Read the article in our local paper!

Elvis Presley and Casa Nuestra Winery celebrated their birthdays together this year on Jan 8, 2010. On That day Elvis would have been 75 and Casa Nuestra Winery turned 30. To highlight the birthday celebration, Casa Nuestra Winery had made arrangements with the Cameo theater of St, Helena to present a free showing of Elvis’s 1961 movie, “Wild in the Country,” a movie which was filmed on location in the Napa Valley. Part of the shoot occurred on the back lot at Casa Nuestra near the Napa River, a sequence which survived into the final cut. The Cameo Theater (then called the Roxie) was used to film the dance hall scenes in the flick.
Although Elvis is reported to have passed away in 1977, Elvis sightings continue to occur regularly at the Casa, especially down by the river, at the location which has been renamed “Elvis Rock.” Thirty years ago, Casa Nuestra Winery released its first commercial vintage, 1980 Dry Chenin Blanc, a wine which pairs agreeably with Elvis’s favorite snack, peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
In “Wild In the Country,” Elvis is cast as a youth at risk whose downward spiral into delinquency is arrested by the mature interventions of his court-appointed therapist (played by Hope Lange) and despite the randy attentions of his foster-home “sister,” (played by Hollywood “bad girl,” Tuesday Weld). This is the last movie in which Elvis was cast in a legitimate dramatic role, with a reasonable script (Clifford Odets), and a first rate supporting cast, including, in a minor role, Jason Robards. You won’t want to miss it. Admission was free to attendees that filled the house, a gift to the community from Casa Nuestra Winery.

Here are just few of the comments we’ve received – unsolicited – from Club Casa Members:

“I think I hugged the delivery guy!!” Karen M.

“One of the colleagues at my new company just joined the Club. Back in December she and her husband spent a week up your way and were treated to your usual brand of hospitality . They had a wonderful time at the Casa. My heart warmed.” Ron D.

You are all wonderful.” John S.

“Thanks again for your shipments. They have been great gifts and fun for sharing with our friends.” Sandi J.

” Everyone has enjoyed being introduced to the new varietals-Kudos!”
Nichol R .

“I told him that my mom and I enjoyed Casa Nuestra more than any of the other wineries because the people are always so friendly and the atmosphere is nice and laid back and ….WE EMBRACE PEACE!!” Linda M.

If you like our wines, please consider joining one of our wine clubs!

Casa Nuestra donates rare and specialty wines to the world’s largest charity wine auction. The “lot” was a one-of-a-kind wine tasting experience: twelve bottles which auctioned for $3000 from our library cellar, the highlights of 23 years of wine making at Casa Nuestra. All were estate bottled. Production of each vintage ranged from 150 to 400 cases, depending on the year. Each bottle has a unique place in Casa history.

Chenin Blanc, when seriously made, has a cellar life perhaps greater than any other white variety – a fact known in Europe though virtually unknown in this country . Our lot contains four venerable Chenins, ranging in age from 18 to 23 years old. Few have ever tasted white wines of this age from the Napa Valley, or anywhere else in North America. The experience is not available, at any price. We have intentionally left the cellar dust and cobwebs on these bottles, the authentic patina of age. The 1980 is our first commercial vintage. The 1983 was our first entry into a commercial wine competition (San Francisco Wine Competition, double gold). The 1985, a botrytis vintage, was served by President Ronald Reagan at the White House. The 1986 Dorado is our debut late harvest Chenin and a gold and best-of-class selection,

Two debut White Reisling selections are included: a late harvest (1997) and an off-dry example (1989). The Casa history must includes our proprietary red wine, Tinto Classico (2001). Tinto is made from an authentic field mix family vineyard in Oakville which was planted in the early 1950′s – one of the oldest still-standing plantings in the region.

Two examples of Cabernet Franc are included, 1986 and 1987. We were one of the first North American wineries to initiate a Cabernet Franc program, beginning in 1986, another gold and best-of-class wine.

Casa first offered a meritage selection in 1991, under the name “Quixote.” This line is now offered as “Meritage” (1999). In that same year, 1999, we offered our debut Merlot, another gold and best-of-class wine.

Examples of all these wines have been tasted within the past 60 days, and they are known to be sound and rewarding. Please enjoy them together with the warm personal regards of Casa Nuestra.

Eugene R. Kirkham, co-owner

Origin of “Casa Nuestra”

Over the years, we have had many comical misspellings and misstatements of our trade name. Would you believe a shipment of goods came addressed to Catch An Oyster Winery? Casa Nuestra is a Spanish name meaning “our house.” It is not, as sometimes suggested, “Cosa Nostra”, which is Italian for something else.

One astute linguist objected that Casa Nuestra is improper grammar, because the adjective should precede the noun thus: Nuestra Casa. Most Spanish linguists consulted agree that Casa Nuestra is permissible.

It was our predecessor, Tom Blackburn, who originally gave the name to the property. He intended to use Casa Nuestra as a trade name for a commercial kennel of golden retrievers. The sign “Casa Nuestra” was proudly hanging on the Silverado Trail when we first came to look in 1975. Tom loved the Mexican-Spanish heritage of California, so he called his home Casa Nuestra, and he named the vineyard La Jolla Del Norte. These names are reminders of the fact that it was the Spanish padres who first introduced viticulture to California. In the future, when California’s status as a primary wine-growing region of the world has settled in for a century or two, it may seem odd that wineries went through a period of avoiding California identification by assuming French names.

Reprinted from the Casa Nuestra Journal 1985