Spring Mountain Experience

There are always some tastings that stand above all the rest and this was one of those – Behrens Family Winery. High on Spring Mountain outside of St. Helena, in a very comfortable tasting room surrounded by wonderful original art and a killer view, we met Robin Cooper and some exceptional wines!

For close to 2 hours Robin painted a full picture for us of the history, people, vineyards and passion that has created the wine we tasted.

Small production from small vineyards by a small number of hands – the husband and wife team Les Behrens and Lisa Drinkward found the key, the artistry, to produce outstanding wines. They not only source their grapes from small exceptional vineyards to produce small lots of wine, they do it with a small number of people. Aside from Les and Lisa the winery has only three employees.

They have been making wine since 1993 and under the label of Behrens Family since 2005. There is a fabulous history behind the winemakers and their wines, and while you can read about it on their website, it’s best to hear Robin tell the story when you visit the winery.

And….the labels………Labeling the bottle appears to be almost as important as its content. One label has stayed consistent over the years in memory of the winery’s history but for the rest, every vintage is uniquely dressed with art by the artists Les Behrens has been drawn to.

We tasted 6 wines that day with Robin and every one of them was delicious. Given the small production of their wines obtaining them is pretty much left to visiting the winery or buying online.

We couldn’t leave without taking with us the 2016 and 2017 Thanksgiving, the 2018 versions of Front Man and Labor of Love, 2016 Notes From The Underground and the Estate Cabernet from Lisa’s Vineyard.