B Cellars — Attraction in Napa Valley AVA

‘Welcome to b cellars she said with a huge smile.

It was one of those insanely hot days in Napa, in the middle of summer, and we were greeted with her kindness and a cold drink and informed our guide Pete would be with us shortly.

This relatively new vineyard and winery is a little oasis, located in Oakville, it was one of my favorites on our last trip. I love Napa. I love Sonoma. I love champagne… you could see how a weekend here is my perfect getaway.

What struck me about this vineyard was the level of attention they paid from the moment we arrived until we left with our delicious wines.

Not only were we greeted with the phrase ‘Are you Mr. and Mrs. James?’… wait was I wearing a nametag? No. They were just that good.

Our tour guide Pete, came out to greet us and share the overview of the afternoon ‘experience’ as he called it. We were waiting for one other couple to join us, but let’s enjoy Rose while we wait! Lets.

When we entered this gorgeous glass and brick modern building it was complete with an open kitchen, elegantly placed merchandise, white linens, and multiple sparkling glasses on each table. While we were standing sipping our Rose, the chef whipped up us a little morsel of fabulousness for us each to try, I was sold!

Quick introductions, a refill of the Rose, and then off to the gardens we went. Pete was enthusiastic as he explained the vines (all lovingly dedicated to different family members marked by plaques at the end of each row) and surrounded by olive trees for a little shade, it really is a pretty vineyard. Then he lovingly showed us their garden, so proud of growing a wide variety of herbs and vegetables used by the Chef to delight the taste buds of their guests.

As we walked towards the caves I was a little apprehensive (you may not know I am claustrophobic) but as the doors opened to the dark room filled with wine barrels, I felt totally at ease and even more adventurous. Wandering through their elegant space they had created special entertaining rooms for parties and events and Pete even opened a barrel for us to taste (clearly this is smart marketing but I didn’t care, I loved it). We later purchased some of that same wine for when it is to be released later this year.

When we returned to the main building we were seated to find menus customized with our names, and a series of great wine selections each accompanied by a handmade treat from the chef in the open kitchen. I was in heaven. I even commented that the crispy chicken leg might have been the best thing I tasted all day. Note: not even a week later a thoughtful note was received from Pete that also included the recipe, he was definitely paying attention.

I love to travel, you could say I travel like a brat. I love nice things. The thoughtfulness of the plating, the decision of which wine would best accompany what flavors and then all listed out for us to remember were just some of the thoughtful touches of this winery.

Did we join their wine club? Of course. I would put it up there in my top 5 places in the Napa area. If you are planning a trip, connect with Pete, book the wine and food pairing … you can thank me later.

It’s the little things that make a big impact. Knowing someone’s name (and using it throughout our visit), printing our name on a menu (no cost but big thought), creating an environment that felt relaxing and elegant all at the same time, having a passion for not only the wine, but also the story, the family, the grounds and the food. Pete created this experience. It only takes one person to make an impression.

In your business, who is your Pete? Who is your ambassador that makes your customers, clients, members feel like they are the most important person who has visited today.

Remember,...

I've been to my fair share of Napa tastings, but this might be my new favorite... for MULTIPLE reasons.

1. The wine is delicious.

2. The people were incredibly welcoming & we loved that we got to tour the property with one of the founders, Jim.

3. But by far my most favorite part was the food. Unfortunately, I have quite a few dietary restrictions. The member of our group who booked the tasting didn't know that. Luckily, the hostess double checked as we walked in and I apologized and explained I had many and I knew it would likely be too late to accommodate, so no worries. She reassured me she'd love to figure it out with the chef if she could, so she took down my list.

After the initial part of our tour, I was informed they'd be able to accommodate. I don't think we understood this was a full pairing at first, but as they brought out bite after bite, I noticed mine was perfectly tweaked each time to meet my needs. They even found a way to serve me a french dip slider wrapped in Swiss chard, which was ridiculously delicious.

(For context, I had just come from a more expensive food pairing tasting where they had my restrictions months in advance and still served me food with ingredients I couldn't have.)

I was so impressed by their team's quick thinking, diligence, and creativity. And Chef Derick was so kind and relatable. I couldn't stop thanking him! I'm be forever grateful for the ability to safely share this experience with my friends and would highly recommend B Cellars to anyone visiting...

Upon arriving at B Cellar for what we hoped would be a delightful wine tasting experience, we were met with an unexpectedly frosty reception. Regrettably, the woman who greeted us lacked the warmth and hospitality one anticipates when visiting a renowned Napa winery. Her unsmiling demeanor and apparent irritation because we were 5-10 minutes late left a sour taste before we'd even sampled the first vintage.

Despite this unwelcome start, the other facets of our visit managed to partially redeem the day. The server, a stark contrast to our greeter, provided exemplary service. He mastered the art of welcoming guests with finesse, guiding my wife and me through the charming wine cellar with enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of each wine we tasted. His skilled presentation and amiable nature significantly improved our spirits, offering us the Napa experience we had envisioned.

While the initial encounter could have cast a lasting negative shadow over our entire visit, it is only fair to acknowledge the server's efforts to turn things around. However, first impressions are crucial, and it's disheartening to think that others may also be greeted with less than the expected level of Napa hospitality.

I encourage B Cellar management to consider the pivotal role of a greeter and its impact on the company's image. It is my hope that what we experienced was an anomaly and that future guests will be welcomed with the warmth and enthusiasm that is characteristic of the Napa Valley wine...