Long Meadow Ranch Winery

Long Meadow Ranch is a sustainably-farmed ranch in the Mayacamas Mountains to the west of Napa Valley, producing fine wines, handcrafted olive oils, grass-fed Highland cattle, eggs, organic fruits and vegetables, and honey. In fact, their St. Helena tasting room and adjacent Farmstead restaurant and gardens are only a part of the Long Meadow Ranch experience, which includes LMR Rutherford Gardens and the 650-acre Long Meadow Ranch itself.

Set back from the main highway a bit by a “green zone” of vines, vegetables, and fresh herbs, the Logan-Ives house that serves as the main tasting room is a restored 1874 Gothic-revival farmhouse, and is at once modern, timeless, and elegant. The signature pointed-arches of the gothic movement are reflected in many of the home’s furnishings, and even the signage outdoors. The tasting room is bright, spacious and offers several entertainment areas, each with nice view onto the surrounding gardens.

I was greeted at the tasting bar by a friendly server named Cynthia who shared a wealth of knowledge about the ranch and their operations while explaining the various wines she was pouring. The wines I tried were all excellent, and included a Sauvignon Blanc, three Cabernet Sauvignons and a red table wine called Ranch House Blend. My favorite was the complex E.J. Church Cabernet, named for the ranch’s original landholder, which I could imagine pairing with a nice steak. Luckily, the ranch’s own Farmstead restaurant offering grass-fed Highland beef (and farm-to-table vegetables for the vegetarian-minded), is just across from the tasting room should you care to indulge a similar fantasy on your visit.