Newly minted 100-point family winery opens sumptuous by-appointment space for collectors
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. (September 12, 2024) — Simon Family Estate, a family-owned winery producing elegant, limited production wines from some of the most prestigious vineyard sites in Napa Valley, is thrilled to announce the opening of a tasting salon in downtown Napa for current and future collectors of its wines. Founded by vintners Sam and Nada Simon, the announcement of this new dedicated space coincides with the label’s first 100-point score, for its 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Simon Family Estate debuted with the 2019 vintage to instant critical acclaim, thanks to the quality of Simon Family Estate’s storied vineyard sources and the talents of superstar winemaker, Maayan Koschitzky. Just two vintages later, Decanter Magazine awarded a perfect score to its flagship wine in September 2024, writing, “How do you craft an Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon that competes with Harlan, Futo, Opus One, and Dalla Valle? This is winemaker Maayan Koschitzky’s answer to that question…A complete wine that is seamless.”
Located at 1040 Main Street in the heart of downtown Napa, the new Simon Family Estate Tasting Salon is tucked away on the third floor of an unassuming building that was once part of the Napa Opera House. With nothing to guide guests there but their reservation confirmation, the absence of visible signage naturally evokes a sense of mystique. The element of discovery is palpable as guests exit Main Street, make their way upstairs, and enter what feels like another world.
Designed by Bette Abbott Interior Design, the grandly sophisticated space pays a nod to its operatic history. Custom wood and leather furnishings from local craftsmen offer a handsome, deeply textured feel, while abstract art pieces from local Napa galleries anchor the room with warm and inviting tones. A woven lighting scheme throughout the original historic ceilings creates a striking focal point, evoking the connectedness that defines the Simons’ ethos. Modern yet elegant, the tasting salon perfectly embodies the classic aesthetic of the founders and serves as the quintessential backdrop for their wines.
The experience at the new Simon Family Estate tasting salon is as elevated as it is unexpected. Highly personalized, bookings are reserved for serious wine collectors and enthusiasts who are interested in learning more about the label’s 100-point Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines, as well as its signature Golden Ore Sauvignon Blanc and Tigress Rosé of old vine Grenache.
As a labor of family, found brotherhood, and love, the Simon Family Estate wines have a story to tell, bearing testament to craft, perseverance, and the American Dream. As Armenian Catholics from Iraq, both Sam and Nada Simon immigrated to the United States as young children and have built tremendous success through a deeply instilled entrepreneurial work ethic and an unwavering emphasis on the power of human connection.
The Simons made wines just for their friends and family for years until 2019, when they tapped Maayan Koschitzky – a fellow immigrant from the Middle East – as their winemaker. Maayan farmed vineyards in his native Israel before moving to Napa Valley and becoming the creative force behind some of the region’s most exceptional labels, including Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle and Atelier Melka (where he remains Director of Winemaking). Maayan shares the Simons’ deep respect for the land and the multigenerational growers who farm Simon Family Estate’s historic vineyard sources. The complex, deeply rooted wines they have created together are a testament to these invaluable relationships.
“To us, Simon Family Estate is the American Dream realized,” said Sam. “Our bond with Maayan has forged a strong foundation for producing exquisitely complex, textured wines, which, we can now humbly say, lay claim to 100-point perfection. The debut of our new tasting salon is an important next step in our ability to share those profound wines and deepen our relationships with existing Simon Family Estate clients while attracting new audiences to our story.”
To book an appointment to experience the Simon Family Estate tasting salon, please inquire at wines@simonfamilyestate.com or 707-222-6088.
About Simon Family Estate
Simon Family Estate is connected to the land, their craft, and one another. Introduced in late 2021, the label is a creative collaboration between vintners Sam and Nada Simon and renowned Napa Valley winemaker, Maayan Koschitzky. Made with grapes sourced from some of the Napa Valley’s most pedigreed vineyard plots, each meticulously crafted wine is designed with community in mind: At its core, Simon Family Estate believes that bringing people together over a fine bottle of wine is one of life’s most necessary luxuries. As pleasurable as it is transformative, great wine can sustain family and friends while forging deeper relationships and lasting joy.
