Cabernet Franc

You don’t see many log cabins in Napa Wine country, and you certainly don’t see many stuffed bears or boar heads, but that’s only because you haven’t visited the William Harrison tasting room. The general store feel of this lesser-known family owned winery sports a relaxed and casual vibe. While the owner sprouts from an Italian winemaking family, the tasting counter feels homegrown American. Try the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Estate Cabernet Franc, and ask the tasting room guy if he has time to give you a tour.

Visitors to the Peju tasting room enjoy several unique experiences. They are walked through a systematic tasting, with an attendee carefully pouring and explaining as they go, while not being distracted by newcomers. If they wander into the newest wing of the tasting space, they can marvel at the exquisite quartzite floors that reportedly echo the owner’s impression of a stone Persian rug. Owner Tony Peju, originally of Iran, and his Austrian born wife, founded the winery in the mid-1980s after years of running a successful high end landscaping business. Their devotion to fine art, sculpture, and gardens is apparent as soon as one enters the drive, as the carefully pruned Sycamore trees beckon you in. Lush gardens and an antique stained glass window, coupled with their open-late reputation (unlike many of their neighbors, Peju’s doors are open until 6pm) no doubt help make this one of the most profitable tasting rooms in Napa.