While MACDONALD is one of Napa’s newer producers, one must start with some history to help establish their story in Napa’s wine industry. The MacDonald family history in Napa Valley and contributions to the Napa wine industry date back to 1954. However, the historic vineyard where their own vines are planted, To Kalon dates back to 1868. Founder, H.W. Crabb … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2014
V12 Vineyards
V12 Vineyards was founded by race car driver and auto enthusiast, Jimmy Vasser; their first vintage is from 2008. Jimmy was introduced to the Napa Valley and its wines through an auto dealership he purchased in 1998 in the city of Napa. The dealership is still there, with two locations now, within about 1/4 of a mile from each other on Soscol Ave selling … [Read more...]
Patland Estate Vineyards
Patland Estate Vineyards was founded by Henry and Olga Patland with the purchase of their property on Soda Canyon (southern Napa Valley) in 2007. Henry immigrated to the USA to Miami from the Ukraine in 1978 when he was still a child - the family made ends meet by delivering newspapers. Later he and his family moved to San Francisco where his parents opened … [Read more...]
Thorn Hill Vineyards
Thorn Hill Vineyards was founded with their first release in 2007 - this winery was started by the husband wife team of Amy and Jack Thorn. Today they operate two tasting rooms; one near Lancaster in Pennsylvania (where they live) and one in Lower Lake in neighboring Lake County to the north of Napa. They previously operated a third tasting room that was … [Read more...]
Napa Earthquake
I was in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan catching up on email in the middle of the day when I immediately started receiving texts and emails from friends and family indicating an earthquake had hit Napa. Soon after I started seeing night time photos hitting Twitter of various buildings downtown - then news indicated several highways were closed for evaluation and within … [Read more...]
Folio Fine Wine Partners
Folio Fine Wine Partners represents a wide selection of wines from select producers in top wine regions around the world to the American market. As of our latest update to this review they represent more than 40 wineries from eight countries. And the wines produced under Folio Wine Partners (also owned by Michael Mondavi) are Hangtime, Oberon and Spellbound. … [Read more...]
Dahl Vineyards
NOTE: the sad and horrific story that occurred on March 15th, 2015 as told here: www.pressdemocrat.com/news/3677767-181/robert-dahl-napa-vintner-in?page=1 This review will be updated once we have information about possible new ownership. Dahl Vineyards opened in mid summer 2014 on site of the old Chateau Napa Winery on quiet Solano Ave just off of the … [Read more...]