the napa valley reserve e-book
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Conceived and founded by H. William Harlan in 2000, the private winery and
vineyard are located on 80 acres in St. Helena, California in the heart of the
Napa Valley. In the land that is today The Napa Valley Reserve, he saw a collection
of things that inspired him: historical significance, geographic symmetry, natural
beauty, a terroir ideally suited to grapegrowing and an opportunity to share his
passion for the Napa Valley way of life with those seeking to explore and understand
it more fully.
The Napa Valley Reserve has been established in the tradition of the great wine
growing estates of the world and is exclusively devoted to offering a unique wine
club membership. For a fraction of the cost of owning a vineyard and winery,
Members may participate as much or as little as they choose in all stages of wine-
making from hands-on collaboration with the winemaking team, cellar master and
label designers to creating unique custom blended wines they may call their own.
All wine production is overseen by the same Harlan Estate winemaking team that
is responsible for creating what The Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker says “might just
be the single most profound red wine made not just in California, but in the world.”
Members enjoy the club in a multitude of ways, yet the most rewarding aspect of
The Reserve is enjoying the final product. The experience, which H. William Harlan
describes as “capturing the whole season of work in a bottle of wine,” is a fulfilling
one that all Members across the globe will be able to enjoy for many generations.
The Napa Valley Reserve
Napa Valley is approximately 30 miles long and ranges from one to five miles
wide; about one-eighth the size of Bordeaux. St. Helena is located in the center of
Napa Valley, 65 miles north of San Francisco. The area was settled in 1834 as part
of General Vallejo’s land grant and the City of St. Helena was incorporated as a
City on March 24, 1876. The official population of the City of St. Helena as of 2000
is 5,950 and encompasses a four square mile area. St. Helena is a vital and engaging
community that celebrates the finest in wine country hospitality, culinary adventure,
the arts, health and wellness.
Home to the founding families of the Napa Valley and the area’s first historical
Main Street, St. Helena also boasts the Culinary Institute of America and some
of the best restaurants of the region. The area’s rich history and agricultural roots
translate to some of the freshest, most innovative cuisine where some of the most
gifted chefs on earth come to perfect their craft. The Restaurant at Meadowood is
one of only four restaurants west of Chicago to earn a prestigious three-star rating
from the Michelin Guide under Chef Christopher Kostow, also awarded the James
Beard Foundation Award for “Best Chef: West.”
The Town of St. Helena
From ranch to farm to winegrowing estate, The Napa Valley Reserve was under
cultivation for two centuries by only two families. Our goal with purchasing the
property was to usher in a new chapter for this special, 80-acre parcel of land in the
heart of the Napa Valley that would be as long and storied as the first two.
The property is bordered to the west by the Napa River and to the northeast and
south by hillsides which naturally define the boundaries of the estate. Barns and
working buildings have always been nestled into the hillside at the north end of
the property. Honoring this tradition, The Napa Valley Reserve barns and winery
buildings are located on this same site today. The buildings were designed to reflect
the scale of a family farm, rustic on the outside and luxurious on the inside, all
structures at peace with their settings.
The Napa Valley Reserve today celebrates the heritage and values of the traditional,
self-sustaining winegrowing estates found in the world’s legendary wine regions.
Like our global counterparts, whether preparing the land for vineyards, olive groves,
orchards, fruit trees, vegetables or cutting gardens, the terroir and the rhythm of
the seasons dictate our schedule.
The Setting
The Reserve vineyards are overseen by the Harlan Estate viniculture team, who
rely on time-honored traditions in balance with new practices and techniques.
The common thread that exists in all world-class vineyards is an exceptional site,
unique soils and climates that combine to create the ideal growing conditions. The
Napa Valley Reserve site is one of these rare estates. The vineyard is currently planted
with approximately 95% Cabernet Sauvignon varietals and 5% Merlot varietals.
Member activity in the vineyards ranges throughout the year, from pruning during
the winter to harvesting in the fall. The art of pruning is essential to the quality
of the crop. In the spring, the sap will rise and the buds will swell where successful
cuts have been made. Also in spring we will move through the vineyards, thinning
the shoots to promote optimal growth. In summer, this continues, along with the
thinning of leaves and clusters.
Undeniably, the most popular time in the vineyard is harvest. All grapes at
The Reserve are harvested by hand beginning in the pre-dawn hours while the air
is cool. The grapes are picked into small bins and emptied, also by hand, onto a
conveyor where they are gently hand-sorted, berry by berry. This level of care and
detail ensures only the highest quality clusters enter the crush phase and become
part of a new vintage.
The Vineyard
Here in the winery the winemaking process comes to life as Members collaborate
with The Napa Valley Reserve Winemaker led by the Harlan Estate winemaking
team. Assisted through each phase of the process, Members are ultimately rewarded
with the highest quality wine.
Bordeaux First-Growths have historically been the anchor for most wine investment
portfolios. Since Robert M. Parker Jr. began his ranking system, there have been
369 wines in the world that have been given a perfect 100 score. 68 are from the
Napa Valley, including vintages from Harlan Estate. Parker refers to Harlan as a
visionary who has “raised the goal post” in Napa Valley, producing vintages that
rival “the greatest wines in France, Italy, wherever.”
During harvest, once the grapes have been transferred to tanks and barrels, daily
activities include following the fermentations, monitoring sugar and temperature
levels, performing traditional punch-downs, pump-overs, barrel stirring and rotations.
The barrel aging caves shelter the wine produced from the previous two years’
harvests. The wine rests in new French Oak barrels to mature. During the winter
months, Members may work with the cellar master performing the traditional crafts
of topping, barrel sampling and barrel-to-barrel racking.
In the summertime, Members are invited to participate in the bottling process.
As the finished wines are tasted one last time, the bottles, corks and packaging
arrive. In a matter of hours, a wine that took nearly three years of work to create is
in a wine bottle, corked, labeled and ready for the wine cellar.
The Winery
The Membership structure is similar to most fine private clubs. Membership is
non-equity and by invitation only; there is a Membership deposit with two levels
of Membership: Estate Vineyard Program and Designated Vineyard Program, where
Members are provided with a dedicated row of vines and invited to experience
the change of seasons through the annual life of the vineyard. A personalized
name plate in the vineyard memorializes your Membership and makes each trip to
The Reserve with family and friends enjoyable and memorable.
After aging and before bottling, Members may request personal collaborative
sessions with the resident Winemaker and the winemaking team to develop their
own personal wine blends—when wine is extracted from the barrels and the
optimal balance of flavor in the wine is determined. Throughout the barrel aging
process, Members are afforded the opportunity to test the development of their
personal blends in the barrels.
An annual wine allocation of Estate or Library wine is available for purchase
in quantities of six to seventy-five cases; wine is not available for purchase by
non-Members. Working with The Reserve’s Labeling and Packaging Manager,
Members may also opt to commission a custom wine packaging design which may
include personalized trademarked labels, made-to-order boxes, a selection of bottle
sizes and other bespoke ideas for gift packaging or personal use. There’s a great sense
of accomplishment in producing a barrel of world-class wine and having it bottled
under a Member’s own private label.
The Estate Wine Program
Membership at The Napa Valley Reserve affords a small number of enthusiasts, who
share a passion for wine and the way of life that surrounds it, an opportunity to
be part of the most select wine club in the world, and is by invitation only. While
grapegrowing and winemaking are central to The Reserve experience, Members,
who come from more than 37 states and 11 countries, share other passions as well,
including travel, the sporting life, culinary arts, fine art and legendary automobiles,
among others.
Within this Member community, there is great diversity. Our Member roster,
of approximately 500, includes global leaders in business, medicine, academics,
technology, art, performance and philanthropy. The Club consists of singles, couples
and families (some multigenerational) so every gathering offers a varied Member
dynamic. Club activities do not center around those at a particular place in life, but
rather on those gifted with great curiosity and a breadth of interests. We offer our
Members unparalleled experiences in a beautiful, private setting where they are at
liberty to relax and enjoy one another’s good company.
The Members
The Napa Valley Reserve is a setting for the reflection, learning, inspiration,
celebration and enjoyment of The Reserve’s wines and vineyard setting. Members
are encouraged to take advantage of The Reserve’s private setting and surrounding
to celebrate with family and friends for all occasions, from a private event in the
Wine Caves to a casual tasting and picnic in the Vineyard.
The Estate is home to distinctive spaces, including a Hospitality Barn, Blending
Barn, Pavilion and Winery, including Caves, for hosting exclusive winery events.
Our full-time team of professionals is on staff to assist with all aspects of events and
the Member’s visits to The Reserve.
Member Curricular Events are designed to introduce deeper levels of exploration
into wine education and related topics of interest to our Membership community
and create opportunities to gather, meet new people, enjoy new experiences and,
most importantly, have fun with people who are likely to become lifelong friends.
These events are held at The Reserve, in the home cities of our Members and in
exciting destinations around the world.
Some events are unique to a given year, while others are fond annual traditions.
Formal wine tastings, noted speakers, guest chef experiences, visiting luminaries,
inspiring entertainers, industry experts and celebrated authors are among the
opportunities extended to Members of The Reserve. We also invite Members to join
us for a wide range of off-site experiences including: visits to settings celebrating
the best in art and architecture, yachting excursions, a day of sporting clays, a trip
to the French countryside to visit the finest wine estates in Bordeaux.
Private Events and Curriculum
Reserve Members are afforded the opportunity to participate in a private social
network. The Member-only network ensures Member information and confidentiality
while affording access to the latest club news, events and the ability to share travel
experiences, links and photos between Members.
The Reserve has established a Global Travel Network with a curated selection of
travel advisors that have developed worldwide relationships with hotels, resorts,
cruise lines, on-site providers, and more. Members who seek planning assistance
with a vacation or special trip may simply contact The Reserve and be referred to a
destination expert who will create a tailored experience.
The Preferred Vintner Program provides Members special offers and priority access
to the invitation-only lists of more than 40 of Napa Valley’s premier wine clubs.
Members may also receive personal invitations to special events held at these
prestigious wineries.
Members of The Napa Valley Reserve enjoy benefits at neighboring Meadowood
Napa Valley, a long-standing member of Relais & Chateaux. Meadowood is settled
among 250 private acres just adjacent to The Reserve. The estate is known for its
beautiful, natural setting, gracious hospitality, timeless architecture and traditional
pastimes including croquet, tennis, golf, swimming, hiking, fitness and personal
training, a spa, a Michelin Three-Star restaurant and the enjoyment of wine.
Beyond The Vine
Privileges of Membership
invitation-only membership Limited Membership to the finest private wine club in the world comprised of more than
500 Members in thirty-seven states and eleven countries. Members represent a diverse cross-section
of influential leaders in their respective fields and disciplines, which include,
but are not limited to: technology, finance, entertainment, medicine, law and wine.
estate vineyard ¤ retail wine program Harlan Estate viniculture team oversight of winemaking, grape growing and
tailored blending sessions with the Resident winemaker. Personalized wine packaging
including custom label design, gift packaging and bottling options. Preferential purchase
opportunities of Estate, Library or Custom-Blended wine.
signature events ¤ education Annual curriculum of seasonal events and continuing wine education at
The Reserve, domestically and internationally for Members, friends and family.
reserve estate access Private Hospitality Rooms, Wine Cave, Exhibition Kitchen, Wine Library and wine education facilities
solely for Member-based events with the services of The Napa Valley Reserve’s dedicated professionals.
the reserve global travel network Travel Advisor services for Members within Napa Valley and worldwide;
preferred rates and amenities at Meadowood Napa Valley.
preferred vintner program Priority status for membership at more than 40 of Napa Valley’s most
prestigious wineries and entrée into select private wineries.
The Napa Valley Reserve
the caves
east ag barn
west ag barn
winery ¤ pavilion
blending barn
hospitality barnthe garden
the vineyards
i don’t live in california so why would i join this club? The Napa Valley Reserve is a Global Membership program with Members from 37
states and 11 countries. Members seek access to world-class wine, produced with the
oversight of the Harlan Estate viniculture team, which can be gifted and shipped
anywhere in the world. Member events are held in Members’ home cities and
around the world; an opportune way to connect with other Members over mutual
passions.
what is the membership deposit and term of membership? Membership at The Napa Valley Reserve is by invitation only with an initiation
deposit of $155,000 for the Estate Vineyard Program or $175,000 for the
Designated Vineyard Program, offered as a 30-year term, and returned in full at
the conclusion of the term. Membership is non-equity and non-voting. Members
who choose to resign their Membership prior to the term’s end are assessed a 25
percent transfer fee.
i have young children; what does the reserve offer families? Membership at The Napa Valley Reserve is designed to be passed down from
generation to generation. Families are encouraged to collaborate together during
the winemaking process; the time-honored experiences are ones that instill values
of tradition, diligence and fortitude. Many of The Reserve’s Curricular Events
include special learning experiences and activities for children. The Reserve Estate
is an ideal setting for celebrating with friends and family members of all ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Oakville
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Stags Leap
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The Napa Valley Reserve
Appellations of
Napa Valley
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