A World of Enchanting Spirits is Found at the Silverado Vineyards!

June 3, 2012 Filed under Southeast Destinations, Travel, Western Destinations Posted by Travels with Charley

A World of Enchanting Spirits is Found at the Silverado Vineyards!

Some of the most amazing wines and spirits in the world are found at the most elegant resort in this nation. Yes, we are speaking about the King and Prince Resort, which has been highlighted in so many areas – everything from a primo golf course to spectacular dining experiences to having the most luxurious rooms and accommodations possible. Each week readers wait to be taken by the hand to the Golden Isles of Georgia to meet, greet and fall in love with even more amenities that King and Prince Resort provide their guests.

When it comes to this stunning locale, not only do the spirits of the guests and staff soar about as high as possible, seeing as that everyone is basking and relaxing in the lap of luxury while staring out at the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, but King and Prince also goes one step further to provide the best ‘spirits’ to go along with that amazing mood shared by all that makes you wish your vacation would never come to an end.

On St. Simon’s Island, spirits are being served that are truly set in a ‘celebrity’ and ‘historical’ world, as well as being the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to taste and aroma. And not only does this particular winery we are speaking about produce new lines and breakout ‘hits’ in all wine categories, but it also has a very close relationship to a man we all honor and remember for his brilliant imagination – Walt Disney.

The Miller Ranch and Silverado Vineyards is family-owned and operated. This very prominent family is part of the ‘Disney’ group. Founded by Walt Disney’s daughter Diane and her husband, Ron Miller – who was Walt’s right-hand-man, Silverado has nothing to do with theme parks and everything to do with pure and utter taste.

Now the parents of seven, and grandparents to fourteen, Ron and Diane have retired and do not actually work the winery. They do, however, sit on the Board, taste the new brands as they come out, and truly throw their love and support behind the family legacy.

The family’s fingers are in various areas of the wine-making business. In fact, the label used on the bottles is actually a creation that came from the perspective of Walt’s great-granddaughter, Annabelle Miller. The scene is of Annabelle’s great grandmother’s home overlooking the vineyards. This pencil/graphite sketch shows the ‘down-to-earth’ feel of the artisans who work the vineyard and represents the winery’s true and utter balance between tradition and the future.

Winemaking, actually, has an amazing history; perhaps even more amazing than Disney’s own legacy. It was over one hundred and twenty years ago that a man by the name of Robert Louis Stevenson actually wrote about his journey into what was then the wild country of the Napa Valley.

Living and writing from inside an abandoned home which was situated on the barren Silverado mine site, Stevenson truly spoke about what he saw for the future. The Gold Rush was not exactly a dream come true for a great many, and Stevenson thought that mines were not only a thing of the past – but that the world of wine was the wave of the future.

At this point in time only a handful of winemakers actually worked the land looking for their dream and searching for mounds of earth that would offer a fragrance and taste, which gave Stevenson the facts to offer information to the world regarding these other ‘prospectors’ who were mining for something far more important than gold.

When it came to Napa Valley winemaking, it was first the widow, daughter and son-in-law of Walt Disney who came together and planted the foundation for what would eventually turn into Silverado Vineyards. Lillian Disney, with Diane and Ron, began assembling a portfolio of estate vineyards and in 1976, these particular prospectors came across and purchased the eighty-one-acre Miller Ranch located in Yountville.

A unique microclimate apparently was what set this apart from all the rest, and the Miller family also acquired the coveted Silverado Vineyard - which was and still is land that is renowned globally for its rich quality earth.

A statement from Diane Miller was how, “It was beautiful land, and it was land that was working.” And, boy, was it working. The Millers sold their grapes to the finest vintners in the Valley, and every year the wines produced from these grapes went on to win awards and accolades from almost everywhere. This was truly an encouragement to the Millers’ success and they began planning the creation of the Silverado Vineyards Winery in 1980.

A truly gifted winemaker by the name of Jack Stuart was hired in order to design and establish the winery. Then a prominent mound was selected as the winery site, which then took the name Silverado Vineyards, paying homage to the historical name of the vineyard.

The very first vintage released from Silverado Vineyards came in 1981. While they’d been waiting to ‘hit’ the market with their product, the Miller clan had already earned a reputation for excellence thanks to the caliber of its grapes. Quickly the family came more and more into the vintner world by putting together a type of ‘corporation’ made up of six family-owned vineyards, each selected for its ability to contribute nuance, character, and award-winning wines to the masses.

Just as it is with the King and Prince Resort, the Queen’s Jewels, and every other item of pure class, elegance, and consistency you can possibly think of – Silverado is yet another in a very short line that is pure quality. From implementing state-of-the-art techniques and creative winemaking methods, Silverado has become a true home for championship wines.

It was in 2005, that Silverado Vineyards pioneer, Jack Stuart stepped down as GM and Russ Weis took the reins. Bringing more than twenty years of industry experience with him along for the ride, Russ became part of the Silverado ‘mission’ of being extremely passionate about their products, and meticulously caring for the fruit that will one day be on the shelves and being served to guests, businessmen, clients, customers – everyone who enjoys the perfect things in life.

Sophistication, luxury, flavors, aromas – all of the best qualities start at these vineyards – and the confidence and sheer pride that Silverado exudes shows in their product.

From the six estate vineyards the family owns, focusing almost exclusively on fruit, Silverado crafts a line that includes: Classic Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Merlot and a Sangiovese; as well as Rosato, Zinfandel, Super-Tuscan Fantasia and Late Harvest Semillon that is offered in the Wine Club and Tasting Room.

Between the accolades and the gold medals won by their amazing wines, Silverado has established itself as one of the most prestigious wineries in the Napa Valley. So it comes as no surprise that their memorable wines would be part of the extraordinary King and Prince experience.

For more information on Silverado, go to:

www.silveradovineyards.com/

For Tours & Tastings:

http://www.silveradovineyards.com/visit/tours

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http://www.kingandprince.com/

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