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Stories from Clif Family

The Clif Family Blog

Updates from the people behind our wines and food, including our winemaker Laura Barrett and Executive Chef Magnus Young. Read on for entertaining ideas, recipes, events, membership news, press, and our sustainability work.

Stories
Personalized Corporate Gifts People Actually Keep - Clif Family Winery
Oct 21, 2026

Personalized Corporate Gifts People Actually Keep

A personalized corporate gift is one chosen for the person getting it: their name, a real note, and something they’ll enjoy. It isn’t one that carries your logo. That difference...
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Three bottles of white wine on a picnic blanket with a straw hat and charcuterie board
Sep 18, 2026

Beyond Sauvignon Blanc: 5 White Wines Worth Discovering in 2026

You know your Sauvignon Blanc. It’s the bottle you grab when people are coming over in an hour and you’d rather not think about it. Bright, dry, cold, done. Now...
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Corporate Wine Gifts for Employees: Appreciation That Doesn’t Feel Corporate - Clif Family Winery
Sep 9, 2026

Corporate Wine Gifts for Employees: Appreciation That Doesn’t Feel Corporate

Corporate wine gifts for employees, from new-hire bottles to retirement sets. Organically farmed Napa wine, farm-made food, and a personal note in every box.
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Napa Valley Happy Hour gift set on a blue background
Sep 4, 2026

Corporate wine gift baskets: a practical guide

Every November, our gifting inbox fills with a version of the same message: I have 60 clients, a budget, and three weeks. Help. We get it. Corporate gifting tends to...
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A bottle of white wine with a colorful sun landscape label sitting on a yellow checkered tablecloth surrounded by fresh food and flowers.
Jul 23, 2026

Bringing Aperitivo Home: How Italy Taught Me to Slow Down at Golden Hour

Written by Linzi Gay, President, Clif Family Winery & Farm This summer I spent two weeks in Italy, and I came home changed by a single moment of the day....
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White Wine for Beginners: Best Bottles, Sweetness Levels & Tasting Tips - Clif Family Winery
Jun 11, 2026

White Wine for Beginners: Best Bottles, Sweetness Levels & Tasting Tips

Nobody hands you a quiz at the end of a glass of wine. White wine especially is meant to be easy: bright, refreshing, the kind of bottle you open on...
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Red Wine for Beginners: The Best Bottles, Terms, and Tasting Tips to Start With - Clif Family Winery
Jun 9, 2026

Red Wine for Beginners: The Best Bottles, Terms, and Tasting Tips to Start With

If you have ever stood in front of a wall of red wine and thought, I have no idea where to start, this guide is for you. You do not...
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Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford on the Clif Family Farm
Jun 8, 2026

Why Family-Owned Wineries Are the Soul of Napa Valley

Drive through Napa Valley early on a clear morning and you will see it before you can name it: fog lifting off the hillsides, rows of vines someone has trained...
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What Is the 75-85-95 Rule for Wine? (A Simple Guide to Reading Wine Labels) - Clif Family Winery
May 27, 2026

What Is the 75-85-95 Rule for Wine? (A Simple Guide to Reading Wine Labels)

You’re standing in the wine aisle, holding a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, 2022. The label looks great. But what’s actually in that bottle, and how much of...
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Napa Valley Food Truck Reviews: From Calistoga Tacos to St. Helena Organic Eats - Clif Family Winery
Apr 20, 2026

Napa Valley Food Truck Reviews: From Calistoga Tacos to St. Helena Organic Eats

Napa Valley is synonymous with world-class dining, but some of the most exciting flavors in the region aren't found behind white tablecloths; they’re served through a window on four wheels....
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Napa Valley: How to Choose Your Own Adventure—Casual vs. Luxury - Clif Family Winery
Apr 6, 2026

Napa Valley: How to Choose Your Own Adventure—Casual vs. Luxury

Napa Valley is world-famous for its legendary Cabernet Sauvignon, sweeping vineyard views, and Michelin-starred five-course meals. But there is a secret the locals know: Wine Country has a "come as...
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What's Happening in Napa Valley Right Now - Clif Family Winery
Mar 23, 2026

What's Happening in Napa Valley Right Now

Napa Valley never stands still. While the vines follow their seasonal rhythm, the valley’s culinary and social scenes are constantly evolving. Whether you’re a local looking for a new haunt...
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Red Wine or White Wine? Here's How to Choose - Clif Family Winery
Mar 23, 2026

Red Wine or White Wine? Here's How to Choose

You're staring down a wine list, or maybe an entire wall of bottles at the shop, and you can't decide: red or white? We've all been there. And honestly, there's...
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From Finish Line to Wine: Your Napa Valley Marathon Weekend Guide - Clif Family Winery
Feb 1, 2026

From Finish Line to Wine: Your Napa Valley Marathon Weekend Guide

You've signed up for the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon (or the half marathon or 5k)—congratulations! Whether you're a seasoned visitor or a first-timer, this guide will help you plan the...
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Your 2026 Adventure Awaits - Adventure Boldly, Sip Lightly - Clif Family Winery
Jan 5, 2026

Your 2026 Adventure Awaits - Adventure Boldly, Sip Lightly

From the bike to the kitchen to the open road, our story has always been fueled by adventure. In 2026, we’re inviting you to find your own wine & food...
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🍜 Street Food Napa Valley: Globally Inspired Dining at Clif Family Winery - Clif Family Winery
Dec 22, 2025

🍜 Street Food Napa Valley: Globally Inspired Dining at Clif Family Winery

St. Helena Food Truck: Experience the World, Every Wednesday Night Every Wednesday night, our talented culinary team creates unique, globally inspired Street Food dishes right from the Clif Family Food Truck. We...
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Organic Savory Nut Mixes: Gourmet Snacks Crafted for Wine Pairings - Clif Family Winery
Dec 8, 2025

Organic Savory Nut Mixes: Gourmet Snacks Crafted for Wine Pairings

More than an accouterment — an experience. Our crunchy, flavorful savory nut mixes are created by the culinary team at Clif Family to be everything from a solo snack to...
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Farm-to-Table Wine Country: Your Fall Destination for Napa Tasting & Dining - Clif Family Winery
Oct 2, 2025

Farm-to-Table Wine Country: Your Fall Destination for Napa Tasting & Dining

Make Clif Family a “must-do” on your fall travel itinerary to Napa Valley. Why? Because we blend organically farmed wine with cool farm-to-table culinary experiences—an approach that just earned us...
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The Professional's EOY Survival Guide - Clif Family Winery
Sep 29, 2025

The Professional's EOY Survival Guide

Let's be real: Q4 is always a sprint. You're the one juggling the holiday rush, closing the year strong, and somehow setting the entire team up for an amazing 2026....
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Falling for Cabernet Sauvignon - Clif Family Winery
Sep 23, 2025

Falling for Cabernet Sauvignon

Your Fall 2025 Cima Shipment features two of our members' most popular wines. These are perfect for a special celebration -- or for no reason at all. With October ushering...
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