Hoopes/Hoopla

Chasing her dogs one morning, Lindsay stumbled across a lovely Chardonnay vineyard across the borderline in Yountville. A short conversation and a handshake with the owner was all it took to procure a new source of excellent Chardonnay fruit. Fermented entirely in stainless steel, the wine offers vibrant notes of fresh pineapple and pear and a mouthfeel that’s round and creamy. A generous Chardonnay that’s bright and pure and without oaky notes of butter and vanilla, Hoopla Yountville Chardonnay is a lovely wine with an affordable price. Pairing suggestions include roast chicken with mashed potatoes, fish tacos, Chinese chicken salad or Brie cheese. 

A bottle of Hoopla Rosé solves that summertime dilemma when it’s too hot for red wine but a white would match neither the food nor the mood. With a darker color than the rosés of Southern France or Spain, Hoopla Rosé is blended from a spectrum of black grapes: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Zinfandel, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Syrah. The dark color derives from the winemaking process of bleeding red wine tanks (aka “saignée) soon after the start of maceration in order to add concentration to those wines. The bled off pink juice is then fermented separately in stainless steel tanks and becomes a lovely rosé that can be served well-chilled with a range of fish or lightly grilled meats. 

The airborne pup on the label is Dante, the Hoopes’s vineyard dog known as the “original boss.” But don’t let the playfulness of the label influence your perception of the wine. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petite Sirah, 4% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, this is a Bordeaux blend that expresses a California spirit. The wine seduces with layers of dark fruit flavors but remains balanced with acidity and well-integrated oak. According to the winery, “It is a luscious, juicy, fruit-centric wine, with a whimsical and punchy mouthfeel, layered with flavors of baking spices and clove. A pleasure to drink easily, anytime, with food or without!” Food-friendly and affordable, it’s a Cab that needs no special occasion to open and enjoy with friends or family.  

What they lack in pedigree, mutts often make up for in personality, character and entertainment value. And that’s how the folks at Hoopla see this wine. Though blended from the “seconds” that didn’t fit into the winery’s premium wines, The Mutt has the aromas, body and length one expects from a Napa Valley wine - but without the high-premium price. Featuring more Merlot than Cabernet, this is a fun and fruit-driven wine that offers intense aromas and a juicy palate of ripe cherries and plums. The wine will pair well with anything grilled at a summertime barbecue. But if juicy steaks or hefty pork chops are your thing, you won’t be disappointed. 

Hoopes Napa Valley is a blend of 85% Cabernet and 15% Merlot sourced from the family’s estate in Oakville as well as other Napa Valley vineyards. Given that wines produced by Hoopes’s famous neighbors sell for hundreds of dollars, this Cabernet offers a mighty value. 2017 was a year that saw ample winter rains, moderate summer temperatures, and an easy harvest that was complete before destructive fires tore across the hills to the east. Lindsey Hoopes says, “The 2017 Napa Cab has this incredible juicy acidity that complements the fine-grained tannins through the finish. Aromas of Black Licorice, Spearmint, and Eucalyptus welcome you to the glass. As the wine continues to open, you will gather expressions of plum, juicy blueberries, and freshly brewed coffee.” While this wine has been made to be enjoyed on release, it has acidity and tannin structure to improve with age. Pair with cuts of beef or pork – braised, stewed or grilled. 

The Hoopes estate vineyards stand are neighbors to such Napa Valley icons as Opus 1, Robert Mondavi, and Harlan Estate. Indeed, before the family started their label, their grapes were eagerly sought after by the famous estates. In addition to having a microclimate that’s not exactly cool or warm, the estate is blessed a variety of soils, including volcanic, which is rare on the floor of the Napa Valley. The winemaker, Anne Vawter, who had worked under Heidi Peterson Barrett for four years at the Paradigm Winery, sees Oakville as Napa’s most exciting sub-appellation, her “solar plexus.” James Suckling noted the “hand-crafted” approach and said the wine “shows the brightness and energy of the 2014 vintage with blackberry, hints of rose petal and black tea character [and] full body, polished tannins and a focused finish.”