Acre Wines formerly known as One Acre Wines has a unique and interesting story. Founder, David Becker grew up in the “valley” when his family moved to the Napa area in 1971. During our first visit, he spoke of few fences around, hiking over to the nearby hills, exploring ruined farmhouses and catching steelhead in the nearby creek. Not a bad childhood. His family purchased land already planted to prunes, walnuts and other stone fruits. For many years that is what grew on site. Then in much more recent years, David purchased the land from his father and acquired these fruit trees which were now somewhat sickly looking. At that time he had no background whatsoever in the wine industry. In fact he installed rain gutters on people’s homes for a living as well as provided rain gutter cost estimates.
A friend mentioned planting grapes – David has always enjoyed sweet wines and mentioned an interest in planting a particular white variety that you will never see planted in Napa. Fortunately his friend had 2000 surplus Cabernet Sauvignon vines from a nearby winery which had purchased too many vines for some of their vineyards. David jumped at the opportunity and planted about 50% clone 191 and 50% clone 337, both French clones that produce small berries with concentrated flavors. These vines literally come right up to the deck of his house and almost the entire acreage is now planted with vines.
Most everyone agrees that much of winemaking takes place in the vineyard and this is clearly evident with David’s unbridled passion and folksy contagious enthusiasm for his one acre of vines. After planting the vines he enrolled at Napa Valley College for viticulture classes. As David says, as the vines would age he would take the next series of viticulture classes so his knowledge would keep up with the growth of the vines! He knew his next door neighbor was often traveling and rarely home but he wasn’t sure of her profession. As luck would have it, he found out that she is a world renowned viticultural consultant and she has been able to offer invaluable advice. Nice.
His attention to detail in the vineyard is amazing. He manages every single vine himself and spends hours on training the vines, pruning, thinning, managing the cover crop and irrigation.
Acre Wines does take appointments for vineyard tours (no tasting) – this is one of those rare opportunities in Napa to talk one on one with a vineyard manager and to pick up on many of the techniques and practices utilized in this tiny vineyard. This is one of the best, most detailed vineyard tours you will ever find in Napa – small groups only.
In trying to come up with a name for the winery, characteristics of the vineyard were discussed including Oak trees, Quail, Hawks, and stones – but the name indicates it best; it is a one acre vineyard in the Oak Knoll district just north of the town of Napa.
For a few years, David teamed up with Chef Bob Hurley for a very unique experience appropriately called “Vine Wine Dine”. This began in the vineyard with education and dependent on the time of year, dictated the type of hands on “work” one would experience – pruning, or taking sugar samples being the most common. Then it was off to the well known Hurley’s Restaurant in nearby Yountville for a food and wine pairing with One Acre’s wines and some special dishes that chef Bob Hurley specially prepared to go with the wines. Chef Bob entertained questions and then guests can stay for lunch.
Unfortunately, with the closing of Hurley’s Restaurant in 2018, this experience is no longer offered.
For a contrast in size, compare one of the larger wineries in this district, Trefethen, to probably the smallest, One Acre! Starting with the one acre estate vineyard Dave has since branched out and has made a Zinfandel from his neighbors vineyard (under an acre) and also has leased a one acre vineyard in Yountville. He took the same variety cuttings from his estate vineyard and cultivated them in this new vineyard. The wine has not yet been released from this new vineyard but when it is, it will be interesting to compare the “terroir” differences in the wines between the two properties.
We tried the 2005 vintage which happens to be their first release. For someone who knew next to nothing about wine merely a few years ago this is a gem. Clone 191 has thicker skins and helps bring a dark color to the wine. The aromas are elegant and refined with an earthy undertone including tobacco and a slight smokiness. The palate is all about the fruit, mainly berries, red cherries and plum with notes of vanilla and a slightly smoky very long finish.
A vineyard this size does not produce large quantities of wine of course, when their entire production came from this one acre they were producing around 200 cases per year. Since they now work with numerous other vineyards, their production has increased significantly. However the wines are still only found in select Northern California locations. A noted Napa winemaker once told David, “if you can sell gutters, you can sell wine”! Look for the simple yet elegant label with his vineyard’s longitude and latitude coordinates listed. As it says on the back of the bottle, One Acre, One Guy, One Wine – that it truly is.
Until you have a chance to visit with Dave, check out his extremely informative videos about specific aspects of vineyard management. He purchased a video camera specifically noted to be “YouTube” compatible and now these videos are embedded in his website as well as on YouTube. Dave is the narrator and his wife handles the camera work. Most wineries would salivate over the viewership that Dave commands – at the time of this update his videos have been watched on Youtube over 260,000 times!
We had a chance to pay homage to the “famous” grape plant featured in a number of his videos. This one vine has received more video coverage in its life than most people. Follow along as Dave covers its growth and development.
NOTE: in early 2018 David sold Acre Wines and One Acre to Mike and Talley Henry (no relation to Ric Henry or Mike Hendry, other Napa vintners with the same or similar last names). David will continue to farm these vineyards.
For several years, the Acre Wines were available for tasting at what was Napa Wine Co’s shared tasting room in Oakville. But as of January 1, 2019 this tasting room stopped representing all vintner members other then their own three brands.
Feast it Forward
Acre Wines is one of up to sixteen vintners featured in The Studio by Feast it Forward (opened in June 2018) located directly across from the Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa. This two story building houses an “experiential showroom”, as founder Katie Hamilton Shaffer calls it – with a focus on wine, food and music.
Each vintner represented offers several wines – several of the showroom’s sponsors have prominent placement including guitars from Gibson Brands, Inc. and furniture from Crosley. A Chocolate tasting is also offered oddly enough sponsored by Sherman Williams and a vinyl station if offered for playing a variety of old records. Upstairs features a demo kitchen – when shows are being filmed here, televisions downstairs broadcast the live feed. This kitchen can also be used for guest chefs to offer culinary classes.
And visitor’s will want to stop by their bathroom – a television embedded in a mirror plays Feast if Forward culinary shows. The site can be used for a number of events – they have plenty of space in the back of the building. The Ultimate Airstream Film Lounge trailer is often be parked in the back – they use this trailer when they are on the road hosting unique lifestyle events and it also serves for private tastings on site or for special events. One such event at the showroom might be the “Terrible Tuesdays” in which bad films with cult like followings are shown.
The second floor features a sizable surround building deck – and a swinging ‘bed’. This is an ideal perch to watch passerbys going to Oxbow Public Market or those enjoying the park next to the Napa River. These are also some of the best seats in the area to watch live performances at the nearby green.
For more information or to join their wine club, visit: www.acrewines.com
Harvest Video:
Dave – Spring Pruning:
Dave, we talked back 6 months or so. I’m from Pa. Grape growing area. Thanks for taking time to talk with me about grape growing etc. Put me on the list for your video. Thanks Jim Simonelli
Hi Jim
Thanks very much for the message, I sure appreciate it. Good to hear from you again. I will put you on the DVD list, we were just doing some work on it today.
Thanks again,
Dave
Hi Dave, it’s been a while. How’s the DVD comming. Jim Simonelli. P.s. I had my first harvest this fall. All went well. Thanks for all your help.
Great video Dave, I hope to join your crew next year!!
Hi Dave,
I was interested in your dvd and how to obtain a copy.
Thank you,
Patrick
I like the knowledge you are sharing about a vineyard. We recently bought a property that came with a small vineyard about 200-250 grape plants Merlot and Cabernet. I have no experience in growing grape plants, and have learned a lot from your videos. Thank you.
Dave – your a hit with the videos! Keep up the good work!
~ David
The Napa Wine Project
Hi Dave
My name is Frank and i live in Toronto Canada, we have spoken a few times and I’ve been following your youtube videos which have been quite helpful with my vineyard I have.I am very interested in the DVD you have mentioned to me awhile back i would like to purchase one if possible i hope we still keep in touch.
Hey Dave,
I love your highly informative videos. It is quite obvious that you have a tremendous passion for viniculture. I was wondering, are you perhaps available for consulting work on helping establish vineyards outside of California–namely, here in Texas? If not, is there someone whom you could recommend? We have a project that we are putting together for war-wounded disabled veterans and will be starting operations within the next several months. We are looking for someone with a relaxed and patient demeanor to help guide the initial stages of this project along. Would you be able to help with this project or recommend anyone that can?
Harry Shaw
Hi Harry
It is very nice to hear from you, thank you for taking the time to write. Sorry for the delay in response, we had quite an abrupt wake up call Sunday morning with a 6.0 earthquake. Things are gradually getting back to normal, but there are quite a few buildings that are damaged.
I am very happy to hear that you enjoyed the videos, they are enjoyable to make. I just wanted to share a few of the things that helped me.
This time of the year with harvest quickly approaching, I am sorry to say I wouldn’t be available for any consulting, but I certainly appreciate your offering.
I am not familiar with any vineyard consultants in Texas, but if there are any colleges that offer viticulture classes in the area they might be a good place to start, or you might even check with some of the local wineries in the area and see if there are any vineyard management companies that might have someone who could help.
Thank again for reaching out, I sure appreciate it.
Dave
Dave
I just recently discovered your series and absolutely love it! We live in Charlotte, North Carolina and have some good wineries up north of Charlotte in the Yadkin River Valley AVA. I am 43 and have a goal of making wine from my own grapes when I’m 50, so. I’m in the planning stages! Can I still purchase a DVD from you? I appreciate your passion and attention to detail and willingness to share!
Cheers!
Hi Joey
It is so very nice to hear from you, and sorry for the delay. It is great to hear about your desire of making wine from your own grapes, I am sure you will enjoy it very much. It sounds like you are in a good region for grape growing, and you timing is good as it does take a little time to get the vineyard planted and underway.
I am happy to hear you enjoyed the videos, they were fun to make and I just wanted to share some of the things that helped me. My friend Adam who does the filming has been pretty busy as of late, but we are still hoping to get a DVD done as soon as we can. And I will keep you on the list.
As you get underway with your vineyard, send me some picture as you progress along, it would be nice to see.
dave@oneacrewines.com
Thanks again for reaching out.
Dave
Wow….your video series are a tremendous gift to anyone needing that little push to venture into this fabulous challenge. We are in Southern British Columbia and have chosen the cold climate Minnesota Marquette vines. They were purchased potted in 8″ containers last fall and will be planted in the spring.
I am thinking of using the lyre trellis system so will likely need an extra year before I can make my first wine.
Hi Phil
It is very nice to hear from you, thanks very much for reaching out. A lyre system sounds like it should work well, that configuration should provide a good fruit load for you. When you get the vines in, send a picture or two of your vineyard it would be nice to see.
And thanks very much for your kind words about the videos, just wanted to share what I thought might help others who wanted to try the same.
Thanks
Dave
Hi sir,
Hope you are doing very fine.I saw your all videos on YouTube first Im really impressed a big thank you for doing great job.
Now let me introduce myself my name is Ahmad I currently live in England I got some land in kashmire and land is very fertile,I’m interested in growing my own grape but I need your little help sir I need to know what is best distance between plants and I like cordon system it’s really nice and easy to maintain.
Second plz tell me is there any breed available so I can pick fruite before middle of August I would love to grow seedless because in August in my area monsoon season starts.
In my area normal temperature in winter is 6-8c but in summer it raise up to 36-40c kindly tell in detail as much you can many many thanks in advance for your help.
Your’s thankful,
Ahmad.
England….!!!!!
Hello Amad
It is very nice to hear from you, and glad to hear you enjoyed the videos. I wanted to share what I had learned and what others had shared with me. The distance between the vines and the vine rows can vary. Very often the distance between the rows can depend of what type of tractor or equipment you are going to use the cultivate between the vines. The distance between the vines can vary with the typw of trellising. I happened to use 4′ between the vines but 5 or even 6 feet can be used, depending on the vigor you expect. If you are going to go with a cordon system 1/2 the difference would be the length of each vines cordon.
As far as some of the varietals that would work for you, you might google or email two different nurseries, Sunridge Nurseries and Nova Vines.
Thasnk again for watching my videos and for your message.
Dave
Dave,
Watched all of your videos! They are so informative. Our property is in the southern part of the Sierra Foothills of Fresno County. You mentioned granitic soil. How far down should we do soil bore tests to ensure that the vines will grow deep enough without hitting hardpan or solid granite?
Hi Lance
Thank you for your message, and glad to hear you enjoyed the videos. I hope to have some more soon. It is a good idea to check to see how deep the soil is before a layer of either hard / clay pan.
There are quite a number of root stock options that you might consider, Some rootstocks have a relatively shallow root profile while others will go very deep. You might consider contacting either Sunridge Nurseries ( they are down your way ) of Nova Vines. I suggested these to another fellow who had a question. Both nurseries could give you an idea of how deep certain rootstocks go, then based on that you could decide how deep to do your test bores.
Thanks again for reaching out,
Dave
Hi Dave – I drove by your place to get a pic of some of your vines – but not leafed out enough. I also didn’t spot you in the vineyard. Next time hopefully I’ll have more time and I will stop in and say hi. I did spot your a sign at Napa Wine Co a few days ago indicating they were pouring your wines – that is cool!
Hi Dave
It is very nice to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by and sorry I missed you. Give me a call or text next time you are coming this way, it would be great to see you. Vines are all pushing out now. Would love to show you the Yountville vineyard too.
Thanks
Dave
Dave – Ill do that next time I’m in the neighborhood. I look forward to see your other Yountville acre. I’ll be gone all of May – doing some Bordeaux wine related activities and visiting a few other countries.
Gosh – there have been so many changes since we last met with David. I look forward to meeting Mike and Talley Henry at some point 🙂
We’d love to meet you as well! Feel free to drop us a line at the winery and come to the Feast tasting lounge. We look forward to seeing you! – Mike & Talley
Thanks Mike – will do. I need to get update on Acre Wines. I’m on the road for most of the rest of the month – Ill try to reach out later in October or early November when I’m back in town. Cheers! ~ Dave
Hey Dave,
I’m interested in working with you on a project in Temecula, CA. Please contact me so we can further discuss.
Thank you!
Kindest regards,
Entewan Morris