2021 Terra 9 Cabernet Sauvignon Is Now Released!

April 18th, 2024

We are pleased to announce that our 2021 Terra 9 Cabernet Sauvignon is now officially released!

The 2021 Terra 9 is a sun-kissed vintage with opulent fruit, rich aromatics, and an irresistible...
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Chef Eric’s Cabernet Braised Pork Cheeks

January 19th, 2024

Our annual members-only Winemaker’s Dinner is a highlight of the year for us. This very intimate dinner pairs Taplin wine with a five-course meal, and our winemaker, Julien Fayard, speaks to every course and mingles with guests.

The 2023 menu included a wonderful Cabernet Braised Pork...
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Peter’s Entrecôte Bordelaise

November 17th, 2023

Entrecôte Bordelaise – Steak with Bordelaise sauce is a classic, and easy to serve over the holidays.

To pair with the 2016 Taplin Cabernet Sauvignon, we recommend doing this recipe with a filet mignon. With the 2019...
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Five Tips for Hosting with Wine from Sylvia Taplin

November 16th, 2023

The members of the Taplin family are a varied bunch, but one thing we all have in common is our love for hosting, and our passion for sharing wines that we love with our guests. Over the years, I have honed my hostess skills, and here are five tips I recommend when you are...
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Our Fish Friendly Farming Certification

August 7th, 2023

At Taplin Cellars, one of our core tenets is being good stewards of this land that has been in our family for over 150 years. One part of this stewardship that we take very seriously is our commitment to sustainable farming, and doing what we can to take care of the environment and ecosystem that...
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Our Cabernet Franc Story

June 8th, 2023

When the 5th generation of Taplins took stewardship of the land, all of our vineyards were planted with Cabernet Sauvignon.  Then almost 10 years ago, we planted a small block with Cabernet Franc, which we made our first wine from in 2019. We couldn’t believe...
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What is a “library wine”?

May 12th, 2023

When you hear the term library wine, sometimes it is unclear exactly what that means. What makes a wine a “library wine”? The term “library wine” refers to keeping a certain quantity of some vintages stored in the cellar after their initial release, so that they can...
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A Provençal Pairing for Melinda’s Rose

April 19th, 2023

Grilled Pissaladière au Fenouil

Like Melinda’s Rosé, this is a Napa Valley twist on a Provençal classic. Sweet, fresh fennel joins the traditional caramelized onions on this flatbread, melding seamlessly with the wine’s wild garrigue notes, and drawing out its fresh red fruit...
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It pairs with cabernet? You’d be surprised

March 22nd, 2023

Crispy-Skinned Duck with Vietnamese Pistou

This recipe blends French and Vietnamese flavors in a hauntingly exotic herb & walnut pistou. The secret ingredient is Vietnamese fish sauce, which layers marvelous depth and umami without weighing down the mint- and basil-flecked...
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Premiere Napa Valley, 2023

March 13th, 2023

Have you ever tasted a PNV wine?

PNV stands for Premiere Napa Valley, an event where the top Napa Valley wineries put a limited amount of wine from their best barrel, or produce a unique blend to offer it up for auction to benefit the Napa...
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Making Terra 9

February 14th, 2023

The process of making Terra 9 starts in our vineyards every year as the vines awaken from their winter slumber and begin to breathe again with new life.

We make Terra 9 using a different approach from that of our Taplin Cabernet Sauvignon,...
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Vegetarian Pairing for 2017 Taplin Cabernet Sauvignon

November 10th, 2021

This vegan recipe draws (loose) inspiration from feijoada, the national dish of Brazil—an intensely rich, meaty black bean stew often seasoned with tempero baiano and served with toasted cassava root, sliced oranges, and greens. Here, layers of smoky and herbaceous flavors in the...
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Evening BBQ with 2017 Terra 9

June 23rd, 2021

Grilled Flank Steak
Flank steak is a lean meat; therefore, the marinade and accompanying sauce are all-important. This recipe pairs very well with our 2017 Terra 9. The simple marinade with brown sugar helps to create a soft caramel sauce in the steak, enhancing the black cherries...
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A Summer Salad With Melinda’s Rosé

June 16th, 2021

Shaved Zucchini and Parmesan Salad

Ideal for a hot summer day, this salad features raw zucchini shaved into thin ribbons and tossed in a lemony dressing, with Parmesan, herbs, and some crunch from toasted nuts. Basil and pine nuts, or parsley and almonds, are each good options...
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Join us in “Move With Love” to remember Melinda’s story on May 15

March 30th, 2021

Are you confused by the many types, colors, and flavors of rosé wine? Our sister Melinda Taplin was, until she spent a year in France and fell in love with Provençal rosé: dry, with gentle flower and fruit aromas.

Back home, she dreamed of making rosé in California. After years of work,...
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PAIRING WITH 2017 TERRA 9

February 22nd, 2021

Lamb Chops with Persian Advieh & Minted Yogurt

Advieh literally means “spices” in Farsi, but also refers to a fragrant blend of sweet and savory spices frequently used in Persian rice dishes, grilled meats, and stews. Like all spice blends, the exact composition of advieh varies from...
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Decanting

February 10th, 2021

Recently, I was busy making dinner and rushed to my wine cooler to get a bottle of Cabernet that I thought would pair well with the beef I had cooked. When we were all ready, I opened the bottle at the table. BIG Mistake. The wine was too cold, and it tasted tight, with notes of rubbing alcohol. It...
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Glass Fire Update

October 8th, 2020

Thank you to everybody who has had us in their thoughts.

Harvest had wrapped up when the fire started and the wine is in a safe facility. Our property did not suffer damages. We did have to work off-site for a few days, but we are back to our schedule determined to continue on.

We are...
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Deep roots

September 13th, 2020

While sharing a bottle of our wine with an esteem sommelier in France, we were meticulously describing our Cabernet Sauvignon. He stopped us and said, you do not produce a Cabernet, you produce a St. Helena.

Herein is the concept of terroir, hard to define but often interesting to explore....
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Sip with Susan: Dr. Stephen Taplin hosts Dr. Susan Love for a virtual tasting and Q&A on breast cancer, August 13th

July 31st, 2020

When Melinda Taplin was diagnosed with breast cancer over 10 years ago, her brother, a physician, connected her with Dr. Susan Love. It was often difficult to even articulate the questions Melinda wanted to ask her doctor, but Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book provided guidance...
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5 things you need to know about shipping wine in the summer

June 26th, 2020

Summer time, longer days, and more down time invite a good glass of wine. But what if you didn’t have your favorite wines shipped in the spring, and it’s already 90 degrees? You might be worried about “cooked” wine showing up at your doorstep.

We have good news. Shipping...
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Wrapping Up Another Harvest

October 28th, 2019

Greetings from the Napa Valley, where we are wrapping up another harvest – Vintage 2019. We are almost a month later than last year. This year the steady warm temperatures and prolonged hang-time gave more development opportunity for compounds responsible for taste and complexity....
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