At Clif Family Winery & Farm, our approach to wine is rooted in the rhythms of our certified organic farm. We grow fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs that are harvest and created into delicious pairings for our organically farmed wines.
Our pairings are inspired by what's in season -- from lovely bright citrus of winter to the juicy, ripe tomatoes of summer. Our farm-fresh produce is used by the Bruschetteria Food Truck at our St. Helena Tasting Room and in our small-batch preserves at the Clif Family Organic Preserve Kitchen. As locals, we love to cook, and these are some of our favorite classic pairings and creative twists that show how Napa Valley locals pair food and wine.
Provençal-Style Rosé
Our 2024 Rosé of Grenache and 2024 Rosé of Cabernet Franc are crafted in a bright, Provençal style. These crisp, elegant wines are perfect for pairing with seafood or Mediterranean-inspired dishes. We love drizzling our Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil over grilled vegetable skewers for a healthy and filling meal. For a day trip to the California coast, we’ll pack a chilled bottle of our Rosé to enjoy fresh oysters on the half shell. The wine’s bright acidity and refreshing character perfectly complement the salinity of the oysters.
Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
A classic pairing you'll find on many of our cheeseboards is our 2023 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc with fresh goat cheese, a crusty baguette, and a dollop of our Clif Family White Wine Jelly. This is the perfect pairing for a warm Napa Valley afternoon. Another local favorite is enjoying a chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc with tacos, especially fish tacos topped with salsa verde. A mild, flaky fish such as cod, halibut, or mahi-mahi works beautifully with the wine's tropical fruit flavors and crisp acidity. Our favorite Fish Tacos are found at Gott’s Roadside in St. Helena. The wine has enough weight to stand up to the spice, creating a refreshing balance.
Unoaked Chardonnay
While many California Chardonnays are known for their rich, oaky style, we craft our 2024 Unoaked Chardonnay in the style of Chablis from France. This pure expression of fruit makes for simple yet brilliant food pairings. A favorite is perfectly pan-seared fresh fish like cod, trout, or scallops with a simple squeeze of lemon. The wine's bright fruit and minerality beautifully contrast with the rich, full flavors of the fish.
For a decadent fall pairing, we love making a grilled cheese sandwich with a rich aged cheddar like Cowgirl Creamery's Wagon Wheel dipped in our Organic Apple Butter. The wine's acidity cuts through the richness of the sandwich, allowing the flavors of both the wine and the apple butter to shine.
Zinfandel
A quintessential Napa Valley dish is braised short ribs in a rich wine sauce served over polenta. This is a dish we often serve at the Clif Family Enoteca, and it's a perfect match for Zinfandel. The jammy and savory flavors of our 2022 Gary's Improv Zinfandel stand up to the rich, slow-cooked beef.
For a more casual evening, locals often pair Zinfandel with pizza. We suggest a mushroom and sausage pizza with a big glass of Zin to end a busy day. Visit any of our favorite local spots like Pizzeria Tra Vigne or Rutherford Pizza, and you'll likely typically see a Napa Valley winemaker ending their day with a slice and glass of wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cab is King in Napa Valley and is often the choice for a special occasion. A classic Napa Cabernet is best enjoyed with a rich cut of meat like a ribeye steak. The wine's bold tannins pair perfectly with the fat in the meat, which in turn softens the wine and allows its layered flavors of ripe fruit and spice to shine. A beautiful single vineyard bottling from our Howell Mountain Estate like our Cold Springs and Croquet Cabernet Sauvignons are lovely choices to make your evening even more special.
We also craft a lower-alcohol Cabernet Sauvignon called Vino del Pranzo (which means “lunch wine” in Italian) which is very food-friendly. It’s a great choice with our weekly Wednesday Street Food Napa Valley dishes from our food truck, like Carnitas Tacos, Malaysian Beef Curry, Moussaka, or Korean BBQ.
When you're in Napa Valley, we invite you to experience the local lifestyle firsthand. Stop by our St. Helena tasting room to sip on our organically farmed wines, enjoy a bruschetta from our food truck, and connect with fellow wine lovers, local vintners, chefs and winemakers. We offer a relaxed bar experience with wines by the glass, or you can book a more formal Cab Drop Tasting or grab a reservation at our private tasting salon at the Clif Family Enoteca Tasting for an extra-special moment.
Come discover why our winery is a favorite among locals! Book an experience today.
Just featured in "Top Wineries in Napa Valley" by the San Francisco Chronicle, August 15th, 2025!
