Brix reopens — new name, new direction

Brix has reopened as 25º Brix Restaurant & Gardens.

Bay Area restaurateur (and Napa resident) David Gingrass is the mastermind behind the new incarnation, which has a focus on farm-to-table dining designed to take full advantage of its 16 prime Napa Valley acres.

New gardens and orchards have been planted to provide seasonal fruits and vegetables for its daily-changing menu. New executive chef Carlos Cañada and executive pastry chef Andrea Mautner have created a menu inspired by the garden and the culinary traditions of the winegrowing regions in Southern France and Northern Italy.

Owned by the Kelleher family, 25º Brix’s new name reflects the sugar level at which the grapes for Kelleher Family Vineyard’s cabernet sauvignon is harvested.    

Designer JeAnne Ettrick has styled the interior for the new restaurant after a modern farmhouse with a mix of Provençal fabrics, marble and stone, reclaimed wine barrels and antique pieces. The restaurant’s wine list and wine shop reflect the new direction and include hard-to-find small local bottlings.

25º Brix will offer lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Seasonal selections from Cañada’s menu include local Dungeness Crab Salad with Orange and Avocado Mousse, and Steamed Alaskan Halibut with a Spring Vegetable Ragout and Lemon Butter.

25º Brix is located at 7377 St. Helena Highway, just north of Yountville. The new restaurant includes a 70-seat interior dining room, a 30-seat bar and lounge and the 60-seat outdoor patio, with plans underway for a separate smaller outdoor dining area directly in the vineyards. The restaurant also has three private dining rooms, which accommodate up to 60 guests.

The restaurant’s hours are Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to  9 p.m. For more information, visit www.25degreesbrix.com, or call 944-2749 for reservations.