Hans Fahden Vineyards

Hans Fahden is a beautiful winery tucked deep in the hills of Calistoga, about 30-45 minutes north of Napa. We had the opportunity to visit and try their wines as my friends were having their elopement ceremony on the winery grounds.

Apparently, Hans Fahden is one of the few wineries that caters to the smaller wedding parties, hence their focus on elopements. The grounds are spectacular and worth a visit alone.

Hans and Marie Fahden were from Hamburg, Germany and purchased the property in the early 1900's. The land was farmed for grapes and then prunes when Prohibition was enacted in 1920. In 1980, the third generation of Fahdens, restored the land and switched from the prunes to cabernet sauvignon grapes. In the subsequent years, they planted three vineyard areas which were separated by volcanic outcroppings and Douglar Fir forests. Shortly thereafter, the ponds went in and the beautiful wine cave was tunneled into a formation of four million year old volcanic ash!

Their first wine which was produced from the 1987 vintage was told in 1992. The public tasting license was rec'd in 1996 and they created a beautiful tasting room which doubles for the wedding reception area. We tasted their Cabernet prior to the wedding and it was good - definitely more earthy than some which I like. Aged in American oak, there is the slight vanilla finish to offset that rich earthiness.

I recommend visiting just for the tranquil nature of the grounds and the beautiful ponds that are filled with lily pads and cattails. The wine cave is beautiful and if you have your wedding reception there, a romantic candlelit dinner can be arranged. Not sure who the wedding cake was arranged through but without a doubt, the best cake I've had (next to my own of course...ha ha)!!!