Shibumi Knoll Vineyards was founded by Don and Joann Ross (now Serafini) with the release of their 2005 vintage. Don was a former NASA engineer who worked on the Apollo Lunar Landing Project; later he was chairman of Louisville, Kentucky based Cardinal Shower Enclosures. He died in 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
Joann worked in Television and Film, advertising and telecommunications. Don and Joann moved to Napa Valley from La Jolla (San Diego County) in 2003 and purchased two acres north of St. Helena from Anne and Chuck McMinn (founders of nearby Vineyard 29). Both Don and Joann were extremely attracted to the views from the top of the knoll. But the property also came with an old cottage, a guesthouse but perhaps of most value, a winery.
However, while Don was a passionate and obsessive collector of fine wines for years, it wasn’t necessarily his intention to make wine.
But this location is one of the valley’s vineyard premium locations with neighbors including Vineyard 29’s Aida Vineyard, the Collins Holystone Vineyard (owned by the founders of Conn Creek Winery, the Jenkins) and Larry Turley, the owner of Turley Wine cellars lives nearby. Despite being a prime Cabernet Sauvignon location, their first wine was a Chardonnay from Sonoma County – produced because of a chance meeting at a nearby winery (see details below).
Their estate vineyard is planted to approximately 1700 Cabernet Sauvignon vines at just under an acre. Their site encompasses a rare and coveted piece of Napa terroir – a hill or knoll that sits on the actual floor of Napa Valley. Their micro vineyard grows on the side of this knoll below their home wrapping around with western and southwestern facing exposure. Vineyard manager David Abreu has overseen the vines since the Ross’s purchased the property. On a clear day, the views from this knoll are stunning in all directions but especially to the north across a sea of vineyards culminating with Mt. St. Helena anchoring the northern part of Napa Valley.
The soils in this knoll are filled with rocks. Joann spoke of the endless rocks; workers remove rocks from among the vines each year and then the next year it seems like the rocks have been regenerated.
For two years Don and Joann made home wine from their estate vineyard at nearby Benessere Vineyards. While at Benessere overseeing his own Cabernet Sauvignon being processed he met vintner Eugenia Keegan of Keegan Cellars. She offered to barrel taste him on some of her wines from neighboring Sonoma County. One of the wines truly stood out; it was a Chardonnay from the Buena Tierra Vineyard in the Russian River appellation of neighboring Sonoma County. The vineyard is literally next to the Russian River; in Spanish, Buena Tierra means good earth.
As timing would have it, Eugenia was moving to Oregon and would no longer be buying fruit from that block of Chardonnay. Don reached out to the owners at Buena Tierra Vineyard about buying fruit from the same vineyard block – this block was already 35 years old at the time and the owner was getting to rip out the vines and replant due to declining production. Don convinced him against doing so and offered to pay full production price. Today Shibumi Knoll continues to source grapes from the same block – these Chardonnay vines (Wente selection) are more than 50 years old and are the oldest vines in that entire vineyard.
And then the Wine Spectator validated the quality of their Chardonnay. They awarded their 2005 Chardonnay a remarkable 97 points and as Joann says, “I was blown away” – both by the prestigious rating as well as by the ensuing demand that quickly followed. Joann recalls some 400 phone calls beginning the day that the rating came out. With only less than 40 cases remaining of this vintage, they had to highly allocate their remaining wine – offering only a bottle each to consumers.
As word continued to spread about the quality of their Chardonnay it reached some of the most prominent restaurants in Napa Valley including the French Laundry. They have carried their wines since the 2005 vintage. In getting to know Joann, one soon realizes her passion for dogs. When the French Laundry requested more wine for the restaurant, they asked the Ross’s to have their ‘staff’ bring by some bottles.
Not having any staff at the time, Don and Joann looked at each other and decided to appoint their dog Cooper as the Shibumi Knoll ‘staff’ and sent the bottles to the French Laundry signed by Cooper. Not being attuned to the inner workings of Shibumi Knoll, the French Laundry then sent the receipt back, naturally, addressed to Cooper.
Thomas Brown has been making their wines since the 2010 vintage. When the Ross’s were looking for another winemaker, Thomas actually approached them offering to make their wines for free; he was already familiar with the quality of their Chardonnay and was highly interested in being able to work with this particular old vine Chardonnay. Thomas introduced them to a block of Pinot Noir – also in the Buena Tierra Vineyard; their first vintage was 2012.
If we were to choose just one word to describe their wines it would be balance. And after tasting through several of their Chardonnay bottlings over the years, we can say the Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay is one of our favorite wines of this variety produced by a Napa Valley based winery or brand.
Select Wines
Chardonnay
For subsequent vintages as the old vines age out at Buena Tierra Vineyard, Shibumi Knoll is working with the Corazón del Río Vineyard located close to Buena Tierra Vineyard for their Chardonnay production.
The 2022 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay, Buena Tierra Vineyard Russian River Valley is medium gold in color. The nose is bright and immediately inviting, with aromas of honeycomb, honeysuckle, and jasmine, alongside stone fruits that lean slightly tropical—nectarine, apricot, and pineapple. There is also a subtle sweetness of vanilla with a hint of crème brûlée. Clearly Chardonnay, with oak bringing up a backseat role, the palate offers flavors of pineapple, apricot, yellow nectarine, pineapple guava, golden kiwi, and vanilla. Acidity remains in the driver’s seat, keeping the wine bright and fresh from entry through the finish, while supporting a supple, slightly creamy mouthfeel. This is a refreshing expression of the variety, enjoyable in its youth, yet also built to age for more years. In terms of a pairing, perhaps a creamy pasta (think fettuccine Alfredo or a mushroom cream sauce). This wine was aged for 16 months in 54% New French oak barrels. Its ABV is 14.4%.
The 2019 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay, Buena Tierra Vineyard in the Russian River Valley is deep gold in color; the aromas are lively and layered, offering honeysuckle, honeycomb, pineapple, apricot, and melon, alongside notes of melted butter, citrus blossom, and a touch of walnut skin. Like previous bottlings, this vintage showcases the hallmark Shibumi Knoll textural suppleness—almost velvet-like—with a light, viscous feel that adds both depth and richness. That texture is beautifully balanced by bright, energetic acidity, keeping the wine lifted and fresh. The palate reveals flavors of ripe pear, mandarin, and orange zest, with additional nuance building as it opens. The finish lingers with mouthwatering freshness from both acid and fruit, complemented by a gentle influence of toasted oak and a hint of hazelnut, tying everything together in a rich yet well-balanced expression.
The 2014 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay, Buena Tierra Vineyard in the Russian River Valley is noticeably golden in the glass—no pale-colored Chardonnay here. The bouquet is immediately appealing, offering pretty aromatics of melon, citrus, and a gentle touch of vanilla, with a subtle maturity that adds a bit of warmth and depth. The palate is generous, showcasing a broad range of flavors, yet its richness is beautifully tempered by bright, balancing acidity. There are no sharp edges; the wine moves across the palate soft as silk, with a supple, rounded texture. Dessert-like notes of caramel and crème brûlée complement the citrus core, adding both sweetness and complexity without overwhelming the wine. This bottling shows a noticeable depth of flavor and a sense of completeness that lingers through the finish. Joann calls this their “magic vineyard” wine—and it’s easy to see why.
The 2012 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay, Buena Tierra Vineyard Russian River Valley (tasted 10 years post vintage) is deep gold in color; with bottle age the bouquet has developed beautiful tertiary aromatics of honey and apricot along with baking and dessert spices including vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, toasted coconut and hazelnut. Even after 10 years the fruit is not shy on the bouquet and includes pineapple, mango and banana. One notices its supple, saline and velvet-like texture immediately. This is a rich but superbly balanced bottling showing flavors of Golden Delicious apple, pineapple, honeycomb and yellow peach accompanied by a lingering note of brown spices and refreshing acidity on the finish. This is a Chardonnay that can clearly age and reminded us of some of the older Edge Hill Bacigalupi Chardonnay bottlings. And also reference some of the Dearden and Kongsgaard Chardonnay bottlings.
Pinot Noir
The 2023 Shibumi Knoll Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast is medium ruby in color. The bouquet balances ripe fruit with more delicate notes from its time in barrel, offering aromas of dark raspberry, strawberry, cherry cola, and red plum. On the palate, the wine shows restraint, with fruit leaning toward the darker spectrum, complemented by a spicy, savory character—especially noticeable on the finish. Flavors include brambly raspberry, currant, and slightly underripe boysenberry, followed by dried herbs such as sage and bay leaf, and a lingering note of pink peppercorn. The tannins are present—something not always found in California Pinot Noir—and are broadly distributed, coating the palate with a gravelly, chalky yet well-rounded texture. The acidity is bright, lending freshness throughout. We would not argue with you if you want to call this a minerally expression of Pinot Noir. Pair with pork shoulder or lamb chops. This wine was aged for 11 months in 15% in new French oak barrels.
The 2019 Shibumi Knoll Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley is medium to dark ruby in color. The elegant bouquet leans into darker “Pinot spices,” offering dried tobacco leaf and hints of sage, layered with bergamot tea, red cherry, pomegranate, rose stem, and old cedar box. There is a subtle savory thread running throughout the aromatics, adding both depth and intrigue. On the palate, the wine carries a similar balance of fruit and earth, with bright red fruit framed by notes of crushed peppercorn and a gentle herbal edge. The finish lingers on the savory side, supported by a light but noticeable tannic structure that adds grip without overpowering the wine. Unlike earlier, lighter bottlings of Shibumi Knoll Pinot Noir, this vintage shows more weight and structure—making it a compelling option for Cabernet Sauvignon enthusiasts exploring Pinot Noir.r.
2015 was their last Pinot Noir bottling from the Buena Tierra Vineyard; no wine from this variety was produced in 2016. They continue to produce Pinot Noir, but from another vineyard source in Sonoma County.
The 2013 Shibumi Knoll Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Buena Tierra Vineyard initially shows notes of white pepper, and as it continues to evolve in the glass, more fruit emerges, including spicy red cherry and raspberry. Both the fruit and spice components gain clarity and depth with air, revealing a layered and expressive aromatic profile. On the palate, the fruit is lively and clean, yet complex in its delivery, balancing brightness with subtle nuance. This is a lighter-styled expression of the variety, but it carries more depth than its weight might suggest. The texture is soft and smooth across the palate, with fine-grained tannins that provide gentle structure without interrupting the wine’s elegance. The finish is polished and quietly persistent, leaving an impression of freshness and finesse.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2023 Shibumi Knoll Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby and completely opaque, with light purple hues in the glass. The wine shows plenty of aromatic restraint alongside clear varietal character; it is not just another ripe Napa Valley Cabernet. The nose reveals dark raspberry, red cherry, blueberry, currant, and Persian mulberry, with additional layers of smoked sage and old cedar box. The palate carries some of the same savory qualities found on the bouquet, with flavors of dried herbs—particularly sage and bay leaf, alongside a light kiss of crushed pepper and dark fruits such as spiced plum skin, boysenberry, and mulberry. A mineral, almost chalky nuance persists through the finish. The tannins are well-integrated yet structured, offering a persistent, dusty grip that is especially noticeable on the front of the palate. This wine is a strong expression of the 2023 vintage in Napa Valley; it has depth and complexity, shows well now, but will also reward with additional aging.
The 2019 Shibumi Knoll Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby, almost purple and fairly opaque in the glass; the aromatics are dark, layered and highly appealing, showing notes of blackberry, blackberry jam (but not jammy), dark plum, fig, black cherry and mulberry. Also woven lightly into this aromatic union of fruit are hints of darker dessert spices including nutmeg. The bouquet is clearly focused on the fruit rather than any noticeable secondary aromatics as a result of barrel aging; the oak is a complementary characteristic in this bottling. One can feel the density of tannins but surprisingly they are well-resolved in their youth and offer a silty and slightly dusty texture (we tasted this wine 3 years post vintage). This is a superbly balanced bottling.
The 2013 Shibumi Knoll Estate Cabernet Sauvignon shows a deep, dark purple in the glass; its initial aromatics are notably floral, with lifted notes of violets alongside an elegant sweetness of fruit, including blackberry, complemented by hints of mocha and brown sugar and, at times, a perceptible dusty characteristic. It is a very pretty and inviting bouquet. On the palate, the wine offers flavors of ripe plum and both red and dark cherry, delivered with clarity and balance. The acidity is well-integrated, providing freshness and lift, while the wine maintains plenty of flavor without feeling heavy. Everything is in harmony here—fruit, structure, and texture—creating a seamless experience from entry through the finish. The tannins feel polished and well-placed, adding gentle support and rounding out a balanced and composed expression.
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The name Shibumi comes from a book of the same name (a spy novel by author Trevanian) and is a Japanese word describing a state of being which describes the pursuit of perfection through simplicity – or Effortless Perfection. These two words appear on all of their wine labels. The oak tree on the label is an image from the largest of the stately oaks that grow on their knoll and is estimated to be several hundred years old.
Regarding brand recognition and sales, their philosophy has been two-fold; selling direct to consumers for years combined with introducing their wines at select restaurants – they have little or no retail outlets. In the valley the wines are available at Press in St. Helena, Bottega, Redd and the French Laundry in Yountville. A very limited number of library wines are held back and are re-released to mailing list members, especially during vintages with low production (i.e., 2017 and 2020). Total production each year between the three wines is usually around 1,000 cases.
Reservations are preferred but if the tasting room is not busy, walk-ins are welcome. For more information and to purchase or join their mailing list, visit: www.shibumiknoll.com
ARCHIVED NOTES
810 Foothill Boulevard
In early 2022 Matthew Wallace along with Caterwaul and Post Parade (vacated in late 2023) moved into 810 Foothill Boulevard within the city limits of Calistoga (a few minute drive, slightly south of downtown). Later in the year, Aston Estate joined these other brands followed by Switchback Ridge; their wines were also available for purchase and tasting on site. Aston Estate focuses on single vineyard Pinot Noir. And as of 2023, a small brand called RIV founded by 4th generation Napa Valley resident, Alicia Regusci Hardin was sold and tasted on premises. Shibumi Knoll hosted visitors here for a very short while. All wines from the brands represented here were crafted by Thomas Rivers Brown and his winemaking team.
This space previously was used to host visitors for T-Vine Cellars and before that was Rainbow Agricultural services, a supplier of agricultural power equipment including John Deere tractors. After the most recent change in occupancy, the name was rebranded 810 Foothill to reflect the property address. Two primary buildings are on the property; the hospitality space with both interior bar seating and tables for guests along with a more private space upstairs. Weather permitting, some outdoor seating was available with great views of the vineyard to the east surrounding the property. A second building was used for storage including wines.
This space was vacated by all the wine brands in spring 2025. We keep our notes here for historical reference.
Royal We Wines, 929 Main Street, St. Helena
In mid July 2025 all the brands, including Shibumi Knoll who were previously housed at 810 Foothill Boulevard in Calistoga moved into the space at 929 Main Street in the southern part of St. Helena (almost across from Merryvale Winery). This space was previously occupied by Bello Family Vineyards followed by a tasting room for Yao Ming’s wines starting in February 2016. In 2020 this tasting room closed permanently, and Yao Family wines vacated the building. Following a period of vacancy the building was for a short while home to Vine Star, a wine and espresso bar. The owner of Vine Star, Jay was involved with the Yao Ming brand and as a result, for a short while, visitors were able to still taste select Yao Ming wines here. In late 2023, the Vine Star sign was removed from the exterior of the building and the building was vacated.
In 1950s and 1960s this address used to be home to Mobil Super Service, a full service automobile service center including for tires and batteries. The business was later known as Penland’s Service. By the 1970s and 1980s the business was operated by Bob and Randy Penland and in addition to auto care, the business was also providing service for lawn mowers and other related garden care. And by the early 1990s the business was known as St. Helena Petroleum.
Royal We Wines is a collective, showcasing wines from several brands that Thomas Rivers Brown is the winemaker for. The interior was softly remodeled and muted slightly from its previous opulent and flashy look. Visits are either by walk-in or appointment, with tastings hosted at the oval bar or in a private room adjoining the main space. Tastings can include a flight showcasing at least one wine from all of the producers or flights highlighting wines from one of the producers. Each of the brands may also taste their clients on their own wines using this space.
Several parking spaces are located in front of the tasting room including a handicapped space. Overflow parking is located in a lot adjacent and on the south side of the tasting room.
Reservations are preferred but if the tasting room is not busy, walk-ins are welcome.
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