Well, in the world of wine this week, anyway.
The Rhine House, at Beringer Vineyards, St. Helena.
Beringer Vineyards, in St. Helena, just re-opened its historic, landmark Rhine House, once the private home of co-founder Frederick Beringer.
Begun in 1883, the 17-room mansion was built on land, which Frederick and his brother Jacob had bought to grow grapes and make wine. Beringer is the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley. And the Rhine House, which has been a part of the community for 124 years, is a beautiful measuring stick to remind us how long folks have been making wine here.
The foyer
Frederick’s architectural aim was to recreate the Victorian home in which he and his brother had grown up on the Rhine River, in Germany. Which is how the local structure got its name – Rhine House.
Executives at Beringer, now part of the Fosters Group, decided in 2006 that the dowdy icon needed a facelift, so they hired Architectural Resources Group (or ARG, with offices in San Francisco, Pasadena and Portland, OR) to lead the project and allocated $5 million to spruce ‘er up. The project took two years to complete.
Note the stenciled design and German text on the banner, which runs around the room, just beneath the ceiling, discovered during the two-year renovation.
In addition to seismic upgrades, the project included several phases of restoration; the conservation of 40 gorgeous stained-glass windows, which have meticulously been refurbished and refinished; the restoration of the original hardwood floors; the removal of layers (and years) of wallpaper, which led to the discovery of original banners, which had been hand-stenciled on foyer walls to welcome guests into the house twelve decades ago.
As portions of the hand-stenciled message are still being deciphered, the most anyone has been able to make, to date, of the German salutation drawn on the walls is: “Welcome, who with heart and hand will ever in friendship meet.”
As well, Beringer installed a geothermal heating and cooling system deep beneath the spacious front lawns to neutralize heat loss in the building in the winter and optimize cooling in the summer.
One of the 40 gorgeous stained-glass windows that were refurbished.
To celebrate completion of the project, Beringer hosted a renovation party this week, inviting a few hundred guests. Me too.
In honor of the occasion, some mighty fine Beringer wines were poured, including:
1995 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon, Chabot Vineyard
Gorgeous nose of roses, cherries and a hint of Virginia tobacco. On the palate, earth flavors, dark cherry notes and a lovely silken texture. 92 points.
1996 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon, Private Reserve
Deeply complex nose exhibiting aromas of mushrooms, forest floor, tobacco, ripe cerises. On the palate, there is a serial of tastes including those of fruit and – what’s this doing in here? – fresh pine. Not resin, not sappy. More like the scent/taste of fresh fall pine cones. A totally balanced, wonderfully complex wine, with a long cheery (I mean cheery and not cherry) finish. Major yum. Best wine of the evening. A wine just entering its prime. 95 points.
2000 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon, Private Reserve
Bright fruit on the nose and a balanced taste that follows. Very rich, too young to be called “opulent,” but this wine could easily grow to fill this description. More earthy notes than I recall on any Beringer Private Reserve Cab, which I have tasted at eight years of age, but not invasive or off-putting, just evident. Full-bodied, with a gorgeous middle palate. 93 points.
2006 Beringer Chardonnay, Private Reserve
Not your typical “Napa Valley Chardonnay,” usually a euphemism for wood-flavored wine. This spicy, racy, totally bright-in-the-mouth Chardonnay is totally food friendly, has a racy acid stripe that runs right up the middle of the tasting experience and lingers through to the finish. Crisp, clean, complex and delicious. And did I say I liked it? 91 points.
The Rhine House is open to the public for tours daily, 10 am - 6 pm from May 30 to Oct 23 and 10 am - 5 pm from Oct 24 to May 29. Beringer Vineyards is located at 2000 Main St., St. Helena, CA 94574. Tel: (707) 967-4412.
In addition to seismic upgrades, the project included several phases of restoration; the conservation of 40 gorgeous stained-glass windows, which have meticulously been refurbished and refinished; the restoration of the original hardwood floors; the removal of layers (and years) of wallpaper, which led to the discovery of original banners, which had been hand-stenciled on foyer walls to welcome guests into the house twelve decades ago.
Posted by: weight loss | March 01, 2010 at 02:22 PM
Loved reading your story of your family Jim.
Very special and interesting-!!
You are a star among many stars in your family. Thanks for the great read at the end of a long day, it was perfect!
Love, Layla
Posted by: layla fanucci | June 02, 2009 at 05:47 PM