Against the eastern hillsides of the Oakville district of Napa Valley lies Miner Family Vineyards. The new, beige stucco structure houses a state-of-the-art winery operation as well as a first-class tasting room. Outside are rose bushes, olive trees and Italian Cypresses, but the look and feel here is definitely modern and up-to-date.

Take either the stairway or the elevator to reach the winery entrance and the outdoor deck that provides wonderful views up and down the valley. Inside is a smart, well-designed room with inlaid wood floors, oriental rugs, high-end furniture and large windows looking down into the winery operation.

For an additional fee, take the VIP “Grand Cru Tasting” and enjoy the use of a Riedel Sommeliers glass, seasonal delicacies and a guided tasting. There are also 20,000 square feet of wine caves on the property that store the precious goods, and are just right for exploring.

The importance of site, climate, soil, drainage and a myriad of other points relative to vineyard selection is the philosophical backbone of Miner’s winemaking. The winery makes a number of vineyard-designated wines, specializing in their heady “Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon” and “Oracle Napa Valley Red” Bordeaux blend. Also produced are Pinot Noir, from vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Viognier from Madera, Zinfandel and Syrah from Napa Valley, and Sangiovese from Mendocino. A wild-yeast Chardonnay and a crisp, tasty Sauvignon Blanc are also available. The National Hockey League has named Miner their official wine for 2007.