When I visited the J tasting room in March, the surrounding cherry trees and daffodils were in full bloom, their colorful display in contrast to the contemporary, earthy tones of the Visitor Center and elegant glass tasting bar, which frames J’s landmark, a floor-to-ceiling bronze wall sculpture designed by Gordon Huether.
Whether you’re a recreational weekend wine taster or a collector looking for an exceptional experience, J Vineyards & Winery offers the ultimate tasting room immersion. Since the opening of the Visitor Center in 1999, it’s made a reputation as the place to find fine wine paired with food by Executive Chef Mark E. Caldwell.
However, over the last few years, with the pairings at the Signature Bar becoming so successful and visitor traffic climbing from 20,000 to more than 55,000 people per year, J sensed it had outgrown the standard tasting room venue.
Beginning in January 2008, J discontinued its food and wine pairings at its Signature Bar and moved them exclusively to the Bubble Room, Terrace and Lounge. But have no fear. J’s Signature Bar will still offer some surprises in the coming months as the 2006 offerings make their appearance—marking winemaker George Bursik’s first fully executed vintage of varietals.
J has also taken the idea of wine and food pairing to a whole new level by introducing the Essence Tasting, what Retail Operations Director Kevin Burton calls an “all day food and wine experience.” An exclusive event reserved for a maximum of only eight people at a time, the Essence Tasting includes a high-end reception in the Bubble Room, hors d’oeuvres and Pinot Noir on location in Nicole’s Vineyard, and finally, a seated, private, seven-course wine and food pairing luncheon back in the Bubble Room (it costs $200 per person). Begun less than a year ago, its already getting rave reviews. “It’s a lovely menu that changes seasonally,” says Burton. “It’s a very high level of food. People are comparing it to Cyrus, so that’s quite an honor.”
And if you still want a pairing but don’t want to spend $200, J offers a choice of three wine and food pairing flights in the reserve Bubble Room ($55) and, in the summer, an antipasto-style pairing on the outdoor J Terrace ($35). For group or business functions, J offers the swank upstairs lounge, which overlooks the bottling room. Reservations are recommended for the Bubble Room and Terrace, and they’re required for the Essence Tasting.
Burton says it’s hospitality and lifestyle, in addition to wine, that makes J different: “I think it’s the quality of the wines combined with the experience. It’s an honor to be recognized [by the award]. We’re grateful people appreciate all the effort we’ve put into this.”
