Miller Ranch, Napa Valley

Jarrett Osborn, Riverwalk Wine & Spirits
May 14, 2008

Napa Valley sauvignon blanc is not as popular as its chardonnay, thus the pricing is reasonable and the wines are bargains. The 2006 Silverado Sauvignon Blanc, from Miller Ranch in the heart of the Napa Valley, costs under $20 and delivers silky lemon and lime flavors, with nice body and a smooth but clean finish. The Napa Valley in general is a fairly warm region, so the sauvignon blanc does not have the biting acidity and grapefruit of the Marlborough region in New Zealand, a cooler area.

But the Miller Ranch is located in a cooler pocket in the Napa Valley, so just a hint of grapefruit and pineapple sneak into the wine, perfectly brightening the finish.

This Silverado white is smooth enough to enjoy on the deck after work. Also drink this with crabcakes, pan-fried trout and shrimp scampi. Any white fish, such as halibut or grouper, will also pair well with this wine. Winemaker Jonathan Emmerich prefers to let the fruit do the talking, so this wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks, common for American sauvignon blanc.

Ron and Diane Miller moved to Napa Valley in the early 1970s. They started construction on Silverado Winery in 1981. Emmerich started as a lab technician at Silverado in 1990, working his way up to chief winemaker almost 10 years later. The Miller Ranch Vineyard stretches across the Yountville and Stags Leap appellations, just south of the town of Yountville.