The first stand-alone tasting room dedicated solely to luxury California brandies, California Brandy House, will soon be unveiled at First Street Napa, a collection of artisan retail and dining in the heart of downtown Napa. Set to open on November 6, 2020 for outdoor tastings only, California Brandy House will initially showcase two leading brandy portfolios, Germain-Robin and Argonaut.
Guests will discover California brandy through expert guided tasting flights, including limited offerings and single-barrel samples not available anywhere else. Tastings will initially take place in the California Brandy House outdoor parklet. For the best guest experience and to ensure proper social distancing, reservations must be made in advance. As a bottle shop, guests can also purchase from the full Germain-Robin and Argonaut portfolio, including exclusive releases as well as the ability to customize every bottle with laser engraving. Additional experiences will be added in the future.
“Our California brandies, like Germain-Robin and Argonaut, are crafted from world-class white and red grape varieties exclusively grown on California soil,” says Britt West, Vice President and General Manager of Gallo Spirits, a division of E. & J. Gallo Winery. “These fine brandies are as rich, vibrant and complex as the land itself. There is no better place than Napa Valley, the heart of wine country, to re-establish California brandy among the world’s best distilled spirits.”
At First Street Napa, California Brandy House joins an engaging, walkable collection of Napa Valley’s most innovative specialty merchants, chefs, artists and tasting rooms. “Since its inception, First Street Napa has been committed to cultivating distinctive destinations to shop and explore, and California Brandy House is a wonderful example of a completely new concept,” said Todd Zapolski, managing partner, First Street Napa. “With its stylish aesthetic and unique tasting options, it’s going to be a real draw. We are thrilled to welcome them to our community.”
California Brandy House continues Gallo’s long investment into this historic spirit. Over the last four decades, the Gallo family has been building a library of premium brandy lots, exploring what could be achieved through a diverse selection of barrels, varieties, ages and distillation techniques. “The Gallo family has been devoted to the pursuit of crafting the best brandy for generations,” says West. “California Brandy House cements that commitment now and into the future. We look forward to inviting a new generation to discover and explore fine, California-appellation brandies.”
Though it is seen today as an up-and-coming trend in brown spirits, brandy played a pivotal role in California drinks history. From the time of missionary Franciscan monks using wine country grapes to craft California’s first brandies to the exceptional brandies of today, California Brandy House will allow guests to learn more about the spirit’s long west coast history.
The health and well-being of our employees, guests and communities is of utmost importance. California Brandy House will continue to make any necessary adjustments to the tasting experience to stay current with all local, state and national requirements.
California Brandy House is located at 1300 First Street, Suite 309, in downtown Napa.
To learn more about Germain-Robin brandy, go to Germain-Robin.com.
To learn more about Argonaut, visit ArgonautBrandy.com.
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