Cuvaison Estate Wines (Carneros) is located directly across from the Domain Carneros winery driveway on Duhig Road (the road is named after the family that farmed this part of Carneros). People who are not familiar with the Cuvaison label often stumble across their Carneros winery after visiting Domain Carneros. As a result, unintentionally this turned out … [Read more...]
Stony Hill Vineyard
Stony Hill Vineyard was one of the first Napa Valley wineries built after Prohibition. They were an anomaly in Napa Valley from their first vintage in 1952 through 2009 because they only produced white wine. In the early 2000s they began to make a red table wine for themselves, friends and family; starting in 2009 they began producing a Cabernet Sauvignon … [Read more...]
Gentleman Farmer Wines
Gentleman Farmer Wines is a partnership between Joe Wolosz and Jeff Durham; both who have long careers centered around hospitality and the culinary worlds. Joe grew up in Pismo Beach, central California around hotels; his family owned two properties along California's coastline including El Patio Motel and The Wayside Motel. Later he worked in restaurants in … [Read more...]
Regusci Winery
Regusci Winery (pronounced Rey goo she) is the site of the first winery built in what is now the Stags Leap District. Vintner and early Napa pioneer Terrill Grigsby was related to William Harrison (the ninth president of the USA) Grigsby’s father was Harrison's nephew. Terrill Grigsby oversaw the construction of a wooden winery by Chinese workers, and … [Read more...]
Robert Mondavi Winery
Robert Mondavi Winery (acquired by Constellation Brands, Inc. in 2004, the same company that also owns 50% of Opus One) is one of Napa Valley's most iconic and visited wineries; it is located on the busy "wine strip" on the west side of Highway 29 in Oakville just north of Oakville Cross Road. It is one of the few wineries in the valley that draws people … [Read more...]
Cliff Lede Vineyards
Cliff Lede Vineyards (pronounced "LayDee") was founded in 2002 on site of what used to be S. Anderson Vineyard; in 1971 Stanley (a dentist from Pasadena) and Carol (winemaker) Anderson (both now deceased), purchased 28 acres of land and by 1979 had built a winery and began producing sparkling wines with their first release in 1983 - in part using Chardonnay … [Read more...]
Robert Foley Vineyards
Robert Foley Vineyards is run by the talented winemaker Bob Foley and his wife Kelly. Bob remembers his first trip to Napa was in 1964 with his father to pick out some grapevines from a well-known rootstock nursery that no longer exists in St. Helena. His father wasn't making wine commercially - he just wanted to have fun growing grapes and did so with a … [Read more...]
Heitz Cellar
Heitz Cellar maintains a tasting salon located almost directly across from Hall Winery on Highway 29 slightly south of the town of St. Helena. This tasting room opened in 2002 and is on the location of the original Heitz Winery which was founded in 1961 by Joe (passed away in 2000) and Alice Heitz. Heitz Cellar is one of the older continuously operating … [Read more...]
Carte Blanche Wine
Carte Blanche Wine was founded and is owned by Nicholas Allen. Nicholas's interest in wine grew during college at the University of Denver. He remembers building a small cellar at his first house in Washington Park and simultaneously nurturing an interest in food including hosting dinner parties. He was the 'resident cork dork' as he puts it. The first … [Read more...]
Fantesca Winery
Fantesca Winery is located on a very historical property in the less traveled Spring Mountain District, in the lower Mayacamas mountains a few minute drive west of the town of St. Helena. Grapes were originally planted on the property in the 1860s which was part of a dowry from Caroline Bale when she married Charles Krug; reference the nearby Bale Grist Mill … [Read more...]