From Nashville to Napa Valley: Carrie Underwood Opens a Wine Bar — Inspired by an Unreleased Song
A Country Star Takes a New Stage
Carrie Underwood has spent nearly two decades dazzling audiences with powerhouse vocals, countless awards, and chart-topping hits. But this summer, she’s debuting something decidedly different: a wine bar in the heart of California’s Napa Valley — and its entire concept is inspired by a song her fans have never heard.
The bar, Silver Strings, opens next month in a restored 19th-century brick building on Napa’s historic Main Street. It promises not just curated vintages, but an immersive sensory experience blending music, storytelling, and wine culture.
“It’s like stepping into one of my songs — except this one hasn’t been released yet,” Underwood told our reporter with a conspiratorial smile. “The track’s been sitting in my vault for years, and when the time came to create this space, I knew it was the story I wanted to tell.”
The Song That Started It All
The unreleased song, titled Silver Strings, was written during the sessions for Underwood’s 2018 album Cry Pretty. According to Underwood, the ballad is about “a woman who leaves her small town for a dream, only to find that what she’s searching for is a feeling — not a place.”
While the song never made the album, it lingered in her creative mind. In it, the narrator spends evenings in a quiet wine bar, the walls lined with guitars, sharing stories with strangers over glasses of deep, velvety red. “It’s a song about connection,” Underwood explains. “About finding beauty in moments you can’t plan.”
When she first visited Napa in 2021, Underwood says she walked into a tasting room and instantly thought of the lyrics. “I could hear the first chords in my head,” she recalls. “That’s when I thought — maybe this song wasn’t meant for the radio. Maybe it was meant for a place.”
Designing the Space
Silver Strings is a collaboration between Underwood, Nashville-based hospitality designer Tessa McClain, and local Napa architect Marco Serrano. The interior mixes Tennessee warmth with California elegance: reclaimed barn wood beams stretch across the ceiling, while floor-to-ceiling windows overlook rolling vineyards.
One striking feature is the “Lyric Wall” — a 30-foot mural where snippets from the unreleased song are hand-painted in looping script, weaving among illustrations of guitars and grapevines. A small performance stage sits in one corner, lit by vintage Edison bulbs.
“We wanted to create an environment where wine lovers and music lovers feel equally at home,” says McClain. “It’s cozy enough for intimate conversations, but also alive with the energy of live music.”
The Wine List: A Story in Every Glass
Underwood partnered with local vintner Elias Cruz, known for his organic, low-intervention approach, to craft a selection that mirrors the emotions of the song. Each wine is paired with a “listening card” — a short playlist that guests can stream while sipping.
Highlights include:
The Opening Verse – A crisp Sauvignon Blanc, bright and hopeful.
Chorus Red – A bold Cabernet Sauvignon with lingering notes of blackberry and cedar.
Bridge Rosé – Light, floral, and unexpectedly complex, designed to surprise the palate halfway through the night.
Final Note – A dessert wine infused with late-harvest magic, meant to be savored slowly.
Cruz says working with Underwood was “like producing an album — except the instruments were grapes and barrels.”
More Than a Bar: A Cultural Hub
Silver Strings won’t be just about pouring drinks. The venue will host weekly “Songwriter Sessions,” featuring both Nashville talent and local California musicians. Guests can enjoy acoustic sets while sampling new vintages, blurring the lines between concert and tasting.
Underwood also plans to use the space for charity events, benefiting music education programs and sustainable farming initiatives.
“Music and wine both come from the land, in a way,” she says. “They both start small, require patience, and end up connecting people. That’s the magic.”
A Personal Journey
Opening a wine bar wasn’t part of Underwood’s original career plan. The Oklahoma native first shot to fame in 2005 after winning American Idol. Since then, she’s sold over 70 million records, performed on the world’s biggest stages, and launched successful ventures in fitness and fashion.
But in recent years, she’s been exploring more personal, passion-driven projects. “I think when you’ve been in this industry for as long as I have, you start asking — what else can I create?” she says. “This is something I’ve poured my heart into, in a different way than an album.”
The Mystery of the Unreleased Track
Fans, of course, are already buzzing about the unreleased song. Will she ever release it?
Underwood smiles at the question. “Maybe one day,” she says. “But for now, if you want to experience Silver Strings, you’ll have to come here, order a glass, and let the space tell you the story.”
To tease the concept, the bar’s website features a 15-second instrumental loop — soft acoustic guitar layered with the clink of wine glasses and distant laughter. Social media sleuths are already dissecting it for clues to the full melody.
Local Impact
Napa Valley officials are optimistic about Silver Strings’ potential to attract a new wave of visitors. “We’re excited to see someone of Carrie’s stature invest in the community,” says tourism board director Lila Bennett. “It’s a perfect blend of our region’s wine heritage and the artistry of music.”
Local businesses are equally enthusiastic. Nearby shop owners have already noticed increased foot traffic from fans making “pilgrimage visits” to the building, even before opening day.
From Stage to Cellar
Though the wine bar marks a new chapter, Underwood insists she’s not stepping away from music. In fact, she’s planning a short “From Stage to Cellar” tour next year — a series of intimate concerts in wine country venues across the U.S., culminating in a finale at Silver Strings.
“It’s about celebrating two passions at once,” she says. “And maybe, if the moment feels right, I’ll sing Silver Strings for the very first time.”
Opening Night Anticipation
Silver Strings will open to the public on September 21, with a ticketed launch event featuring live performances, wine pairings, and a surprise guest — rumored to be a fellow American Idol alum.
Only 150 guests will be admitted, and tickets sold out in less than three minutes after going online. One lucky fan from Nashville, Emma Collins, says she’s flying in just for the event. “I’ve followed Carrie since day one,” Collins says. “To be there when she brings this song to life in a whole new way — that’s a dream.”
Looking Ahead
Underwood says she’s already thinking about expanding the concept to other locations, possibly including her home base of Nashville. But she insists Napa will always be the flagship.
“This place has a rhythm,” she says, gazing out at the golden hills beyond the tasting room’s windows. “And when the sun sets over the vines, you can almost hear the song playing in the breeze.”
Sidebar: Fast Facts on Silver Strings
Location: Main Street, Napa Valley, California
Opening Date: September 21, 2025
Signature Experience: Wine tasting paired with custom music playlists
Designer: Tessa McClain
Vintner: Elias Cruz
Special Feature: Lyric Wall with excerpts from unreleased Carrie Underwood song
Charity Focus: Music education and sustainable farming
As the worlds of country music and fine wine intertwine in Napa Valley, Silver Strings stands as a reminder that creativity knows no boundaries. Whether you come for the Cabernet, the chorus, or simply the chance to share a story, Carrie Underwood’s new venture invites you to savor every note — and every sip.
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