Napa Valley’s Clif Family Winery is on the main drag on Route 128 in St. Helena, Calif. — just a block away from the well-known Gott’s Roadside (known as Taylor’s Refresher for its first 50 years) drive-in eatery.

From the outside, the building looks like a family home, surrounded by a decent size parking lot and a few small businesses. It’s not ostentatious, like many of the area wineries, so is easy to miss as you are driving by.

Those who do stop will be pleasantly surprised.  Inside, the building has a European-inspired flair, featuring artwork showcasing both Italy and bicycles, a passion of Clif Family’s owners and co-founders Gary Erickson (the creator of the CLIF BAR energy bar) and Kit Crawford.  In addition to the main tasting bar, there are small semi-private seating areas, a small private room, and a back patio with additional seating outside.

Clif Family offers a wide variety of wine options, ranging from an atypically dry rosé to full-bodied reds. Winery visitors can pre-book wine pairings that come with breakfast, lunch, or cheeses, nuts, fruits, meats and jams, or just drop in for a tasting.

If you’re looking for high-end gifts for event attendees, Clif Family’s corporate gifts showcase the best of local Napa Valley food and wine.  Offerings can be tailored to suit a range of budgets and tastes.

“A gift of food and wine is perfect for any occasion,” said Linzi Gay, Clif Family’s general manager.

She added, “At Clif Family we curate a selection of gift offerings featuring our Clif Family wines and artisan food products. Whether you are looking for a gift for a client, employee, referral or just something to say thank you, our gifts will surprise and delight everyone on your list.”

The winery offers pre-packaged gift sets which can be ordered directly online, but you can also work with Clif Family’s staff to customize the perfect gifts for your attendees. Baskets can include items such as sweet or savory preserves, spiced nuts, hot sauce, dukkah herb and spice blends, olive oil, chocolate, espresso beans and of course wine.  Volume discounts are available.

The Clif Family farm is located atop Howell Mountain, about 10 miles from the winery. Many of the winery’s preserves, olive oils, honeys and other food offerings are sourced from the farm, which is both CCOF certified organic and Food Alliance certified.  

Guests visiting the winery will find the Bruschetteria Food Truck parked outside, Tuesdays through Fridays. Bruschetteria, managed by Executive Chef John McConnell, serves a seasonal menu of bruschetta (including a porchetta bruschetta with organic fennel and herbs), fresh salads, seasonal side dishes and rotisserie chicken, drawing from the Clif Family farm and other local sources.

The winery can be rented for small events. The inside and outside space together can hold groups of up to 100 attendees for receptions with passed hors d’oeuvres or a seated dinner for up to 60 guests. The Bruschetteria Food Truck can also be booked for events.

“At Clif Family we are able to host an elevated experience while still being approachable,” said Gay.

Planners can work with the Clif Family team to set specific meals that incorporate a specific food focus, such as a meal hosted for the Avocado Board where each course included avocados.

Clif Family Winery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and stays open til 8 p.m. on Wednesdays.

For more information on Clif Family Winery, including a downloadable corporate gifting catalog, go HERE.

Editor’s note: I very much enjoyed Clif Family’s offerings, and purchased nearly a case of wine and jars of strawberry preserves, green pepper jam and organic red pepper jam. So far, Clif Family holds the distinction of making the only non-sparkling rosé that I will drink.  

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