My Trip to Chateau Montelena Winery
Good day, sunshine! ☀️🍷☀️
I sought out Chateau Montelena Winery during my recent trip to California - not just because of Bottle Shock or its place in American history - but because it's one of the few vineyards in Napa Valley that is independently owned by the family, not the banks or corporations.
It's been fully paid off for years and Jim Barrett, who fell in love with this chateau and bought it in the 70s, was so on top of things that he made sure it was preserved on the National Registry of Historic Places. Doesn't hurt that he was an ex-lawyer too! He knew how to read the fine print. 😉
So there's a freedom to it, an energy of the people working there because they're able to do what they love without worrying about it being taken away from them. It FEELS good to be there. It is the only place in California today that maintains the sunshine, freedom seeking hippies who once engulfed the state. Napa's still got it!
And the picturesque beauty is the bonus! 🍷 It was a day I'll never forget.
Cheers to the owners and game changers in American wine, Jim and Bo Barrett. 🥂