A Highly Anticipated Napa Valley Winery Has Just Opened
Bella Union Winery just opened its doors in Rutherford to wine lovers last week. Located in the storied Rutherford AVA, Bella Union is the third winery that the famed Far Niente Wine Estates portfolio has opened along Napa’s Highway 29.
The new wine estate is situated on 120 acres, of which 60 acres are dedicated to cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon. The $20 million renovation transformed the building and the grounds of what used to be the Provenance Winery. Led by renowned architect Mike Niemann of Pacific Design Workshop, alongside design firm JK&Co., Bella Union Winery’s design and renovation process focused on reimagining an existing building. The design was inspired by the Belle Epoque time period.
The new winery was founded by Dirk Hampson, along with partners , Larry Maguire, Beth Nickel, wife of Far Niente’s late founder Gil, and Erik Nickel, Gil’s nephew.
“We have very focused wine programs,” McManus says. “Far Niente is all about Oakville with Cabernet and Chardonnay, and then Nickel & Nickel is all about single vineyard wines from the best appellations in Napa. They always had a dream of opening a winery that was less constricting than the other two wine programs, where the winemakers could really be more artists, where they could experiment.”
“Far Niente is all about Oakville with Cabernet and Chardonnay, and then Nickel & Nickel is all about single vineyard wines from the best appellations in Napa. They always had a dream of opening a winery that was less constricting than the other two wine programs, where the winemakers could really be more artists, where they could experiment.”
Kate McManus
The winery has a landscape-driven design, with two stories of indoor and outdoor tasting areas that are situated as a sequence of cascading spaces, with each area changing and evolving to indicate the styles of wine tasting. There’s The Wren Bar, a lively outdoor patio and lounge.
The design, especially of The Atrium, is meant to appeal to newer wine drinkers. “We really want to meet consumers where they are,” McManus says.
Perhaps the most unusual aspect to Bella Union is the “Social Hours at The Wren.” Daily, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., people can pop in and buy wines by the glass or by the bottle and pair them with delicious snacks.
Also, unlike many glamorous tastings in Napa Valley, the starting tasting experience of three wines costs $45. “We also offer a curated tasting of four wines for $65, but you get to pick your own wines,” McManus says. “A lot of criticism of Napa has been the high prices. We want to make sure that the next generation of wine consumers don’t feel like they’re being shut out of Napa Valley.”
Bella Union does offer more exclusive tastings. There’s an immersive Cabernet Curiosity ($100) that focuses on the many expressions of Cabernet, along with some unexpected snacks, and there’s the Jewel Box Tasting ($175), hosted in the Jewel Box room, which features limited production blends and Cabernets and thoughtful food pairings. Lastly, there’s the Belle Eqpogue Society’s Member Lounge, which offers complimentary tastes upon arrival and curated, personal experiences, with wines available by the bottle or glass, along with snacks.
