Clif Family Wines Review - A Sustainable Harmonious Experience from Beginning to End
Right off of Main St. in St. Helena lies Clif Family Wines. A small deep coastal blue tasting room that is delivering delicious sustainable wines with one mission in mind – Bring love of wine and food to the local community and Napa Valley visitors.
Clif Family Tasting Room in St. Helena.
The name “Clif Family” may sound familiar to you. It’s the same family that brought us Clif Bar, Luna Bar, and more protein options from over 30 years ago. Fueled by passion for food and desire to create healthy options for people with active lifestyles is what was at the root of the bar. Fast forward to today, the brand has always envisioned doing business in a more sustainable way, placing organic farming and high-quality ingredients at the forefront has always been the motto. Today, they’ve expanded their roots to the wine industry and have a wonderful tasting room in St. Helena, a subregion of the Napa Valley.
So let’s dive into what the experience is like! Upon entry the space feels like a breath of fresh air. The open space is where wines are sipped, wonderful bites are created and memories are made. Take a stroll to their green brush lined inviting back patio where your sipping oasis awaits. Clif Family Wines is big on experiences, and their wine tasting experience is no different. Each tasting is paired with a bite crafted using ingredients from their farm.
Our tasting began with a delicate pour of the 2023 Rose of Grenache. This crisp, light, and refreshing wine was a nice start to opening our palates for the adventure ahead. We then progressed to the 2023 Chardonnay which was a surprising crowd pleaser. This chardonnay drinks like a crisp Sauvignon Blanc and has enticing notes of lemon, toasted coconut, passionfruit, sweet flowers, and a hint of spice. This was paired with a homemade pretzel with homemade mustard and lightly pickled mustard seeds – a winning combination.
Transitioning to reds, we tried the 2023 2023 Grenache from Sonoma County from Sonoma County. Paired with a wine soaked cheese and fig jam. The pour highlighted notes of sun-ripened raspberry and juicy plum make way for the grounding notes of wet stone and an unexpectedly bright finish. Not too heavy, this wine was a perfect everyday wine that will also shine for special occasions.
The 2022 Valle di Sotto Proprietary Red Wine is 80% cab franc and had notes of blueberry pie, plum, spice, and cinnamon to top off the wine’s natural floral notes. It’s a small production wine that has the perfect balance. This wine paired with a small crisp topped with a blend of cream cheese and sour cream with their onion jam – chefs kiss!
The 2021 Kit’s Killer Cab was a major highlight for the table as it was bright, fruity, hint of cedar, mocha, and sun-ripened raspberries and blueberries. Each sip was a bit of everything in the best of ways – not to mention it also had a perfect amount of acidity. Paired perfectly with the cocoa nibs that have a sea-salt crunch.
The elevated tasting experience embodied the vision behind the brand. Every sip and bite was not only delicious, but sustainable – a true harmonious experience from beginning to end that will only continue to build brand loyalty for years to come. For those craving a bit more to sink your teeth into, grab premium and plant-forward bites from the onsite bruschetteria food truck. A unique (and yummy) way to cap off your experience at Clif Family Wines.
Be sure to save room in your luggage as you’re going to want to take a bit of Clif home with you. They sell preserves, nuts, jams, and more onsite. Pro-Tip: If you’re not sure how to utilize the items - check out their menu for recipes and inspiration.
