Everything at the Vérité Winery in Sonoma County is a blend. The atmosphere is a blend of classy Bordeaux heritage with California leisure, the soil a combination of clay and volcanic ash, and, as their new expansion portrays, a mix of the classic châteaux of Bordeaux and the Saint-Pierre Abbey in Moissac.
Vérité, a joint venture between Jackson Family Wines’ Jess Jackson and Vigneron Pierre Seillan, began in 1998. While on a trip to Bordeaux, Jess became enamored with Pierre’s red wine, and brought him out to the California coast to head his own operation. Pierre would be able to draw out exquisite flavors from the region’s soil, which is so varied that it creates a mosaic of over 50 micro-crus, perfect for blends. Wine raters often give Vérité’s three signature wines, La Muse, La Joie, and Le Desír, perfect marks, which has helped the small Healdsburg vineyard a prominent name in the global marketplace. Now, Vérité expands to accommodate its growing cellars and to court fans from around the world.
High vaulted ceilings with Medieval-inspired chandeliers transport you to Verité’s French roots, but contemporary finishes, wood grains, and textiles remind you of being stateside.
Though I personally know little about wine, Vérité invited me to Healdsburg so I could explore the new chateau. This expansion was advised by Nicolas Seillan, Pierre’s son, and Matthew Heinrich, Director of Design at Jackson Family Wines. They envisioned a place where the personality of each wine would be expressed through the interior design. Guests pass through a feminine salon, representing La Muse, then take in the impressive storage facility, inspired by La Joie, and conclude their visits in the dark, sultry cellars, which personify Le Désir.
The salon is inspired by La Muse, a Merlot-based blend.
A visit to Vérité begins in the salon, where La Muse, a Merlot-based blend, inspires bright, neutral tones. High vaulted ceilings with Medieval-inspired chandeliers transport you to Vérités French roots, but contemporary finishes, wood grains, and textiles remind you of being stateside. The custom drapes are embellished with a minimalist, black embroidery that reminded me of vines. Subtle sequins caught the natural sunlight, bringing a twinkle of magic into the setting. Bold red throw pillows to the black woolen upholstery on the ottomans provide other splashes of contrast.
The dining room is inspired by La Joie, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend. This is where visitors can enjoy wine paired with a seasonal meal prepared by their in-house chef.
The next space I entered was the dining room, which is inspired by La Joie, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend. This is where visitors can enjoy wine paired with a seasonal meal prepared by their in-house chef. The space is decorated with paintings from Hélène Seillan’s personal collection (assistant Vigneron and Pierre’s daughter,) the personal collection of Barbara Banke, Chairman of Jackson Family Wines, and custom textiles. Contrasting lines in black, gray, and white create diamond patterns on the pillow and dining chair fabrics. Incidentally, these colors create subtle “V”’s, which keep the Vérité brand top of mind throughout the visit.
In the barrel chai, iron bands glide over the archways, matching the rings that hug each barrel. It feels like a revered space.
The most special part of this room is that it gives a wide, dramatic view into the barrel chai, where the wine is stored. The facility, with its giant archways, evokes a Gothic style pared down of ornamentation for modern times. Still, wide, iron bands glide over the archways, matching the rings that hug each barrel. It feels like a revered space. The windows are nestled into Cathedral-like niches, concentrating the sunshine into gay rays, illuminating the barrels like they are sacred vessels.
The cave and tasting rooms channels the energy of Le Désir, the Cabernet Franc-based blend.
Finally, I headed to the wine cave and tasting rooms. This area channels the energy of Le Désir, the Cabernet Franc-based blend. To match its dark, bold, flavor, large glass doors with black trim frame the archive of varieties and vintages. A long, glossy table was framed by red boucle chairs studded with rivets. A more private tasting room was carved to the side, where chairs with a plush, black damask pattern encircled a table. Behind it, I admired a mirror with a distressed gold frame, which had been sourced from a local store called Sonoma Country Antiques, which indicated that though Vérité is a brand of luxury, the Seillans are still invested in their community.
Modern brands include textiles by Jim Thompson and Perennials, and bathroom fixtures by Waterworks.
Towards the end of my visit, Hélène excitedly showed Nicolas and me her phone. She had just received word that a critic had just rated the 2019 Le Désir with three 100-point scores. Cheers to that.
To match Le Désir’s dark, bold, flavor, large glass doors with black trim frame the archive of varieties and vintages. Next door, chairs with a plush, black damask pattern encircle a table.
