Kenefick Ranch

Kenefick Ranch is a family run vineyard and wine producer located near the small town of Calistoga in the northern part of Napa Valley at the base of the nearby lower hills of the Vaca mountain range. While somewhat hidden, this part of the valley is home to several old head-pruned vineyards and notable nearby producers include Eisele and Kelly Fleming.

The brand was founded by Dr. Tom Kenefick (died in 2021); his family originally immigrated from Ireland, settling in the Midwest including in Iowa and then Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and then spent his residency at the Mayo Clinic. He moved to San Francisco in 1969. While enjoying a successful start of his career working as a neurosurgeon (later Chief of Neurosurgery), he took his first trip up to Napa Valley in 1970. Falling in love with the region he purchased 250 acres in 1978. At that time, the property was already planted to vines, mostly to head pruned Italian varieties but was not being maintained very well; the owner was still managing the vineyard rows with a horse-drawn plow.

Recognizing the correlation between his own career by improving people’s lives through surgery he became focused on the challenge of enhancing the quality of his “new” vineyard. Over time, with numerous back and forth trips from San Francisco to Napa Valley, Tom slowly replanted, upgraded and expanded his vineyards. Today, grapes from Kenefick Ranch are highly sought after and are sold to other premium producers and wineries, some who create Kenefick Ranch vineyard designated wines. Prominent wineries who have made wine from their grapes include Caymus, Nickel & Nickel and Shafer. Eventually Tom replanted all of the vines on the property – focusing primarily on Bordeaux red varieties but also some unusual for Napa Valley, white Rhone varieties like Grenache Blanc and Marsanne.

For many years, Tom lived on the ranch, literally surrounded by grapevines and did not have to commute in years. Tom enjoyed vineyard work late in life but stepped back from physical activities in his later years. Fortunately, his children have joined the business; his daughter Caitlin helps with marketing, branding and sales events and for some years Chris oversaw their national sales program; Chris is now CEO and proprietor of Kenefick Ranch.

Approximately 125 acres are planted to grapes; since 2017 the vineyard is certified Napa Green and Fish Friendly Farming ™. About 10% of the grapes are not sold and are used for their own wines. The property is planted to about 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc; other varieties include Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and a small block of Chenin Blanc. In 2002 Kenefick Ranch produced their first commercial vintage under their own label. When we first met with the team years ago, they were only producing several wines but have since expanded their portfolio significantly.

Their winemaking philosophy is to creature a balance between high alcohol fruit forward wines which are complemented by bright acidity; despite the higher alcohol, their wines are always lively and fresh in their youth. A big part of that is tied to their canopy management in the vineyard and careful harvesting decisions, often picking slightly earlier for lower sugar levels but while reaching a phenological ripeness.

Select Wines
Whites/Rosé
The 2023 Kenefick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc was barrel fermented using native yeast and then aged sur lie with regular battonage for seven months in 75% neutral French oak and 25% new Burgundian French oak barrels. It was then aged in bottle for three months prior to release. This wine is deep straw in color; its aromatic profile is tangy with aromas of not fully ripe pineapple, honeydew melon, grapefruit pith, orange blossom, pomelo, papaya, dried mangos and a light lemon zest. The palate is rounded and fleshy; it is fully ripe and sans any green or grassy characteristics but features plenty of lively acidity keeping this wine bright and fresh from the entry through to the finish. Its flavors include honeydew melon, pineapple, grapefruit without any bitter character, kumquat and lychee. Lingers mouth watering and fresh. Pair with halibut lightly drizzled in olive oil, dried oregano, sea salt and a dollop of lemon juice.

The 2019 Kenefick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc is deep straw in color; everything about this bouquet evokes memories of springtime, sunshine, warming days, cool nights. It is floral with aromas of citrus blossom. It is someone on the back of a lawn mower, gliding across the grass leaving that wonderful smell in their wake, it is rubbing one’s fingers across a fresh Kaffir lime. One can certainly smell the varietal characteristics in this wine. Rich, yet nicely balanced, the palate delivers flavors of pomelo, kiwi, gooseberry and tangerine with a lemon/lime finish. Not tart but showcases a bright acidity and liveliness. Nicely done and highly representative of a contemporary Napa Valley style of Sauvignon Blanc balanced between a greener grassier showing of this variety and characteristics resulting from a warmer climate.

Grenache Blanc originated in Spain and is also commonly found in Rhone white blends. Several other Napa Valley based producers craft wine from this variety, primarily from grapes sourced from Somerston Ranch.

The 2019 Kenefick Ranch Grenache Blanc is medium to deep gold in the glass; the nose offers beautiful aromatics of apricot, yellow peach, baked apple, ripe pear, mango, papaya and a subtle vanilla and toffee note deeper in the bouquet. As the wine breathes further the aromas quickly become more citrus-like showing lemon zest and orange blossom. This wine features a slightly rounded mouth feel, rich flavors which are complemented nicely by bright acidity. Across the palate are notes of Golden Delicious apple, passion fruit and pear; lingers with a tangy brightness of acid and citrus notes including tangerine. Sports a mouthwatering finish. We enjoyed this with fresh asparagus cooked simply in olive oil, soy sauce and a few drops of lemon juice.

Reds
Cabernet Franc
Sometimes Cabernet Franc is associated with vegetal or bell pepper characteristics. Kenefick Ranch’s Cabernet Franc never showcases these herbal notes; this is a reflection of Calistoga’s warmer growing season and canopy management. Their bottlings always highlights the ripeness of this variety.

The 2021 Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Franc, Caitlin’s Select, Calistoga is deep ruby and nearly opaque; the fully ripe bouquet offers scents of Santa Rosa plum, blackberry, cherry, raspberry, red licorice, sweet tobacco, dark cocoa powder, cassis and dried herbs including white sage. As it evolves, its savory attributes become more prominent. Plush across the palate, its texture is soft and supple with tannins that seamlessly fit into the finish with their rounded and lightly gravelly texture. This wine tastes like cherry, raspberry jam, plum, smoked cedar, peppercorn, pencil shavings, dried herbs and dark tobacco spices. Finishes with dark and savory characteristics accompanied by a soft acidity. This wine was aged for 18 months in a new French barrique and was bottled un-fined and unfiltered. This wine is a listed 15% ABV, but does not feel overly ‘warm’ or ‘hot’ on the palate.

The 2017 Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Franc, Caitlin’s Select is deep ruby in color; smells comforting like being inside a warm house in front of a fire with friends and family after a large meal with smells from the kitchen of freshly baked desserts. The aromatics are a pleasing mix of both fruit and dessert spices including ripe blackberry, boysenberry, dark licorice, Graham cracker, mocha and espresso. Shows an intensity of flavor; the palate is high octane including notes of plum, blackberry and darker chocolate. Juicy, mouthwatering and savory, this wine also offers flavors of freshly crushed peppercorn, cedar box, dried herbs and a moderate grip of persistent, gravelly in texture, and slightly drying tannins. From the bouquet alone, we would not be able to pick this out as dominated by Cabernet Franc (the blend is 86% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Merlot). This wine was barrel aged in 100% French oak for 18 months, of which 65% was new and 35% neutral. The technical term for this wine is a crowd pleaser.

Merlot
The 2022 Kenefick Ranch Merlot, Calistoga is deep ruby in color; the first aromatic we noted was spice, the nose is a pretty union of darker spices and fruit. These include dark raspberry, black plum, red cherry, boysenberry, white pepper, dried tobacco spice and old cedar box. As the wine evolves, its fruit character becomes more pronounced. Balanced, bright and savory on the palate there are flavors of dark raspberry, cherry, red plum, dried sage and a lingering chalky character both in terms of flavor and texture. Soft and supple, the tannins are highly polished and seamlessly integrated on the finish. Lingers with a light note of warmth deep in the throat. We thought of pairing this with lamb shoulder covered in a dry rub of assorted spices and a BBQ.

The 2017 Kenefick Ranch Merlot (100% varietal) is deep ruby in the glass; the aromatics are of dark ripe fruit including blackberry and boysenberry, ripe pipe tobacco, licorice, brown chocolate, mocha and espresso. There are also some dessert spice notes of clove, nutmeg and cardamom. Juicy and lively across the palate, this wine reveals flavors of blackberry, raspberry and red cherry. The finish persists with dark and chewy tannins of a medium grip accompanied by mouthwatering acidity. This wine was aged for 18 months in French oak and bottled unfiltered and unfined; we noticed tiny tartrate crystals lining one end of the cork.

Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga is deep ruby; ripe, sweetly fruited and loaded with layers of baking spices these aromas include raspberry jam, blackberry jelly, cherry liqueur, rose petals, nutmeg, white pepper, dark cocoa powder and vanilla. Balanced nicely based on the vintage, there are flavors of raspberry, blackberry, Santa Rosa plum (shout out to the man who used to live over the hill in Santa Rosa, Luther Burbank), currant and cranberry. The finish lingers with a drying and chalky texture, dry and gravelly tannins which persist far beyond the fruit on the finish. One can feel their density but they are not edgy or unbalanced.

Pickett Road Red
The 2021 Kenefick Ranch Pickett Road Red is deep ruby and nearly opaque. The nose smells ripe with aromas of blackberry, raspberry, dried prunes, dark cherry, black fig, baked plums, dark chocolate, dust, sweet tobacco and old cedar box. Layered, complex and boisterous in its youth, this wine features teenager-like energy with bright fruit including plum, cherry, raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry. The grainy and gritty tannins fully coat the palate and eventually outpace the fruit on the extended finish with a lingering dryness. Finishes bright and mouthwatering. In terms of a food pairing- think thick and well marbled medium rare T-bone steak.

Petite Sirah
The 2014 Kenefick Ranch Petite Sirah (tasting notes coming soon)

The 2013 Kenefick Ranch Petite Sirah cannot be seen through in the glass – in other words, this wine is inky dark and opaque. The aromatics are savory, meaty, brooding and dark. Give this wine time to breath and the initial rustic nature disappears revealing plenty of aromatic depth including a showy mélange of ripe plum, boysenberry, black licorice and cassis. Also, some darker spices on the fringes of the bouquet – including touches of pepper. A very subtle hint of caramelized sweetness. Great acidity, mouthwatering. Shows an intensity of fruit across the palate without gripping tannins that this variety is often known for. Rather the tannins are gravellier and more rounded in their feel – lingering along with notes of mocha. Seven years post vintage date has certainly been a factor in helping smooth these out. This wine was aged for 18 months in French Burgundian oak of which 10% was new and 90% was neutral. Only 190 cases were made.

Chris’s Cuvée
The 2012 Kenefick Ranch Chris’s Cuvée (named after Tom’s son) is a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend; aromatically it shows a pleasing mix of fruits including blueberry and raspberry, accompanied by notes of leather and violets. There is a noticeable sweetness of fruit and oak tannin; their texture is felt as somewhat gravelly/earthy. With a moderate intensity of both flavor and texture supported by bright acidity, this bottling is highly balanced. Very food friendly.

Their wines are very reasonably priced and hold up extremely well in competitions in which the other wines are often priced significantly higher. Some of the grapes used to make their Cabernet Sauvignon was also used in a Behrens Family wine (a local winery) which was awarded “wine of the year” in a Sunset Magazine “Western Wine of the Year” competition.

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We originally visited with part of the team at their office/house at the vineyard and then later at a shared tasting room called Up Valley Vintners in downtown Calistoga where Kenefick Ranch was one of the wines represented. However, this tasting room closed in late 2016.

For a short while, Kenefick Ranch wines were available for tasting in the tasting room at Fairwinds Estate, located next to the Silverado Trail, just south of Calistoga; the tasting room, offices and the winery building on the property burned down in the Glass Fire of 2020. Kenefick Ranch produced their wines at Fairwinds Estate for several vintages. As of our latest update to this review, Kenefick Ranch is making their wines at Fisher Vineyards in Calistoga, a very short drive from Kenefick Ranch.

Plans are underway to build their own winery, tasting room and production area housed inside a cave on the property. This all hopefully will open sometime later in 2027. Once it does open, we will visit and significantly update this review.

Kenefick produces only about 1,500 cases annually and has national distribution in select markets as well as limited international distribution including in Japan and parts of Europe. In Napa Valley, one can sometimes find their wines at Cal Wine Mart in Calistoga and at Solage Resort (Solbar) just south of the town of Calistoga.

Kenefick Ranch also maintains a mailing list which as of the time of this review is still open to new customers. They sometimes offer library wines for sale through their website. And they participate in select consumer events throughout the year including tastings hosted through the Calistoga Wine Growers Association. Their wines as well as wines made by other producers from their vineyard have historically done well in various wine judging competitions as well as receiving high scores from wine writers.

Depot Wine Train Collective, Calistoga
Kenefick Ranch is part of a several brands showcased in one of the two front train cars at the Calistoga Depot in Calistoga. Wines in this space were first showcased in December 2024 as part of a popup by Langtry Vineyards in Lake County. The Kenefick Ranch wines are available here in flights, by samples from the Wine Tech Wine Dispenser stations, by the glass or by the bottle.

This is a cozy space to enjoy affordably priced wines, learn something about the small brands housed here and participate in friendly banter with the wine educator. A more private room is located at one end of the train car with views overlooking Lincoln Avenue. Weather permitting tastings are also hosted outside at a high-top table in between the rail cars. And on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the Calistoga Depot features live music.

The Calistoga Depot is located directly next to the start of the Napa Valley Vine Trail, a walking and bicycle path that when completed will connect Calistoga to the city of Napa.

For more information, to purchase wine or to join their wine club, visit: www.kenefickranch.com