FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: B Cellars Oakville Winery Opens The First New Winery Opening on Oakville Cross Road in 18 Years with Winery, Caves, Culinary Gardens and Experiential Hospitality OAKVILLE, Calif. (Aug. 18, 2014) B Cellars, a premium Napa Valley producer of awardwinning wines, has announced the opening of its new winery and hospitality house, at the site of a historic property in the heart of Napa Valley s esteemed Oakville AVA. The extraordinary property is set among some of the world s most celebrated wineries, including Opus One, Silver Oak, PlumpJack, Groth, Gargiulo, and Rudd, in the district that defines great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The project includes a state-of-the art wine production facility, including more than 15,000-square-feet of caves for barrel storage, tours, tastings and private events, and a hospitality house anchored by an interactive demonstration kitchen. Conceptualized in partnership with acclaimed San Francisco-based architectural firm Hart Howerton, B Cellars guests are welcomed by the winery s concierge as they enter through a charming courtyard. A state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen with open-flame hearth oven serves as a focal point of the hospitality house, to be overseen by full-time wine educator and chef, Christina Machamer, a protégé of Gordon Ramsay, with chef de cuisine Brian Green, who trained under Daniel Boulud and Dominique Ansel in New York. Comfortable indoor seating gives way to the outdoor terraces, providing guests with various seating options for alfresco tastings and food pairings. The grounds adjacent to the hospitality
house immerse guests in a variety of experiences, including culinary gardens, where visitors are able to explore, pick, sample and tend to, as a part of the experiential programs offered at the winery. The buildings and grounds of the estate articulate contemporary architecture, in concert with organic materials and a spatial scale that ground the project in its immediate agricultural setting. We are honored to be the first winery in 18 years to open on the celebrated Oakville Cross Road and are thrilled to have found a permanent home for our winery, which we have worked hard to establish since we first opened our doors 11 years ago, said co-founder Duffy Keys. Together with one of the industry s most respected winemakers and a seasoned team dedicated to exceptional customer service, we plan to offer a highly interactive Napa Valley hospitality experience. It is our hope that guests will enjoy discovering the many facets of the property while they explore our artisanal wines, paired with bites made from the freshest and most delicious ingredients the valley has to offer. Guests of B Cellars are hosted by Wine Guides for tasting and educational experiences referred to as Wine Journeys and Culinary Adventures. Guests have the opportunity to take part in Treks throughout the property, such as the Culinary Garden, where they have the opportunity to taste and harvest various items, while discussing seasonality, how the weather makes the Oakville AVA unique within Napa Valley, specific soil compositions, and symbiotic planting theories. Guests are also given the opportunity to visit the caves and be introduced to the resident flock of Jidori hens. Following each Trek, guests are guided through a tasting of B Cellars wines, served with inspired pairings, in the comfort of the hospitality house or one of the winery s many private tasting venues. The winery s Appellation Tasting allows guests to discover the diverse terroir of Napa Valley s appellations through a tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon from four of the most distinct growing areas. The experience begins with a tour of the wine production facilities, as guests are given an inside look into the process from harvest to bottling, before settling into a private tasting area of the caves for a tasting that compares single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons from Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, and Atlas Peak, each paired with artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and flatbreads from the hearth oven.
B Cellars seasonal menus feature produce grown on property and local artisanal ingredients, such as Braised Niman Ranch pork belly with Caldwell s Syrah BBQ lacquer, pickled watermelon rind and fresh cilantro, Humbolt Fog Goat s milk cheese with truffle honey, fig and fennel jam, and crisp apples, and Coho Salmon Tartar with lemon oil, chive, and micro cilantro. Seminars and demonstrations are led by a dedicated culinary team, as well as notable visiting chefs and purveyors, on subjects such as chocolate and wine pairings, making B Cellars signature flatbreads at home, and other pairing techniques. Outdoors, guests can enjoy a sixwicket center-pin croquet court for an afternoon of friendly competition. Additionally, private event venues throughout the property provide multiple options for hosting an array of activities and private events. The Beckstoffer Heritage Room, located within the expansive caves, showcases B Cellars six single vineyard heritage wines made from legendary grower Andy Beckstoffer s storied vineyards Dr. Crane (home to the first ever Bordeaux cuttings in Napa Valley), To Kalon, George III, Las Piedras, Bourn, and Missouri Hopper arguably the most respected vineyard properties in Napa Valley, widely recognized as producing some of the best wines for which the region is known. We are very proud of our partnership with Andy Beckstoffer, and this room pays homage to his accomplishments, while celebrating his long-standing commitment to B Cellars, said B Cellars co-founder Jim Borsack. This is the only winery where guests will be able to experience wines from each of Andy s six heritage vineyards. B Cellars is committed to providing excellent hospitality and service. The winery s full-service concierge staff is available to assist with booking arrangements on-property, and to help guests plan other details of their travel itineraries. Our goal is to serve as a personal gateway for our guests to experience Napa Valley as insiders in essence, making the impossible possible, said Chef Concierge Jennifer Hazzard. Led by winemaker Kirk Venge, B Cellars operates a multi-vineyard winemaking strategy, to craft exceptional blends procured from Napa Valley s most desirable vineyard properties. The company s approach is widely recognized for delivering consistent vintages year over year and wines that display distinct character, depth, and layers of flavors. The winery also produces
acclaimed vineyard-designate wines, featuring grapes from prime Napa Valley vineyard sites, including the renowned Beckstoffer properties, Star, Lewelling and Stagecoach, to name a few. Located at 701 Oakville Cross Road, B Cellars is open for tastings by appointment, seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. B Cellars may be reached by calling (707) 709.8787 or visiting www.bcellars.com. # # # Media contacts: Glodow Nead Communications, April Sack April@glodownead.com, Jenna Hudson Jenna@glodownead.com, Morgan Moore Morgan@glodownead.com, Erin Farkaly Erin@glodownead.com or (415) 394-6500.