A Napa Valley Winemaker Takes Over Instagram

Missed last month's Instagram Live Q&A with Nickel & Nickel Winemaker Joe Harden? From the wines he's uncorking to the three dogs that keep him running, find out how this talented Napa Valley winemaker is making the most of the extra time at home. We rounded up the top questions from Joe's April 2020 Nickel & Nickel Instagram takeover, and included one of his favorite food and wine pairings, a single-vineyard Cabernet and curry combination that totally works!

How are you spending your time at home?

My wife and I have been cooking a lot, opening up some great Napa Valley wines, making fun cocktails. We've been busy landscaping and taking time to tidy things up here at home. We also have three dogs. Franklin's a French bulldog. Finnegan's our Irish Wolfhound. And there's Sammy. He's an Akita. They definitely keep us busy.

If you had to choose, Beatty Ranch or Kenefick Ranch?

You can't go wrong with either. They're two of my top picks. For an older vintage, lay down Beatty longer and if you're drinking it young, Kenefick is tasting really nice.

Favorite single vineyard Cabernet location?

I get to work with a lot of incredible Napa Valley vineyards. When I first started, one vineyard that really impressed me was Beatty Ranch, and the resulting wine is one that's very classic Howell Mountain and is going to age very nicely.

What is your favorite wine of all time?

A few weeks ago I opened up a 2009 Nickel & Nickel Hayne Vineyard Cabernet and I thought it was tasting amazing. It's up there for me, very impressionable and probably one of the favorites on my list.

What is your favorite Nickel & Nickel vintage?

It's too early to tell, but I'm really excited about the 2018 vintage. So exciting things to come!

What's your favorite Napa Valley AVA?

Oakville has to be my favorite appellation in Napa Valley. All the vineyards I've worked with in Oakville are incredible. The fruit has beautiful intensity. The wines age really well. So definitely Oakville.

What is happening in the Nickel & Nickel vineyards right now?

In April, the vineyards were starting to wake up. We first saw budbreak in our cooler regions, especially Chardonnay. Now the vines are budding out everywhere. We're getting ready!

What is your go-to dish to pair with Nickel & Nickel wines?

I love to barbecue. When the weather's right, we'll smoke some chicken. Then we'll open up some of my favorite single-vineyard wines, maybe a Beatty, Kenefick Ranch or Bear Track Cabernet from our new Howell Mountain vineyard. We'll throw together a nice garden salad and have some fun.

While we've missed hosting guests, from members of our Napa Valley wine clubs to wine lovers across the globe, we have found great inspiration and delight in connecting with people through our social media takeovers and virtual wine tastings. If you want more one on one connection while many of us continue to shelter at home, we invite you to check out our new monthly wine subscription, Hosted at Home. One of our most flexible wine membership programs (you can skip a shipment at any time!), Hosted at Home isn't just about bringing our most expressive and nuanced wines to your table. It's also an exciting new way to connect you with our wine experts, including pop-ins from our Napa Valley winemakers. Think of them as monthly virtual happy hours, hosted by some super knowledgeable wine pros.

For more virtual tasting and happy hour experiences, check out all the ways you can enjoy our Napa Valley wines at home here. And don't forget, we're continuing to share shipping included on all online wine orders through the end of the month!

As for that Napa Valley Cabernet pairing, check out Joe's video on single-vineyard wine and curry here!