Clif Family Farm & Winery Is A Culinary Destination Worth The Trip

Don’t be fooled by name: a visit to Clif Family Winery & Farm Enoteca in St. Helena, part of Napa Valley, is an experience that transcends wine. The label has a big following for its bold, rich reds, especially the small-batch produced cabernet sauvignon’s .

But rest assured that even if you’re a teetotaler, you will fit right in because this is a destination for gastronomes.

There’s the fabulous enoteca, to start, where guests get pick the music they want to hear and can enjoy farm-to-table incredible food, paired with wine— or not. Book one of the private tastings like the Pasta e Vino- a gorgeous lunch featuring seasonal produce grown on Clif’s organic farm and accompanied by organic wines. Yes, you can go the plant-based route here, too.

You’ll never eat the same dishes here twice or even three and four times if you come again: a tomato gazpacho with crunchy cucumber and pistachio chili oil might be the Amuse Bouche, followed by a house-made agnolotti with squash and ricotta in a brown-butter and sage sauce or Clif Family red wine braised short ribs with jus. As the playlist rolls on, the day doesn’t feel rushed or forced. Everything goes at the pace you set with a thoughtfulness and care that allows you to dine and unwind.

The service is genuine, the light and bright mid-century modern aesthetic is chic, and the vibe is cheery and lived in, so what’s not to love? Settle in on the comfortable couches surrounding the floor-to-ceiling green tiled fireplace, or grab a seat on the long table overlooking the vineyard with expansive views of the Mayacamas Mountain Range to the west.

It’s almost as if you’re in the home of close friends- exactly the vibe that Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, proprietors of Clif Family Winery & Farm (they’re the savvy entrepreneurs who are behind the wildly successful Clif Bar), want to impart.

“From the very beginning, we’ve tried to create a more meaningful connection between food, wine and the land,” Kit says. “Our journey is truly a reflection of our values and what we hold dear. We want to invite our guests to experience this connection first-hand, and the Enoteca tasting is the perfect way to share the incredible bounty from our family farm with organically farmed wines from our estate vineyards.”

This Enoteca reflects Kit and Gary’s commitment to sustainability, with wines from organically farmed estate vineyards and food pairings sourced directly from their farm. It’s a plot of land home to more than 70 different crops. The lineup is extensive with a list that includes tomatoes, asparagus, Meyer lemons, peppers, all types of herbs, apples, blueberries and olive trees to native plants and flowers.

A level of personalization runs through the Enoteca experiences. The culinary creations are led by Executive Chef Magnus Young (who previously worked with Michelin-starred chefs Sean Brock and Hiro Sone). He’s skilled at transforming the farm’s bounty into creative expressions of his “root to shoot” philosophy – celebrating seasonal ingredients and minimizing waste.

“Having access to a sustainable family farm that can provide nearly everything I need to create unique and flavorful dishes is like having a personal playground,” Magnus says. “I want to match and complement our wines in unexpected ways and the seasonal offerings from the farm help keep everything fresh and interesting.”

For those looking to start their Napa Valley day off the right way, the Cima Tasting Experience 10:00 am brunch interplays sweet and savory flavors that pair perfectly with the wines from winemaker Laura Barrett.

Expect a tower loaded with farm-inspired dishes. The lineup changes but might include fresh biscuits with bacon, farm-fresh hen eggs with caviar, zinfandel poached pears over yogurt with fresh tarragon, and more.

For a more casual and relaxed experience, the main tasting room – the Rifugio (or place of refuge) – located right on Highway 29 on Main Street in St. Helena, also offers wine and food pairings (small bites) as well as samples of the Clif Family’s specialty foods, such as preserves, olive oils and honey.

In a first that I’ve heard of for a winery, Clif Family has its own food truck, The Bruschetteria, that proffers an ever-changing array of certified organic bites, all created by Chef Magnus and his team.

And when you need a fix of Clif Family Winery & Farm without actually making the trip to Napa, the brand has a wide portfolio of wines and artisan foods to suit your taste for you indulge in or give as gifts. Their olive oil is a favorite in my kitchen, my kids love the jams, and the honey spreads— oh, my.

I’ve made my point. The wines are fantastic, but there’s a lot more to appreciate at Clif than imbibing.