I introduced you to my Napa Valley friend Kerrin Laz back in the early days of my wine blog with the article “Dean & Deluca’s Kerrin Laz.” I have followed her career from her early days at D & D to her new venture at K. Laz Wine Collection. Here is just one of the many pieces of press her new venture is receiving:
“K. Laz Wine Collection, a beautifully appointed tasting room and retail shop from former Dean & DeLuca Wine Director and industry insider Kerrin Laz, is opening in Yountville, Calif. One of Napa Valley’s most beloved wine personalities and trusted consultants, Kerrin is making her collection of more than 500 wine labels—including some of the most coveted and hard-to-come-by bottles and her favorite undiscovered gems—available to the public for tastings and for purchase at the new shop. With a prime location on Washington Street in downtown Yountville (just steps away from Napa Valley hot spots like Ad Hoc by Thomas Keller, Redd by Richard Reddington and Bardessonno Hotel & Spa), K. Laz Wine Collection is sure to become one of Napa Valley’s top wine destinations.”
Kerrin Laz and Roy D. Chapin
When I knew I was heading to Napa, I contacted Kerrin to arrange two things: dinner with her and Roy D. Chapin IV, and to see the new tasting room and wine shop in Yountville. I figured if I was lucky she might take pity on me and let me taste some of the great wines she has lying around the shop.
Laz Wine Collection is located at 6484 Washington Street, Suite C in Yountville, CA. The phone number is 707-415-5040. The shop is located in a small retail center located on Washington Street and Kerrin’s shop is in the rear of the center. Just look for the white K. Laz Collection sign over the opening leading to the rear of the center.
The tasting room at K. Laz Wine Collection
The shop is just delightful. The walls are covered with shelves full of wine and some of Kerrin’s personal photos of Napa Valley. You can purchase copies of these beautiful photos through her website.
It was great to see Kerrin and Roy again, as I hadn’t seen them since my last trip to Napa (more than a year before). It was wonderful to sit in the space and taste some wine (yes she took pity on me and let me taste some wine) with them and get caught up on all their activities.
Over the years Kerrin has built relationships with most of the vintners and winemakers in the Valley. These relationships have resulted in her ability to assemble some of the top wines from the hard-to-get limited allocation wines and cult wineries. She is tuned in to the hottest new labels and old standbys as well. I think she functions under the theory “if you want a wine I’ll find it for you.”
The tasting room table seats 12 at K. Laz Wine Collection
If you are headed to Napa Valley, I would highly recommend that you arrange a tasting with Kerrin. This can be accomplished online at the K. Laz Collection website here or by calling the shop directly. Tastings are available for one to 12 people at a large wooden table comfortably positioned in the middle of the shop.
All tasting are private and by appointment only. Tasting starts at 10:00 am and run until 6:00 pm.
Here is the list of her tasting options:
The Taster
- $35 per guest for a sit-down tasting of three wines
- $65 per guest for a sit-down tasting of six wines
- Bottles ranging from $40-$100
The Artisan
- $50 per guest for a sit-down tasting of three wines
- $95 per guest for a sit-down tasting of six wines
- Bottles ranging from $50-$175
The Cult
- $85 per guest for a sit-down tasting of three wines
- $165 per guest for a sit-down tasting of six wines
- Bottles ranging from $75-$300
The Centurion
- $325 per guest for a sit-down tasting of six wines
- Bottles ranging from $125-$1,500
Seasonal artisan cheeses will be served. Plan to spend approximately 90 minutes for the full tasting and 45 minutes for the half-tasting.
The wines you taste can also be purchased. You can take them with you or have them shipped to you.
The second benefit of being associated with K. Laz Wine Collection is the marvelous wine club, known as K. Laz Club. Here is a list of the various categories available:
The Taster—$300 for six bottles of wine. Average bottle price is $55 per bottle.
The Artisan—$500 for six bottles of wine. Average bottle price is $85 per bottle.
The Cult—$1,000 for six bottles of wine. Average bottle price is $170 per bottle.
You can select the number of shipments per year: Two times (in March and November) or four times (in January, March, September and November).
Laz Club member benefits include:
- Ground shipping costs
- Assistance with winery visits when next visiting Napa Valley
- Complimentary wine tasting at K. Laz Wine Collection
Over the past years I have purchased wine from Kerrin’s wine clubs and have always been completely satisfied with her wines, pricing and service. See comes up with some good stuff. She can be very helpful in guiding you to wines you will like. She has a good palate.
On your next trip to Napa Valley, be sure to set up a tasting with Kerrin, or at least stop by and see her shop and say “Hi.”
As always I appreciate your support of our wine blog and encourage you to share it with family and friends. If you care to share your comments on this blog posting or other topics please do so in the comments section below.
Until next week,
Cheers
Please join us for these Upcoming Tiedemann On Wines Wine Club dinners:
October 13, Old World Versus New World Wines, Dinner at McCarthy’s on the Riverwalk in Elkhart, 6:30 p.m.
November 10, Spanish Wine Dinner at McCarthy’s on the Riverwalk in Elkhart, 6:30 p.m.