Brasswood

Nestled just off Napa Valley’s St. Helena Highway one can find Brasswood, a world-class wine and food village that is bound to excite your senses!

During a weekend in Napa Valley, I dined at Brasswood Bar + Kitchen for dinner and visited their state-of-the-art winery for a tour and tasting. Each staff member I encountered oozed passion for food, wine, and providing exceptional experiences for guests.

With over 17,000 square feet of wine caves carved into the hillside, Brasswood’s facilities alone are a wonder to see. However, once you taste their elegant and well-balanced wines you immediately understand the art that goes into each bottle. Brasswood has an exciting team of winemakers including consulting winemaker, Angelina Mondavi.

My boyfriend, Matthew and I sat fireside in Brasswood’s cozy and chic winemakers den for a private tasting. We had a wonderful time with our guide, Josh and he poured us Brasswood Cellars Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. 

When wandering the estate, one will come across Brasswood Bar & Bakery as well as Brasswood Bar & Kitchen. The Bar & Bakery is your perfect 8am-5pm spot for breakfast, lunch or a bite in between. 

I had the pleasure of dining at Brasswood Bar + Kitchen for dinner and it’s a gathering place for both locals and visitors. The menu includes comfort food that’s inspired by the bounty of Napa Valley.

Matthew and I started our evening with cocktails. I had the I Left My Heart in Oaxaca – a concoction of Montelobos Mezcal, fresh lime, apricot liqueur, palo santo bitters, and warm salt. It was perfectly smooth and a great drink to start off my weekend with! Matthew had a Brasswood Manhattan featuring Hirsch Whisky, Carpano Antica, black walnut bitters, and traverse cherry. He was very happy with his choice and sipped on a couple of cocktails throughout the evening, as did I.

As for starters, we had Crispy Arancini with duck bolognese – an exciting take on a classic Italian dish. To follow, we were served their iconic, Hand Pulled Mozzarella that was cut and served table side. This mozzarella was hands down the best American made mozzarella I’ve encountered. 

For our main course, we had the Pan-Seared Scallops served atop butternut squash purée as well as a fantastic Schmitz Ranch Prime New York Steak. It’s honestly one of the best American steaks I’ve ever had – the inside was tender and juicy and maintained perfect coloring, while the outside held a perfect sear that trapped the juiciness inside. It was accompanied by grilled broccolini and potato gratin. 

Even though our meal was satisfying, Matthew and I made sure to save room for dessert! We shared the Butterscotch Panna Cotta, topped with caramel sauce, crème fraiche, and a rosemary hazelnut cookie. We also had Roasted Fuji Apple Bread Pudding served with huckleberry sauce, candied nut crumble, and salted caramel gelato. Both were too delicious!

If you’re in need of a post-dinner drink, be sure to ask about their selection of port, cognac, and absinthe. They also have fine cigars, in case you’d fancy one. Matthew indulged in a Montechristo after dinner which rounded things out quite well.

Overall, sight, smell and taste are all tantalized when at Brasswood. With world-class wines and delicious meals made side-by-side, Brasswood provides an elevated food and wine experience.