What do you get when two outdoor enthusiasts start a winery? At Clif Family in St. Helena, you get an unpretentious gathering place that focuses on farm-fresh food and an array of wines made from organic grapes.
The story
A dozen years after launching their wildly successful energy bar business in Emeryville, Clif Bar founders Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford relocated to Napa Valley, seeking to form a deeper connection to the land.
Along with planting olive and fruit trees, the husband-and-wife team cultivated a small, organic vegetable garden on the back side of Howell Mountain. In 2004, they founded Clif Family Winery and Farm and produced their first Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Clif Family garden blossomed over the years, supplying produce for the winery’s food truck and house-made preserves. As the winery expanded, Erickson and Crawford continued running Clif Bar. In 2022, they sold that business for nearly $3 billion. They kept the winery.
Today, Clif Family grows 10 grape varieties across 90 acres of organically farmed vineyards in the Howell Mountain and Oak Knoll District appellations. All of its estate vineyards are certified organic and regeneratively farmed. With a focus on environmental and social responsibility, the B Corp-certified winery makes about 15,000 cases of wine each year across more than a dozen offerings — from big reds to white blends.
The vibe
What does a Napa Valley tasting room built with Clif Bar money look like? You’re probably imagining sweeping vineyard views framed by wall-sized windows, a reflecting pool or two, and maybe even some diamond-encrusted spit buckets. But this isn’t that kind of place. Opened in 2012, the Clif Family tasting room is set just off Highway 29 in a modest building that looks more like a cute vintage home than a showplace.
The atmosphere is refreshingly low-key and friendly, with bar and table seating inside, and a casual, shaded patio out back for sipping wines and nibbling bites from the Bruschetteria Food Truck. Need a pick-me-up after tasting and a leisurely lunch? Hit up the winery espresso bar.
On the palate
Clif Family is a “farm-first” kind of winery, so it’s fitting that winemaker Laura Barrett approaches her craft with food friendliness in mind. The juicy 2023 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($42) is bright and citrussy, with peachy hints. The 2023 Gary’s Improv Napa Valley Zinfandel ($50) wows with a blackberry pie profile balanced with zippy acidity. The lush 2023 Reyna Noriega Red Wine Blend from Napa Valley ($50) is an unconventional mix of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Malbec.
Tastings cost $50 and range from a seasonal array to a Cab-only flight to a fun, brunch-inspired offering called “Rise and Wine.” All tastings include seasonal food pairings made with ingredients from the farm. If you’re not a meat eater or a wine drinker, opt for the plant-based menu or craft mocktail swap-outs. The winery recently added a quickie bruschetta and wine tasting for just 20 bucks, available Wednesdays through Sundays.
Beyond the bottle
The Clif Family tasting room is as much about food as it is about wine. The winery’s food truck serves a full menu of bruschette, salads, sandwiches and snacks — all made with ingredients grown on the family farm. On Wednesdays until 7 p.m., the winery hosts Street Food Napa Valley, offering a rotating menu each week inspired by a different country. Don’t forget to check out the winery’s line of specialty food products, including organic jams, honeys and hot sauces.
Clif Family Winery, 709 Main St, St. Helena, 707-968-0625. Open Wednesdays 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Thursdays-Tuesdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. cliffamily.com