by Cathy's husband, William Martin. At over half a century old, the Kronos Vineyard stands as one of Napa's last old Cabernet vineyards, producing wines of remarkable power and grace. In 2015, the addition of the Sunbasket Vineyard, which had been a source for their wines for over 25 years, further cemented Corison's commitment to exceptional terroir.

Today, the legacy of Corison Winery enters an exciting new chapter as Cathy's daughter, Grace Corison Martin, steps into an increasingly significant role. Since joining full-time in 2020, Grace has made her mark by securing organic certification for the vineyards through CCOF and leading the winery's Napa Green certification efforts. Armed with a Winemaking Certificate from UC Davis and WSET Level 3 certification, Grace brings a fresh perspective while honoring the winery's traditions.

Grace's background in theater - she holds a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University - adds an intriguing dimension to her approach to winemaking. Her experience in New York's restaurant scene provides valuable insight into the hospitality side of the business, complementing her growing expertise in viticulture and winemaking.

Under the combined leadership of mother and daughter, Corison continues to produce three distinct Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons: their Napa Valley bottling, the powerful yet elegant Kronos Vineyard, and the limited Sunbasket Vineyard designation. Each wine reflects the family's commitment to crafting age-worthy wines that grace the table with distinction.

As noted by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these aren't the most obvious wines being made in the valley, but they reward those who appreciate their refined nature. This dedication to elegance over power, tradition over trend, and the authentic expression of terroir has earned Corison a permanent place among Napa Valley's most respected producers.

Visits to Corison offer a unique opportunity to experience these exceptional wines in their historic setting, surrounded by some of Napa's oldest Cabernet vines. It's a chance to witness firsthand how tradition and innovation combine under the stewardship of two generations of talented winemakers, ensuring that Corison's legacy of excellence will continue well into the future.

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Wine Spotlight - 1989 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon

The 1989 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon stands as a masterpiece of Napa Valley winemaking, a wine that not only defined Cathy Corison's elegant style but helped establish her reputation as one of California's most distinguished winemakers. In an era when many Napa producers were pursuing power and extraction, this vintage demonstrated the profound beauty possible through restraint and precision.

Gerald Asher's proclamation in Gourmet magazine (June 1993) that this was "surely the single most beautiful expression yet of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon" proved prescient. The wine has continued to evolve and impress over its three-decade journey, remaining a benchmark for age-worthy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Technical Specifications:

• Producer: Corison

• Vintage: 1989

• Appellation: Napa Valley

• Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Alcohol: 13.5%

• Closure: Cork

The wine's evolution through time tells a compelling story. In the glass, it presents a medium ruby color with subtle brick hues at the rim - a testament to its graceful aging. The nose unfolds in layers, revealing an intricate tapestry of graphite, cedar, and forest floor, complemented by evolved aromas of balsamic, candle wax, and macerated plum.

On the palate, gorgeously supple tannins create a powdery, velvety texture that supports a complex array of flavors. Cherry and raspberry notes mingle with black tea and dried flowers, while subtle undertones of tobacco, mushroom, and forest floor add remarkable depth. The wine's impeccable structural balance and vibrant acidity contribute to an extraordinarily long finish.

During Corison's 25-year retrospective tasting in 2014, the wine displayed a captivating floral perfume with hints of peppermint, tar, black cherries, and dried figs. By 2023, it had developed additional complexity, showing rich umami characteristics with prominent mushroom and soy notes, while maintaining its essential vitality.

Critics across generations have praised its remarkable complexity and longevity:

• Club Oenologique awarded it 96 points, noting its "dense, savoury, tobacco and herb nose"

• Vinography scored it approximately 9.5 out of 10, highlighting its "excellent acidity and depth"

• La Revue Du Vin praised its "high level of finesse and powdery tannins"

• American Wine Review rated it 95 points, declaring it "equal of any from Bordeaux"

This wine's significance extends beyond its exceptional quality. The 1989 vintage emerged during a pivotal time in Napa Valley's history, when Cathy was establishing her independent label and defining her distinctive style. The wine's modest 13.5% alcohol content - remarkably low by modern Napa standards - demonstrates her unwavering commitment to balance and restraint.

For collectors fortunate enough to possess this wine, current tastings suggest it continues to drink beautifully, with the structure and freshness to ensure many more years of positive evolution. The 1989 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon remains not just a beautiful wine but a historical marker in Napa Valley winemaking - a testament to the possibilities that emerge when exceptional terroir meets masterful winemaking.

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Cheers to Truss, Corison Winery, and the 1989 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon – three shining examples of excellence in Napa Valley's food and wine landscape. From Truss's innovative interpretation of wine country cuisine to Corison's steadfast commitment to elegant winemaking, we see how tradition and innovation can harmoniously coexist. The 1989 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon stands as a testament to this philosophy, proving that when everything aligns – from vineyard to cellar, from mother to daughter, from past to present – truly timeless experiences emerge. These establishments and wines remind us that Napa Valley's legacy is not just in its terroir, but in the passionate individuals who continue to push boundaries while honoring its rich heritage.