This California Winery Is Psyched About The Grateful Dead Farewell Shows
Over the next few weeks, the remaining living members of the Grateful Dead will reunite to play a few final shows together in California and Chicago, one last walk down the Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion. One fan who's remained devoted over the years, while he built up a highly successful Napa winery, is Cliff Lede. His Cliff Lede Vineyards is hosting a well-timed art show, "Out of the Attic: A Grateful Dead Retrospective," running through mid-July in the winery's Backstage tasting room, pictured above. (See the full release below, after the selection of posters from the show.)
I had a chance to taste through Cliff Lede's wines this past winter during a lunch at the Dutch. Their Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are those rare California wines that promise Old World characteristics and actually achieve them. The winery's Anderson Valley vineyard produces excellent Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. So a "Backstage" visit is enticing enough for the wines, but the addition of the art show makes it a must-visit for Deadheads with sophisticated palates.
The full release: (April 15, 2015; Yountville, CA)—Cliff Lede, proprietor of his eponymous winery Cliff Lede Vineyards, is pleased to announce the next art display in the winery's Backstage reserve tasting lounge: "Out of the Attic: A Grateful Dead Retrospective." The retrospective pays homage to the band's 50th anniversary and coincides with this summer's Grateful Dead 'Fare Thee Well' concerts in Chicago and San Francisco featuring the original members of the band, and special guests Trey Anastasio (guitar), Jeff Chimenti (keyboards) and Bruce Hornsby (piano). The exhibit, which will run through mid-July 2015, highlights a collection of Grateful Dead poster art and prints, curated by the Haight Street Art Center in San Francisco. Featured artists include Wes Wilson, Rick Griffin, Alton Kelley, and Stanley Mouse, among others. Pieces are available for purchase through the Haight Street Art Center. Backstage is open Thursday-Sunday, 10:00am-3:00pm, by appointment only. Tastings are $50 per person, and feature a selection of five wines from Lede Family Wines' FEL and Cliff Lede labels, including some limited production or library wines, with the opportunity to purchase. Appointments can be made by contacting the guest concierge at (707) 944-8642 or info@ledefamilywines.com. The Grateful Dead exhibit joins an impressive line-up of rotating classic rock-inspired art exhibits that have been featured Backstage, including former musician Grace Slick's rock portraits, and album cover art from Stanley Mouse and Stefanie Schneider. "Music is a central part of Cliff Lede Vineyards and we're proud to honor such an iconic band like the Grateful Dead," says proprietor Cliff Lede. "We named one of our vineyard blocks after Grateful Dead's 'Touch of Grey,' one of my favorite Dead songs. The band is known for poster art that is rich and vibrant, and showcases its voice in a unique way."
Cliff Lede Vineyards
1743 Yountville Cross Rd.
Yountville, CA 94599
707-944-8642