Trinitas Cellars

Trinitas Cellars was founded by Tim (born and raised in Michigan) & Steph Busch in 2002. In 1948 after returning from World War II, Tim’s father Joseph co-founded a single grocery store called Country Market. Much later in 1975, Joseph co-founded and repurchased two of his original six supermarkets, calling them J&C Family Foods. Today Tim and his brothers are partners in 16 store locations, all in Michigan – now called Busch’s Fresh Food Market. This is the largest independently owned grocery store chain in the state of Michigan. From personal experience, these upscale markets offer an excellent choice of produce, specialty items and wines including as expected, a selection of wines from Trinitas Cellars.

Tim is an attorney who moved from Michigan to Orange County, California in 1982; he founded The Busch Firm in 1979 – a law firm that offers a variety of legal services relating to multi-million-dollar real estate and commercial business transactions with offices in Irvine and in Napa.

Tim is also the founder and CEO of Pacific Hospitality Group, which owns several properties as part of the Meritage Collection; as of our latest update to this review, includes both their Napa Valley based properties (The Meritage Resort and Spa and Vista Collina Resort) along with Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa and Ko’a Kea Hotel & Resort at Poipu Beach in Kauai. Along with ownership of these properties they also manage additional properties in select locations within the USA.

Busch’s Fresh Food Market, Ann Arbor

In addition to his business ventures and various investments, Tim co-founded The Magis Center, (‘magis’ means ‘more’ in Latin), an organization that in part focuses on restoring people’s belief in God and the virtues associated with his holy presence – especially directing youth towards faith through reason, rather then baptism.

And he co-founded the Napa Institute, a Catholic centered organization and has been active in local education in Orange County having co-founded St. Anne School in Laguna Niguel and JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano. The Busch Family Foundation is the family’s philanthropic arm – focusing on education and community service.

Busch School of Business, Catholic University of America
In support of the Busch’s generous contributions, the business school at the 176-acre Catholic University of America (founded 1887) is named the Tim and Steph Busch School of Business (generally referred to as the Busch School of Business) and is located in Maloney Hall next to Michigan Avenue NE on the southeast part of campus. Maloney Hall was constructed in 1917 and was originally used for the Chemistry Department but finished a major remodel by 2018 – and the Busch School of Business opened to students in early 2019.

The foundation of this business program begins with strong ethics while giving students the skills to success in business. Both undergraduate and master’s programs are offered. Maloney Hall contains the nearly 300 seat Della Ratta Auditorium (often used by guest speakers), the pavilion area (open space), classrooms and the intimate St. Michael The Archangel Chapel (several plaques honoring the Busch family are fastened to the exterior wall of the chapel including a dedication to Tim’s own parents, Joseph and Marcheta Busch and Steph’s parents, Gerald and Dorothy Tremble.

Incidentally, The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is located within a very short drive or about a 7 minute walk from the Busch School of Business. This impressive cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States of America. During our weekend visit, the main cathedral was not open to the general public – but was open to Catholics seeking a confessional. However, a lower level is open for those wanting to pray.

This picturesque university is located only about 10 minutes driving from central Washington DC or four metro stops from Capitol Hill.

Today Tim and Steph’s son Garrett (who like his father is a University of Notre Dame graduate) is the CEO of Trinitas Cellars. And Trinitas Cellars was one of the founding members of the Notre Dame Wine Academy – featuring wines produced by graduates (including a number from Napa Valley based alumni). Remarkably and unexplained, Garrett and his wife Betsy were blessed with triplets born in 2016.

Morris Inn, Notre Dame (in part, home of wines from Notre Dame alumni)

Trinitas is Latin for Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in Christianity) but it also applies to the wine industry; three important characteristics include the sun, soil and humanity – all key ingredients for making excellent wine.

Trinitas produces a wide variety of reasonably priced wines. Grapes are sourced from select vineyards from a diversity of locations in Northern California, including the Napa Valley. A small vineyard grows on the Meritage Resort property with vines above the spa-cave extending all the way to Highway 12 (look for the iconic grape crusher statue on the hill directly behind/south of the resort).

Several Bordeaux red varieties are planted on site as well as a bit of Chardonnay which is the variety that grows in the extremely rocky soil directly above the cave entrance. In fact one can enjoy a relaxing “wine walk” – from the entrance to the cave – proceed up the steps to the left and take the short trail that meanders among the vines. Pause for reflection at the Madonna statue near the chairs.

Select Wines
Considering this is the “Napa Wine Project”, during our latest tasting of the Trinitas Cellar wines we carefully selected mostly Napa wines to review from their tasting menu (they do produce a number of non Napa Valley grown wines).

The 2015 Trinitas Cellars Chardonnay, Carneros Napa Valley is amber colored. Immediately offers pretty aromatics of hazelnut, honeycomb, ripe mandarin and sweeter baking spices. On the palate shows a richness of flavor without heavy viscosity. Offers citrus, an orange zest, honey and popcorn butter. Also initially shows mineralities on the finish; lingers softly with notes of butterscotch and toasted vanilla bean. This wine was both barrel fermented and aged and went through full malolactic fermentation. Has evolved nicely over several years – carried by intense fruit and a decent acidity.

The Trinitas Cellars Non Vintage Elementis Red Wine, California opens with aromatics of cherry cola, red licorice, toasted vanilla bean and a hint of cloves. Light on the palate with some sweetness of fruit – offers flavors of red cherry and blueberry. Soft across the palate; not much structure follows through on the finish – rather then any grip of tannins, lingers with spice notes including black pepper and slight sweetness. If we had to guess, this red blend might have some Zinfandel in it.

The 2005 Trinitas Cellars Pinot Noir from the nearby Carneros appellation is like drinking candy. It is a delicious fruit forward wine (with a generous helping of fruit-driven aromatics) and a pleasing mouth feel which is silky and smooth with flavors of cola, cherry, nuances of cedar and spices.

The 2005 Trinitas Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the smoother Cabernet Sauvignons one will try from Oakville; shows a floral character on the bouquet (with nuances of violets) – some of these floral qualities are carried onto the palate. This wine features a long supple finish.

Revelation is the name of the Late Harvest Cuvée, a blend of 4 red varieties entirely from old dry farmed vineyards. The 2005 Trinitas Cellars Revelation opens with a surge of perfume and candied fruit type aromas on the bouquet. Rich fruit is represented on the palate – not overly sweet but fairly well-balanced, complemented in part by the decent acidity.

NOTE: this section has been identified as needing a major update.

THE MERITAGE COLLECTION

The Meritage Resort and Spa

The Meritage Spa offers a luxurious underground spa with pools, treatment rooms and tiny “relaxation” grottos. We’ve been in numerous wine caves in the Napa Valley (as of our last update about 150 such wine caves), but this is the first cave we visited to house a spa.
Notes coming by late 2021

Grape Crusher Statue

Vineyard Walk, Meritage

 

Vista Collina Resort
Opened in summer 2018 this modern wine-country resort features four stories housing 145 Tuscan-styled guest rooms. Meaning “view of the hills” in Italian it is located across the street and north of the Meritage Resort & Spa.
Notes coming by late 2021

The Village at Vista Collina
In summer of 2018 a large parcel of land directly to the south and across the street from the Meritage Resort opened as Vista Collina Resort along with the neighboring, The Village at Vista Collina – featuring a large green space (with environmentally friendly turf) contains nine stand alone tasting rooms on the ground floor (nine being a number divisible by three produces three – tying into the Trinitas name), a luxurious Vintner’s Room (for special vintner member and other community and private events) and the Village Food & Wine Center where chefs teach a variety of culinary seminars and host other culinary related events. The Village at Vista Collina held its grand opening on August 4, 2018. Plenty of parking is located across the street in the parking lots that surround The Meritage Resort or visitors to the property often find spaces, curbside on the street that runs in front of The Village.

And the Fivetown Gourmet Grocery and Deli is an integral part of the The Village experience. Named after the five towns within the Napa Valley including Yountville, Rutherford, Oakville, St. Helena and Calistoga – this upscale market features a variety of farm-fresh local ingredients and home-made products. There is plenty of seating outside the grocery – one can also picnic on the lawn area.

In 2019, Vista Collina opened a cooking school – offering cooking classes, lunch and dinner demonstrations and wine pairing experiences. Vista Collina also maintains the Village Truck – a food truck that is often on site.

The ‘lawn’ area is ideal for hosting a variety of events including concerts. Umbrellas inserted into the ground can easily be moved and seating arrangements are highly flexible.

Of the nine tasting rooms, two stand out – one is the Trinitas Wine Room featuring a visually intriguing interior including an impressive circular bar. Tastings offer a huge variety of wines to choose from. From the tasting flight, one selects four different wines from a list of whites, reds and a dessert wine. The other is the Foley Food & Wine Society – anchoring one side of the courtyard with its own sizable space. The focus of the tastings here are on select wines from a number of wineries within the Foley Family portfolio including from Napa (ALTVS/Merus, Foley-Johnson and Kuleto Estate), neighboring Sonoma County and Central California.

In addition to Trinitas Cellars, other boutique wineries represented include Cornerstone Cellars, GEN 7 Wines (non Napa Valley family that traces their California winemaking heritage back to their own winery dating from 1832 near the town of Hollister in San Benito County – run by charismatic winemaker and 7th generation family member Tim Bacino), Jayson by Pahlmeyer, Luna Vineyards, Mi Sueño Winery, Napa Smith Brewery and The Wine Foundry.

The Village at Vista Collina

Trinitas Cellars Tasting Space

Fivetown Grocery

Vintner’s Room

 

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, CA is located about 5 minutes from the 5 freeway in La Jolla (within walking distance of the nearby well-known Torrey Pines Gliderport where hang gliders often soar above the coastline) and not far from the famous Scripps Research Institute. And with no traffic this property is only about a 20 minute drive from downtown San Diego. One of our happy places in the state – this property is the perfect respite from reality combining silence, pretty grounds, pleasant staff and an old world feel. It is always a nice feel to pull into the circular parking lot in front of reception, and be greeted by an attendant who warmly welcomes you to the property.

Estancia is built in an old mission-ranch style with three stories of rooms centered around an expansive grass and vegetation filled courtyard. Any of the rooms are spacious – the Veranda rooms, primarily on the ground floor come with private patios and balconies. The property features plenty of space and guests should take time to wander the grounds, leisurely – perhaps with a glass of Trinitas Cellars wine in hand (every stay comes with a complimentary bottle).

Also known for their saltwater pool and spa. The heated pool is sizable and surrounded in part by cabanas with canvas drapes that can be drawn to create more privacy. A hot tub next to the pool is an ideal way to soak away the stresses of the world. And the spa is hidden away behind the pool area – well-regarded it was named “Best Spa” by San Diego Magazine and has also earned acclaim for their massages.

The property features three culinary spaces, Mustangs & Burros (with plenty of outdoor seating in their patio), Adobe El Restaurante and Blend Café. Access to the parking lot is by using the room key-card. A small chapel is used for on-site weddings.

Trinitas Wine Bar, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Wines from Trinitas Cellars can be ordered by the glass or by tasting flight or paired with small bites including a charcuterie board. Trinitas Wine Club members enjoy complimentary tastings during select hours on Wine Wednesdays.

The Trinitas wines are not the only alcohol served here, guests can choose from local San Diego craft beers, a variety of cocktails (some use their own house-created bitters) and the resort’s own private label Single Barrel Jack Daniels. This is a cozy and relaxing tasting space. Private tasting options including educational events focusing on wine-food pairings and barrel-aged spirits can be arranged by appointment.

 

Ko’a Kea Hotel & Resort at Poipu Beach, Kauai
Visit coming in 2020 or 2021

 

Paséa Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach, CA is ideally located off of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) mere steps from the golden sands of Huntington Beach’s famed coastal strip. Next door is Pacific Mall with a variety of restaurants and clothing shops. And a short walk away is the iconic Huntington Beach Pier and Main Street. Paséa is not separate from the surrounding beach life, rather it embraces the beach scene and related culture. Most of the 250 spacious rooms and suites offer views of the beach, each with their own outdoor balconies. And like at the other Meritage Collection properties, each room/stay comes with a complimentary bottle of Trinitas Cellars wine.

The entrance is not directly on the PCH but rather in the back of the property off of Pacific View Avenue. The reception area is inviting and very big. Excellent staff – attentive, friendly and helpful. Each guest is given a small wooden surf board which instead of a traditional key card, is used to access the elevator, pool area and rooms.

The feel is decidedly urban and modern, yet casual. The quintessential experience at Paséa is soaking in the hot tub in the evening – from your perch at the edge of the enclosed pool patio with a drink in hand, one watches the sun slowly drop into the glimmering Pacific Ocean. Perhaps some fog or clouds have rolled in by this time of the evening – adding a dramatic flair to the sunset. This resort is ideal for romantic couples but also very family friendly (and we saw a number of families with younger children during our stay).

The nearly 6,000 square foot Aarna is a Balinese type spa offering indoor and outdoor sessions. Two dining spaces (also open to non guests) are Tanner’s with its communal dining offering a number of seafood items (located poolside) and the locally iconic Treehouse Lounge upstairs – another great place to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset. And Blend Cafe offers up a number of grab and go items or quick serve snacks. Makes an ideal breakfast stop.

Parking is an additional fee (valet takes your car to one of the lower levels in the nearby parking garage reserved for the resort). A resort fee is added to every stay. Bicycles are available for use around town. And with plenty of additional both indoor and outdoor space, Paséa hosts weddings and receptions and a variety of corporate events.

 

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The Busch Firm
The Busch Firm maintains two offices, one in the Napa Valley Commons business park just south of the city of Napa and their primary southern California office (their headquarters) in a business park within a 6-minute drive from John Wayne Airport (SNA) off of Dupont Drive. The focus of the Busch Firm is providing legal, tax and other business services to a variety of both private and commercial clients. In addition they have provided counsel for a number of prominent Southern California real estate transactions including the purchase of what is the Christ Cathedral (formerly the Crystal Cathedral) and the purchase and construction of Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara and the Newport Beach Country Club among others.

Located on the northwest side of The Busch Firm’s offices is the Queen of Life Catholic Chapel. Highly unusual to have a catholic chapel in a business park building – this is conveniently located for both the employees of The Busch Firm but also for other employees in the surrounding business park. Open to both residents and visitors alike. Offers daily mass during the week days at 1150am and is open to the public for prayer from 8-5pm Monday through Friday. This space has also been used to host a number of cardinals and bishops as well as talks from other religious leaders.

The Busch Firm, Irvine

The Busch Firm, Napa

PRIOR WINE SPACES OR VENTURES
NOTE: we keep our notes here for nostalgia and reference purposes.

Trinitas Cave Tasting Room (wine tasting space closed in 2018)
The original tasting room for Trinitas Cellars was located in their 20,000 square foot cave next to the luxurious spa. This was one of the very few tasting rooms located at a resort within the Napa Valley. Well received, the tasting space was a fine complement to the property within easy walking distance of the hotel rooms. This cave system is tunneled 40 feet underneath the locally iconic Grape Crusher Statue, easily seen from Highway 12.

Trinitas Library (closed in 2019)
Trinitas Cellars took over the old Patz & Hall facility in early 2014 in the corporate park (not far from the Meritage) just south of Napa and for about 5 years used this space to offer Library tastings by appointment. This is a several minute drive from the Meritage and within about 10-15 minutes walking distance.

This tasting salon was named the Trinitas Library because it featured some of their older wines. This beautiful salon was a great place to relax while simultaneously learning about wine. With so many vineyard sources in their portfolio, Trinitas shared some vineyard education in a visual manner – soil samples from the vineyards and a large map showed each of their vineyard sources.

Incidentally, the offices for the Busch Firm are located across the street, just to the north of this old location.

Marchesi Fumanelli
For a number of years, the family also sourced grapes from select vineyards in Northern Italy near Verona. Tim initially looked to the Napa Valley to make Amarone – a popular wine we personally saw being made in Verona, the last time we were in this part of Italy. The grapes are picked and then by law must dry a minimum of 2 months. One winery we visited, Tedeschi Wines had built a special warehouse just for their Amarone production in which the grapes are left to dry – by the time the grapes are pressed much of the juice by volume has been lost to evaporation. This is an expensive wine to make not only based on the extra time needed but also this lost volume.

Long story short – Tim was unable and unsuccessful in producing Amarone from the Napa Valley so he went to Italy; 2006 was the first Trinitas vintage of this wine – the last vintage was in 2010. This wine was made in Italy by Marchesi Fumanelli and then shipped over in bottle.

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For more information and or to join their Wine Society, wine club, visit: www.trinitascellars.com.

NOTE: this review is currently undergoing a ** major ** update over the next several years as we visit numerous places and spaces around the country connected to the Busch family.