Frog’s Leap Winery, October 1st, 2012

Winery - 7 / Wines - 6
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Classic Napa Valley winery, veranda seating, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and others.
www.frogsleap.com

Okay, by the time I reached Frog’s Leap Winery, the temperature was pushing 100F degrees.  (That’s nearly 38C for the rest of the world.)  While most autumn afternoons offer an irresistible opportunity to enjoy a flight of wines outdoors, this was not one of them.  While the folks at Frog’s Leap endeavored to seat each of the guests promptly, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy as we walked past a large table full of folks comfortably tasting indoors with ample air conditioning.  Instead, I was lead outdoors to the beautifully shaded veranda overlooking the lush gardens, seated at my own table al fresco.  Sure, my table was completely shaded from the sun, but there was no escaping the pervasive afternoon heat.  And I enjoy a side-by-side tasting more than most folks, but this way of pouring is terribly incompatible with serving outdoors in the heat.  With a little thought on the part of the folks working at Frog’s Leap, my experience could have been made more enjoyable.


The entrance to Frog's Leap Winery

Although this was my first visit to Frog’s Leap Winery, I couldn’t shake the feeling of de ja vu – I know I had seen this interior décor before.  The building has an elegant, contemporary home feel, with a veranda wrapping around three sides of the house.  Inside there is a large, open space that is two stories high.  The interior colors are mostly dark neutral colors of taupe and woods, with large windows in the main tasting room.  As you walk in, turn to your right and head for the cashier’s room, where you will be greeted and escorted to your table.  Once seated, you are promptly greeted by your pourer, who pours each taste into a separate glass, briefly explaining a little about each wine, and then leaving you to explore the wines on your own.  When the weather is pleasant, this is an ideal arrangement.  In the heat, I found myself stewing in my seat wondering how to pay for my tasting experience.  I finally walked inside to settle up.  Again, if not for the heat, this would have been a perfectly agreeable arrangement.



The tasting veranda at Frog's Leap Winery.


Frog’s Leap offers just one tasting menu each day.  On the day of my visit, they were pouring a 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, a 2010 Zinfandel, a 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and a 2009 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon which is their flagship of the flight.  The Sauvignon Blanc was perfect for the heat, but my favorite was the Zinfandel.  Regrettably, by the time I started tasting the Rutherford Cabernet, the wine had warmed too much and was difficult to assess or enjoy.  There are a number of other wines made by Frog’s Leap available at the winery which are worth checking out.

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as a 7 and the wines offered as a 6.