Sometimes you simply get blown away by the lengths to which people who love farming and grapes will go to build a winery and its surrounds. A perfect example is Hudson Ranch and Vineyard. They call it an Agrarian dream and yes, it is that and so much more.

The ranch is 2000 acres in Napa Valley’s Carneros District. It’s a working ranch with 200 acres of planted vineyards along with orchards, expansive olive groves, magical flower and vegetable gardens and a contemporary winery facility designed by architect Ned Forrest that is thoughtfully integrated into the land and artfully surrounded by amazing succulent gardens and artistic treasures. It’s actually indescribable in the very best of ways.

We had the pleasure of being hosted by the Elisabeth Wetzel, the winery’s director of hospitality. With a glass of their 2021 Grenache Rosé in hand we toured the grounds of the winery and the gardens with her.

The ranch gardens supply the seasonal vegetables and fruit for their grocery store, Hudson Greens and Goods located in the Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa.

Our tasting consisted of wines paired with local cheese and popcorn to dip in the Ranch’s olive oil.

We tasted the 2019 Phoenix, the 2018 Old Master, the 2020 Estate Chardonnay and the 2019 Chardonnay. And yes, this was the order we tried them in – reds before whites. Interestingly, the Hudson Ranch Chardonnays were found to overpower your palate if tasted before the reds.

Thank you Elisabeth for spending so much time with us and filling us in on the extraordinary Ranch, the wines, and Lee & Cristina Hudson – the couple who has made this incredibly unique, special place.

Salud!