The River Club: Tasting Paper Planes & Belong Wine Co.

The River Club tasting room in Napa offers an inviting setting to savor Belong Wines and Paper Planes Wines while enjoying views of the Napa River

My introduction to Paper Planes Wine Company came a few years ago over dinner with my friend Sara. I remember being drawn in by the story: her co-worker from Hitcher/EMI Capitol, Laura, had taken a leap of faith – leaving the music industry behind to start a winery in Napa with her husband.

That narrative alone fascinated me.  But, what truly won me over was the wine itself.

Every time Sara opened a bottle of Paper Planes and poured it between our glasses, I felt like I was tasting not just a beautifully crafted wine, but a dream brought to life.

As someone who has long envisioned starting a small winery and a boutique brewery of my own, I’ve always found inspiration in stories like Laura’s.

So, during a previous trip to Napa, I was thrilled to discover that Paper Planes had a tasting room called The River Club. Even better, it shared the space with another husband and wife winery: Belong Wine Co.

Unfortunately, my visit that time coincided with one of their closed days, leaving me with a missed opportunity. That’s why, when I planned a trip for Russian River Brewing’s Pliny the Younger release, I made sure to carve out time to visit The River Club.

Tucked away in an unassuming business complex, the tasting room is easily overlooked from the outside. But after parking, I took a leisurely walk along the Napa River toward the entrance, soaking in the beautiful surroundings. Inside, I was immediately greeted by Bertus, one of the owners of Belong Wine Co.

The space itself exuded a sense of effortless sophistication. It felt casual, inviting, and unpretentious. As I settled into a beautifully decorated table, I could already tell this was going to be a lovely experience.

From Paper Planes, I sampled:

2023 Rosé (Russian River Valley)

2022 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

2023 Grenache (Sierra Foothills)

2023 Valdiguié (Suisun Valley)

From Belong Wine Co., I sampled:

2023 ‘Chasing The Sunset’ Rosé

2023 ‘Sunshower’ Carbonic Red

2019 ‘Sierra Soul’ Mourvèdre

2023 Barsotti Gamay

Beyond the wine itself, what I loved most about The River Club was the easygoing luxury of the space. It felt thoughtfully curated, yet relaxed and welcoming. It was a tasting room that felt deeply personal, filled with unique touches that made it clear that both Paper Planes and Belong Wine Co. were built with passion and heart.

One of my favorite moments was talking with Bertus about his South African roots and how those influences found their way into every detail of Belong Wine Co.’s labels. From the native flowers on the bottles to the illustrated scenes drawn from family memories, each label was a piece of art in itself, telling a story as delicious as the wine inside.

And perhaps the most unexpected takeaway? Bertus casually solved a dilemma I had been mulling over for a while: what to do with a generous Williams Sonoma gift card I had been holding onto. His suggestion? Use it to finally purchase the Coravin wine preservation system I had been eyeing for years but had never quite convinced myself to buy.

That small piece of advice alone felt like a gift.

After finishing my tasting, I left with four bottles, each one selected with the thought of sharing them with friends – and enjoying them myself, of course.

As I made small talk with Bertus, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much I appreciate how wine tasting has evolved. I remember my early experiences at Lo-Fi Wines and Cakebread Cellars – places that reinforced my belief that wine should be about joy, connection, and storytelling rather than exclusivity or pretense. The River Club embodied that philosophy perfectly.

In my opinion, wine tasting is supposed to be fun and playful. I think it’s an experience that brings people together – rather than one that intimidates. Plus, I don’t collect wine to store it away. I collect it to share, to open with friends in moments of conversation, and to create new memories with every pour.

To me, that is exactly what makes wine so special. Cheers to well lived life.

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