Reverie Winery is a small winery producing ultra premium wines located in the northern part of the Valley just south of the town of Calistoga. It is owned by Norm Kiken and family. Norm was sitting in a dentist's chair on the East Coast waiting for a root canal when he read an article about wine in one of the obligatory magazines you always find in waiting rooms at dentists offices. Most people do not find inspirations in dentist offices but that day Norm found inspiration in a most unusual way. He plunged himself into studying and tasting wine from that day forward, although it did take him more than 20 years before he moved to Napa and started the winery.
They are located about 1.5 miles in on the narrow winding Diamond Mountain Road just up the road from von Strasser Winery. Their vineyards are all located on fairly steep rocky soil - perfect terroir conditions for producing high end wine! All fruit for their wine comes from this estate property. There are not many wineries who will see visitors at all in the Diamond Mountain Appellation and these two wineries are the only wineries in this particular area. Because of proximity and excellent quality of both producers, consider visiting both when you are here.
All Reverie's wines are estate grown (for the most part grown on steep hillsides) with the utmost attention to detail during the growing and winemaking processes. In addition, all their wines are unfiltered which often leaves a better representation of the true varietal taste in the actual wine.
Typically you will walk around the property during your tour with a stop in their small working wine cave for a taste at the long table in the back. Note the realistic cave painting on the doors of the cave but be sure not to walk straight into it! Reverie has beautiful grounds designed by the late Evelyn Kiken who was a Master Gardener. A visit here, regardless of weather always stops in their circular redwood grove (yes umbrellas will be provided if you don't have one). If the weather is nice, your tasting will be here otherwise you will spend much more time in the cave. Typically you will start out your tasting with their Sauvignon Blanc and the Chardonnay both of which are fermented in stainless steel tanks. They produce great complex hillside grown Cabernet Sauvignons especially their "special reserve" which meets their strictest requirements for only the best lots and blends; you can really pick up an earthy and mineral component to this wine and the tannins on the finish are well structured. We tried the 2004 vintage; its a wine built to age with a lot of structure not only on the finish. Big fruit including blackberry and black currant is complemented with subtle herbal and cedar notes.
Reverie is well-known for its ASKiken brand which is typically a 5-varietal Bordeaux blend. The owners last name is Kiken, and well, you get the rest! A shirt with this name on it even appeared in one of the front covers of Rolling Stone Magazine. We tried the 2005 vintage. This wine shows very ripe fruit on the palate, black cherry, raspberry and perhaps a little plum with hints of oak and spices. The pleasant finish contains tannins that are alluring and not overwhelming. The owner's son Andrew who is often at the winery runs a wine event service (www.napatopia.com). Ask about their "wine quiz" for a possible bottle of free wine! For more info visit: www.reveriewine.com
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Open to Public: No
Appointments: Yes
Regular Tours: No
Hours: Call
Phone: 942-6800
Address: 1520 Diamond Mountain Road, Calistoga
 Winery Photos Winery Website
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