When considering Napa Valley winery destinations, the immediate thought is vineyards on the valley floor or in the hills and valleys, with majestic vistas serving world-class wines. We all know these names, many reflecting the history of Napa Valley, its wine, maturity, and place alongside many of the world’s most renowned vineyards.
But step away from the names you know. Have a different experience, out of the ordinary. At the same time, you are experiencing world-class wines and hospitality. Visit two Napa gems. Not on the road less traveled, but “hiding in plain sight” in Napa, California; you won’t be disappointed with the wines, venue, and passion.
Freemark Abbey: Taste History in a Glass
In 1886, Josephine Tychson, a pioneer in the wine industry, established Freemark Abbey Winery in Napa, California. This marked the beginning of what would later evolve into a globally recognized wine region.
Freemark Abbey’s history is a testament to its pioneering spirit. It was not only one of the first 15 bonded wineries in Napa but also the first winery in the country to be founded by a woman. This groundbreaking achievement, just twenty years after the end of the Civil War, set the stage for the winery’s future as a leader and trendsetter in the industry, despite changing ownership and times.
As you enter the tasting room, you will stand on the original 1886 winery floor. Then, look around and see the bottle display (red and white) on the wall. These were a part of history, entered in the 1976 worldwide wine competition when the United States set the wine world on its ear, “The Judgement of Paris.” The history of Freemark Abbey started 90 years earlier and is deeply entwined with the success of this area in the world of wine. When people think of Napa Valley, they think of Cabernet Sauvignon. Freemark Abbey is a house of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, the quality of which will leave you impressed and eager to taste.
The Library Tasting
At Freemark Abbey, you have the opportunity to choose from several tasting options. However, for those seeking a totally unique Napa Valley Cabernet Experience that delves into age, terroir, and elegance, the Decades (Library) Tasting is a must-try.
During your tasting, you will get a verbal (and sensory) history of the property, but most important, you will learn about two elite vineyards: The Sycamore Vineyard and the Bosche Vineyards: two elite vineyards producing exceptional, single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
Both vineyards are exclusive to Freemark Abbey. Under the 40-year stewardship of head winemaker Ted Edwards, Freemark made its mark in the wine world. Today, Kristy Melton, who worked alongside Ted for many years, is the winery’s second female head winemaker (Josephine was the first), continuing a tradition of making highly acclaimed wines that will age well for 50+ years.
Our tasting took us through and compared over 30 years of history. From glass to glass, we tasted from the Sycamore, then the Bosche Vineyard: 1991, 2004, 2014 and compared those with 1990, 2004, 2014. The wines were vibrant, lively, and aromatic with smooth integrated tannins. And there was LOTS of age left. Lastly, we then tasted recent releases (2019 and 2021) from each vineyard. Although still “babies,” they were fruit-forward, showing off the “Rutherford dust” and looking towards a future to be enjoyed now or 30,40, possibly even 50 years from now.
When and where have you ever been able to taste and experience the history of a piece of Napa Valley dirt in a glass? From 1990-2021, tasting Napa Valley through the decades.
If you want a different focus, check out the Cabernet Comparison or Appalation Comparison tastings. Each has a particular focus, and the hosts at Freemark Abbey are like their wines: Exceptional.
On the day we tasted, Grace Hoffman hosted us. Grace holds the designation of CSW (certified specialist of wine), one of the most challenging wine designations to achieve. Her explanation of history, blended with wine, age, and terroir specifics, was enticing and straightforward. Your visit to Freemark Abbey and a personally hosted tasting will leave you with more appreciation of the area, the wine, and this property.
If you love wine, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, visiting this iconic, groundbreaking property is a must.
Taste a step back in history when Josephine Tychson ignored the hurdles of the times, setting a high bar and challenge for the future. This challenge has been met and exceeded, and it continues to set a standard for what we all look for perfection in a glass. Put Freemark Abbey on your destination list.
The Ackerman Heritage House
Another Napa Gem representing the history of Napa Valley is the Ackerman Family Vineyards at the Ackerman Heritage House.
Talk about wine and history! In 1994, Lauren Ackerman, a successful entrepreneur and lover of wine, came to Napa and purchased what is today Ackerman Family Vineyards.
Lauren shared the same ground-breaking entrepreneurial spirit as Josephine Tychson, in terms of vision and firsts, who influenced Napa over one hundred years earlier.
Not only was Lauren one of the first women vintners in the Coombsville AVA, but she also had a vision for the vineyard and turned it into the first Organically Certified vineyard in the Coombsville AVA.
Aside from Ackerman’s award-winning wines, the history (or maybe ‘herstory’) was Lauren’s draw to a piece of property she used to drive by near downtown Napa. This wasn’t just any property, but an elegant, although dilapidated and in disrepair Victorian Home, built in the late 1880’s. For quite some time, Lauren used to drive by and park her car and stare at this once elegant, aged lady until one day, when she drove by and saw a “for sale” sign. She thought, “Why not go in and take a look.” And as they say, “the rest is history,” except in this case, it was just the beginning of a project to honor and preserve history.
The building spoke to Lauren, and in 2010, she purchased it. But what now? It needed SO much work. Lauren was determined to restore this beautiful old lady to the vibrant young woman of its youth, but to do it properly, room by room, accessory by accessory.
To this end, Lauren started to study the Victorian period and went to Oxford, England, to spend almost two months at The University of Oxford studying the Victorian/Queen Ann era, focusing on the architecture of the period. Lauren was determined to restore this elegant mansion in as close to period-perfect fashion as possible, as it would have been in the late 1880s.
Hiring craftspeople (several brought over from England) who were needed to work on the home, work progressed. Lauren began her search for paintings, clocks, wall coverings, hangings, carpets, and large and small furniture worldwide (many purchased on eBay) that were representative of the period. In 2015, after five years of what truly could be described as a labor of love, Lauren opened the Ackerman Heritage House, where visitors could take a step back to the elegant Victorian history of Napa Valley.
Today, you can tour this one-of-a-kind mansion and also sample the award-winning wines of Ackerman Estate Vineyards.
There are a variety of options for your visit. Enjoy a private brunch, lunch, tea, or cooking class. Choose from various wine-tasting experiences, and of course, tour this magnificent structure as you close your eyes and envision “yesteryear.” Plan a fundraiser, team-building event, or special intimate dinner catered by one of Napa Valley’s esteemed chefs.
Taste, experience, and re-live some of Napa Valley’s intriguing history when you visit both Freemark Abbey and Ackerman Family Vineyards at the Ackerman Heritage House. Marvel at the groundbreaking achievement of Josephine Tychson, the first woman in the country to found a winery. And then be further inspired by Lauren Ackerman, Coombsville’s first woman winemaker, owner of the first vineyard in Coombsville to be certified organic, and a visionary who restored this late 19th-century architectural mansion to its previous glory.
Drink in history, literally and figuratively, as you walk in the footsteps of two of Napa’s groundbreaking historical properties, Napa gems hidden in plain sight.
Don Sonderling is a freelance writer covering California’s Wine Country lifestyle, and culture. He and his wife are constantly sipping their way from Santa Barbara to Napa, focusing on Paso Robles and the Central Coast, where they have explored for about 25 years. Don has earned his WSET2 (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) certification, has completed the Bourgogne Masterclass through the Napa Valley Wine Academy, and is a member of the LA. Wine Writers.
Focusing on the people and unique experiences to be had, Don’s goal is to have people read about California’s amazing wine country adventures, seeing it through his eyes, and say: “I want to go there, try that, meet them,” and enrich the lives of others as his has been, by exploring California’s wine roads.
