As the golden hues of autumn leaves dance in the November breeze, let us indulge in the warmth of a captivating book paired with the rich notes of Stags’ Leap wine. Just as the most captivating books weave tales of their own, so does each bottle of wine. Encapsulated within is an unfolding narrative of the land, the soil's characteristics, and the unique interplay of climate elements. Why not embark on a journey to savor these two together? Revel in the sensory storytelling journey your glass of wine provides, while immersing yourself in the pages of a well-chosen book. Continue reading to explore our curated pairings of various Stags’ Leap wines with different genres of books.
Audentia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon + Historical Fiction
Our Audentia Cabernet Sauvignon pays tribute to our winery’s founder, Horace Chase, and his family motto, “Sed contra audentior ito,” Latin for “always push harder.” While you sip on this piece of Stags’ Leap history, enjoy a historical fiction book. The best ones summon a place from the past and fully immerse you in that moment in time. Audentia is sourced from a distinct plot of land on our estate and similarly evokes the unique qualities of the place and time.
125th Anniversary Napa Valley Petite Sirah Magnum + An Epic
The 2018 vintage marked Stags’ Leaps 125th anniversary. The magnum produced to honor it showcases the winery’s enduring winemaking philosophy and the uniqueness of the terroir. This larger-than-life wine deserves an equal, so we’d pair it with one of literature’s epics. Think David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest or Homer’s The Odyssey. Like this magnum, both were designed to age well and be enjoyed by generations to come.
Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc + Beach Reads
Our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc is fresh, lively and perfect for pairing with a beach read. How you define “beach read” is up to you. For us, it’s something with lively characters and a plot that doesn’t make you do too much work. With a core of bright acidity and palate of white peach and green melon, our sauvignon blanc is a quintessential expression of the grace of a Napa Valley sauvignon blanc. It’s also as versatile as the beach read genre. Enjoy it al fresco on a summer afternoon, make it the centerpiece of a summer feast or enjoy it as a summer spritz.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon + Murder Mysteries
Rich, plush and full of texture on the palate, our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon certainly brings the drama. Flavors of Bing cherry, blackcurrant and cassis intertwine with hints of anise and baking spice to create a complexity of flavor that will make you pause. The swirling action in the wine brings to mind a good murder mystery. The plot and characters suck you in, and the twists and turns keep you enthralled until the very last word.
The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon + Poetry
Robert Louis Stevenson’s much-quoted remark that “wine is bottled poetry” is often used around wine country. While we’ll never know what wine inspired Stevenson, we have to agree that wine and poetry have a lot in common. The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon embodies this sentiment. It’s a blend of the most expressive barrels from select blocks of our century old estate. The blocks produce a wine that is a rich, elegant tribute to the Stags Leap District. If Stevenson were alive today, we like to think this wine would have inspired his famous saying.
