HALL: Wine, Wisdom and the Art of the Experience

Expansive vineyards, a gorgeous tasting facility, an extensive art collection & delicious wines – all in a family- & dog-friendly package. This is HALL.

HALL is a premier cabernet producer, boasting 170 wines earning 90+ point ratings from critics. HALL’s 2008 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, named for the winery’s vintner Kathryn Walt Hall, received a 96-point score and was named Wine Spectator’s second best wine of 2011. The 2012 vintage of Kathryn Hall received 97 points from The Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker in October 2014, with Parker describing the wine as “dark and dense … the wine has a concentrated and jammy quality that doesn’t step over the edge. It offers anise, blackberry, black currant and dried herb around a soft, rounded mouthfeel and long finish.” HALL’s 2012 Ellie’s Cabernet Sauvignon received 92 points, with James Laube of Wine Spectator calling it “rich, pure and direct, with a pleasant dusty earth and cedary edge to the opulent blackberry, plum, licorice and spicy oak notes.”

Kathryn Walt Hall believes in the beauty of winemaking in Napa Valley, and the way HALL carries out its processes lends itself to creating exquisite wines. “We are authentic, in the way we grow grapes naturally, in the way we craft the wines using natural processes that reflect the true terroir of the grape and in the way we share our wines with our guests: we are approachable and friendly,” she noted. Walt Hall and her husband, Craig Hall, are the winery’s vintners. “Each winery has its own personality, and I think that is a reflection of the vintners and the people who choose to work with them. I think our team – in the vineyard, the cellar, the tasting room and sales – are natural, open, and approach their work with pride.”

Walt Hall has had a successful career outside of the wine industry, starting as assistant city attorney in Berkeley, Calif. Later, working for Safeway Stores, she was responsible for developing and administering one of the nation’s first and largest affirmative action programs. Walt Hall worked as an attorney and businesswoman in Dallas, Texas and was named the United States Ambassador to Austria by President Bill Clinton in 1997. She served in that role until 2001, and after her return to the States she was appointed to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for international trade and to Texas One, promoting international investment in Texas. Walt Hall serves on the Napa Legal Aid Board of Directors. She credits her work in the wine industry for giving her perspective in her other undertakings. “My work with wine has given me an appreciation for the importance of taking time to enjoy the moment. I think this has helped me develop balance – one of the hardest parts of having a career, whether as an attorney, a diplomat or a businesswoman,” she said.

HALL creates a beautiful balance, not just in its wines but in its winemaking processes. Historical processes are recognized and used alongside innovative techniques, allowing for the highest standard and quality of wine. HALL St. Helena is on the site of the historic Bergfeld Vineyard, and in 2009 HALL became the first winery to be recognized as a LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified fully-sustainable production facility by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Green Building Rating System. Since then, the modern tasting room and high-tech production facility have received another LEED® Gold Certification. The contrast of traditional techniques and advanced science follow into the vineyards, where grapes are examined by the sight, smell and taste of the winemaking team as well as analyzed in a lab for sugar and acidity levels.

Walt Hall was first exposed to the wine business when her family purchased a vineyard in the 1970’s. “Our family always had a passion for wine, but more than that wine was just an integral part of our lives,” she recalled. “It was part of almost every celebration or family gathering I can remember from the time I was very young. Pairing wine with meals was simply a part of the dining experience.” Walt Hall and her brother managed the family vineyard from 1982 to 1992. “My earliest experiences were the farming side of the wine business: we grew grapes for wineries but did not make wine ourselves. Even today this is probably my favorite part of what we do, although I enjoy it all. I used to love watching my father work the vines and seeing what joy this gave him. It was hard work, but satisfying.”

Visitors are sure to enjoy their experience at both HALL locations. The St. Helena location combines the historic Bergfeld vineyard with a strikingly modern visitor center and production facility, with numerous works of art spread throughout the property. A variety of areas, including the historic Peterson’s Loft and Founder’s Cellar, Olive Grove, Great Lawn and Flower Garden allow for groups of all sizes to find the perfect setting for any occasion, and make every occasion the perfect time for wine. “Wine is so much more than what is in the bottle,” Walt Hall said. “It is the experience, and art enhances that experience. So creating spaces at the wineries where guests can taste our wines while they enjoy the beautiful setting in Napa Valley or the art nearby makes each visit and taste more memorable, I think.

“Architecture was my great passion growing up, but my husband Craig’s interest in art has expanded my perspective,” Walt Hall explained. “We are now both confirmed art lovers. The first thing we do when we are on vacation in a new city is almost always visit the local museum.” The pair often find new pieces for the winery while traveling. “We look, and keep our eyes and ears open. And we have a very talented advisor in our friend Virginia Shore, from Washington DC.”

Most noticeable is the leaping rabbit, Bunny Foo Foo, by Lawrence Argent. Made of stainless steel and measuring 30 by 15 by 7 feet, the sculpture’s name is a nod to the children’s song of the same name, a favorite of the Hall children. Bunny Foo Foo’s silhouette can be found on the HALL website, gracing T-shirts, and more, as a mascot for the winery. “It’s probably my favorite piece because he reminds me of walking through the vineyards with our children when they were very little, and looking out for rabbits,” Walt Hall recalls.

The HALL Rutherford tasting room is a work of art in itself, with Donald Lipski’s “Chilean Red” chandelier as the focal point. The chandelier, adorned with 1,500 Swarovski crystals, seems to grow from the ceiling as grapevine roots grow through soil. The cherry wood table below features illuminated onyx and reflects the chandelier for an experience truly unique to HALL Rutherford.

When planning your trip to HALL, be sure to schedule extra time to enjoy the wine, the atmosphere, as well as the winery’s employees and guests. You’ll be glad for the time to get to know one another, as Walt Hall says, “People who love wine love life.”

This article was originally published in the Winter 2016 issue of SOAR: read more in our digital issue online.