To Kalon Wines Inspire Holiday Cheer

Deep in the heart of Napa Valley, American pioneer and wine cultivator H. W. Crabb planted a vast empire of grape vines in the 1860s. Considered one of the first to develop this bucolic wine region, his vine collection was one of the largest in the world. With orange trees and Italian chestnuts next to grape vines, Crabb’s decided to name the vineyard ‘To Kalon’ which in Latin and Greek means ‘Highest Beauty’.

Andy Erickson, winemaker at To Kalon Vineyard stated on the website “Our To Kalon Vineyard produces wines with incredible soft tannins, intense focus and great varietal definition.” As a student at UC Davis, Erickson got his first taste of To Kalon wines. Working with different winemakers he honed his craft in making some of the most coveted wines in Napa Valley.

Photo by Jill Weinlein

For those looking impress their family and friends during the holidays, To Kalon Vineyard Company’s newest red wine, Eliza’s, is a perfect wine to serve during the holidays or as a gift to a wine connoisseur.

The story of how this wine got its name goes back to when H.W. Crabb lived next door to George Yount. George had two wives (at different time periods in his life), both named Elizabeth and both were called Eliza. Crabb crafted wine from grapes sourced from Yount’s vines. Later when Yount died, culinary destination  Yountville was named after him.

To Kalon Vineyard Company Eliza’s 2018 (SRP $200, sold in sets of three) is a new Cabernet Franc at the forefront, offering exotic spice notes and floral aromas. It’s a Cabernet Sauvignon in weight, structure, and a deep, rich, black fruit character. This rare combination is uniquely To Kalon. It’s exuberant to drink now, but will age for decades to come. This particular bottle was harvested on Oct. 12, 2018 and bottled in 10% new French Oak on July 27, 2020.

Photo by Jill Weinlein

To Kalon Vineyard Company Highest Beauty 2018 (SRP $200, sold in sets of three) is a brilliantly red-purple wine that offers energy and freshness on both the nose and palate. With rounded tannins and a bright perfume finish it provides a mouthwatering acidity. Balancing notes of raspberry, vanilla bean, clove, and frankincense provides a refined, yet seductive intensity that will only gain in stature and interest with age.

On each bottle is an informational sticker near the top  stating what type of grapes, the harvest and bottle date and cooperage. Highest Beauty 2018 is made with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Oakville area in Napa. It’s from a October 26, 2018 harvest and bottled on July 27, 2020 in 100% new French Oak.

The vineyard is sheltered between two mountain ranges. On the label it states ‘This vineyard is the place of The Highest Beauty, land of Bravery, Ambitions, and ancient streams…surrounded by the Mayacamas Mountains.’ The other mountain range is Vaca offering reliable sun, wind, and fog for providing an ideal growth and rest period for the grapes.

These wine can be enjoyed early during the holidays or stored in a cellar for fuller, rounder, and more interesting flavors and aromas.

To learn more visit tokalonvineyardcompany.com.