Pope Valley Winery: Where Quality Meets Affordability in Napa

When was the last time you swirled, sipped and savored wine from Napa Valley? Did you think that its quality warranted the price you paid? So many wines from this iconic region are delicious, but more than a few, in my humble opinion, are more expensive than my budget allows. And when I pay $75 or more for a bottle, I expect the wine inside to be absolutely remarkable. The good news is that a number of wineries in Napa Valley understand consumers like me and are offering a range of notable wines at prices we can afford. One example is Pope Valley Winery where wines (three of which were sent as samples) are right on point with everything I look for in a wine: quality and affordability.

Although I’ve never visited Pope Valley Winery, it’s now at the top of my list to do so in order to taste through their portfolio and delve deeper into its history, winemaking traditions, family vibe and plans for the future. Founded in 1897 by Ed Haus as Burgundy Winery & Olive Oil Factory, the property was purchased 100 years later by the Eakle family who started Pope Valley Winery. As of 2009, brother and sister team of David Eakle, viticulturist, winemaker and operations manager, and Diana Eakle Hawkins, general manager, are ramping up the profile of this winery that should be on your radar.

David Eakle crafted the wines that were sent to me and with each sip, it was clear that he put his own stamp on the wines. That said, I look forward to keeping tabs on all of the good things coming from Pope Valley Winery and into my glass. Currently, the winery produces around 3,000 cases per year; plans are to increase production to 5,000 and ultimately 8,000. Check out the website here for more.

Pope Valley is located in the northeastern hills beyond Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. The winery’s two estate vineyards, at the winery itself and at their Eakle Ranch location, consist of 80 acres on mineral rich soils of Pleasanton loam and Bressa-Dibble complex. A warm climate with cool evenings and mornings helps the grapes flourish and ripen fully with delicate and complex aromas. So, what about these delicious and affordable Napa Valley wines I tasted?

Refreshing and pure was Pope Valley 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, a steal for $20. The goal when producing this wine was “to have all of those quirky, previously unseen bits of earth from our faultline at the Ranch come through in the glass.” Goal met. Aged in stainless steel for 29 days, I noted gentle aromas of white flowers, ripe pears and juicy green apples. The palate burst with racy acidity and offered flavors of grapefruit, lemon-lime sorbet, minerality and tangy spice that led to a lingering finish. Easy drinking and food friendly, I paired this wine with fresh fish broiled to perfection after a relaxing day at the lake.

A lovely Sangiovese from Napa Valley, the 2016 Sangiovese ($36) is of grapes that were fermented for 15 days. After pressing, the wine spent a bit over a year in French oak before finishing the maturation process in stainless steel. Bright aromas of vanilla, succulent red cherries, red berry compote, raw almonds and cedar were intense on the nose. Framed with moderate acidity and elegant tannins, notes of warm red fruit, vanilla spice, juicy red plums and lightly toasted brioche were just what our group needed on pizza night. Cultivated on soils not unlike Tuscany, there’s everything to love about this California riff on an Italian classic.

A beautiful Merlot for any occasion (like right now)? Pope Valley Winery has what you need in the 2016 Merlot ($38). Berries were destemmed to tank and fermented for around 18 days. After pressing, the wine was racked to French oak barrels where it matured for 22 months prior to bottling – only 252 cases have been produced. Wafting from the glass were aromas of ripe blackberries, red cherries, eucalyptus and granite. A round mouthfeel, vibrant acidity and integrated tannic structure were present in this balanced Merlot. I discovered flavors of crushed red raspberries, warm biscuits, granite, minerality and a freshness that I thoroughly enjoyed with our burgers and shish-ka-bobs still sizzling from the grill.

It’s time to enjoy a glass of wine from producers who understand how to align quality with price. I’ll see you at Pope Valley Winery sometimes soon, I hope!

Cheers! ~ Cindy