Corison Winery — Attraction in Napa Valley AVA

I always enjoy my visits to Corison. The back patio is so relaxing. Even though the winery is set off of 29, it’s calm and peaceful in the back with a view of the rows of grapes and mountains.

The staff is always friendly and informative. I feel like I always learn something new about winemaking and Corison versus other wineries where it seems like it’s always the same script. They’ll leave you alone to enjoy the ambiance but check back frequently to make sure you get your next pour.

The history of the winery is great as Cathy (the winemaker) has been at this since the 80s. I like hearing about their sustainability practices and the care they put into making wine. They put making good wine over marketing, and it shows in the consistent high quality of the wines over the years.

They’re most known for their elegant yet complex cabs (in contrast to the big bold and higher alcohol cabs of many Napa wineries). The tastings here will usually also include their gewurtz and cab franc, which are both quite good.

Appointments required for the most part. You might be able to drop in if...

Let me tell you how I really feel about this winery. To be honest, I found it delicious when they poured the grape juice in my glass and it sounded like singing. I was so taken aback by the angels singing outside that the sunlight was like a beam of optimism and hope filtering through the window. Each bit of floating dust was like a peaceful cloud. When I went to the bathroom it was disgusting. I came back and found my party of wine tasters still sitting at the bar, chatting quietly. I didn't like the second to last wine I tasted as much as the last one I tasted, which is a complicated good thing.. Nobody else even knew you were there if you were, because I didn't. I don't remember you being there at all. Tomorrow I will go to the school and complain that they aren't offering any night classes this summer. I hated it when I saw a tree I used to sit against was being chopped down by a guy with an axe... It felt like a dream when I asked him why he wasn't using a chainsaw....

The wines are great, but the hosts don’t seem to like their job. No love for their wine nor do they offer a nice experience. They wanted us to try all the wines in the same glass, some of them different grapes. My husband had to throw away his wine so the host could pour the following wine. He said the owner wanted it that way. I would really like Cathy Corison to know about this and to explain the reason of throwing away such good wine just because the host doesn’t want to put three glases on the table. They are a tiny boutique with a lot of competition in the area, they should definitely reconsider...