About ten years ago, Jeff blindly reached out to Krupp Brothers winery to introduce himself as a fledgling wine blogger. The winery was kind enough to send Jeff a few bottles to review, and the rest, as they say, is history. We have been very enthusiastic fans of Krupp Brothers wines and have enjoyed sharing these wines not only virtually with their readers, but in person with their friends. And, just as it should happen, it did. Those friend started buying Krupp Brothers wines and eventually some of them became wine club members.
In late August, we had the opportunity to travel with close friends to Napa and Sonoma for an amazing wine adventure. This was our second visit to the Krupp Brothers estate in as many years and we were excited to share this special place with a new couple joining us on our trip this year.
"Napa Scott" posing with the Porsche tractor outside of the tasting room. We believe that this is an obligator picture for anyone visiting the estate.
Our visit started with estate director Tyler Hinsley and our wine educator/tour guide Sierra Fiddler greeting us at the end of the picturesque drive. I'd like to think they were eager to see us (which we know they were) but it might also be because we were running about 10 minutes late since we had just landed and headed straight to the estate from the Sacramento airport.
The grapes were looking amazing and about to burst!
Because our trip was late August/early September, harvest was just around the corner. Overall, the grapes this year looked, smelled and tasted extraordinary and the consensus in Napa Valley is that 2022 would be another vintage for the record books.
Cabernet Sauvignon at Krupp Brothers estate
Sierra showed us around the estate and guided us to the veranda overlooking the manicured and beautiful vineyards. She told us about the history of Krupp Brothers, Stagecoach Vineyard and the story about finding water in an area that was believed to be desolate. Sierra was a breath of fresh air and incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable about "everything" Krupp Brothers.
Sierra Fiddler, tour guide extraordinaire
Much to our surprise, Dr. Jan Krupp, showed up and greeted us out back. To say that I was over-the-moon would be a gross understatement. While we met Dr. Krupp previously, it really meant a lot for him to take time out of his busy scheduled to entertain our questions for nearly an hour. Believe me, I'm sure he's heard them all before! Maybe our next tasting can be at his house? (Hint, hint Dr. K!)
Dr. Jan Krupp fielding the group's questions and telling us stories
If you ever have the opportunity to sit down with a wine maker or a vintner, do NOT pass up the chance. We learned so much from our time with Dr. Krupp and we had a lot of laughs on the way. This is time that we will treasure forever!
Incredible setting and gorgeous wines at the Krupp Brothers estate tasting room
Our tasting included five (no, make that 6 because of a 'bonus' tasting) Krupp Brothers wines and charcuterie. Each wine was unique, elegant and incredibly special. It's so tough to pick a favorite. We were determined this year to cellar some of our purchases away so we can enjoy them for many years. All too often we drink the wines young and don't appreciate the aging capabilities of these gems. We WILL be sharing our thoughts on these wines on the blog and social media at a later date.
Tyler Hinsley, estate director for Krupp Brothers
Another highlight of our visit was our new friend and estate director, Tyler Hinsley. Tyler's genuine kindness, enthusiasm and excitement about the Krupp Brothers label was infectious. He even helped us locate a couple of library wines that we can open at a much later date. Tyler was incredible nice on the phone and via email, but became an immediate friend when we met him in person. We also had the chance to hang out with Tyler later that evening when we visited the Krupp Brothers downtown tasting room for a fun time.
The "Cali Wine Trip" crew with Dr. Jan Krupp
There are literally hundreds of wineries you can visit in Napa and Sonoma. In fact, the toughest part of planning any trip is narrowing down the list and then narrowing it down again. While wish we could visit them all, visiting the special places like Krupp Brothers completes our adventure and creates memories of a lifetime. Krupp Brothers is definitely a "must re-visit" destination for us and we think you will love it too!
For more information about Krupp Brothers, their story, their history and those incredible wines, please check out https://www.kruppbrothers.com
You didn't really think I wasn't going to get this picture, did you!?
Posted by Jeff
