Move over Robert Mondavi. Look over your shoulder, Caymus. There's a new kid on the block and they're gunning to be top dog, or, should I say, top winery, in Napa Valley. Alpha Omega is a relatively new vineyard on Rte 29 in the heart of the wine country. This used to be Quail Ridge Vineyards years ago.
This is primo wine, a lot of it is hand-made the old-fashion way, and the vinters are world-class experts. That equates to the wines being quite pricey but absolutely worth every penny. My wife and I went in for tasting ($20.00 per) and I was in heaven. Every taste was the definition of what the wine is suppose to be. Every sip was luscious, complex, powerful. Our host was gracious enough to take us behind the scenes into the aging rooms and treated us to sample their top-of-the-line not-yet-released wine (which I'd better not reveal its name). It was one of the best wines I've ever tasted, and if I were rich, I'd order a hundred cases of it. That would mean mortgaging my house. After going to Napa for years and visited a majority of the vineyards - including most of the world reknown top tiered vineyards- Alpha Omega gets my vote to be the premier winery in the Valley. They will be the new standard.

This winery hasn't been open for long in Napa, but the winemakers and team are definitely not new to the trade. The winemaker, Jean Hoefliger, spent time over at Newton before coming to Alpha Omega. These wines taste so good ... you would never know that this winery hasn't been around for long! And - you can't beat the Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2006 that was just awarded a score of 95 by Wine Enthusiast. I tasted it a few weeks ago and its phenomenal.

The wine is fantastic, it is very easy to find and the staff is friendly. This is not as well known as the other wineries but a favorite stop after the first time we tried it.

The location used to be a little family run winery called Ess Kisse (I may be spelling that wrong). It was quaint and pretty and the people were great, but the wine was no where near the awesomitude that it is now that it is Alpha Omega. If I recall correctly, you get to taste six wines for relatively cheap. And they were all good. Everytime I go to Napa and visit 5 or 6 wineries, usually by the end of the day, after trying 8 or 9 merlots and cabs, the wines that stick out are the interesting sparkling and desert wines. But after my last trip, I remembered all the wines at Alpha Omega. I'd easily take their "proprietary blend" over the last glass of Opus One I've had.

And perhaps more importantly, the people there were in no way snooty about being a great winery. They just liked good wine. Maybe it's because their new. If you're a first timer and you want to try good wine, go see the building at Rubicon, and then buy all the wine at Alpha Omega.