Calistoga Press. Proprietors Terry and Bruce Strombom grew up in Stockton, met in the 7th grade and then both attended college in southern California. Life’s paths took them apart for a few years, but then they reconnected in their early 30s. They settled in Long Beach where they established careers, Terry as management in the health care industry and Bruce as an economist.
About 15 years ago, they realized they missed living in Northern California and began searching for a place to retire, initially focusing on Lake Tahoe. Having visited Napa Valley three or four times a year, they realized they would be more comfortable there and eventually pivoted their real estate search. They spent several years looking for a property in Napa Valley with the caveat that it was either planted to existing vines or could be planted to grapes.
They discovered their property in Calistoga in 2014; it was already planted to two acres of clone 8 Cabernet Sauvignon. This clone, on their site, consistently produces low yields with loose clusters regardless of vintage. The vines date back to 1999. Originally, they sold the grapes to Barnett Vineyards, as the previous owners had already established that relationship. The vineyard was formerly called Cyrus Ryan and was vineyard designated for several years before the grapes were part of Barnett’s Mountain Meets Valley bottling (MMV).
Beginning with the 2025 harvest, the Strombom’s began using all of the grapes for Calistoga Press.
They had been talking about making wine for some time; one day Terry said something like, “If we don’t do this now, when will we ever?” The individual who manages their landscaping suggested they speak with Ashley Hepworth, longtime winemaker at Joseph Phelps Winery. Terry responded, “Sure, is Ashley really going to talk to us?” As it turned out, timing was everything. Ashley had just left Phelps and was beginning her wine consulting business.
During their meeting, they discussed preferred wine styles and Terry and Bruce gave her an example of one wine both enjoy, Insignia. Afterward, both walked away wondering if they would ever hear from her again. But within an hour, Ashley called and said, “I would love to work with you.”
Ashley made the introduction to fourth generation Napan, Domenick Bianco of Bianco Vineyard Management who now oversees their vineyard. Having a viticulture strategy and plan has improved the overall health of their vineyard. Part of this has included planting cover crops and more precise timing in how the vines are managed. When yields are high, grapes are thinned to ensure the vine’s are in balance.
In 2020 the Glass fire burned through a seasonal drainage ditch on their property. Their home was not damaged because the Piedmont, CA Fire Department was on site and saved it from burning. This seasonal ditch flows quickly during rainstorms but dries out in the summer months.
Their daughter Emily enjoys helping to market the wines and oversees their social media presence, bringing a personal, family touch to their communications. For the label design, they worked closely with their landscape architect, bounced around ideas until they landed on the concept of a press – an image that could visually represent pressing either olives or grapes.
Hayley McAfee of Portland, Oregon–based 4Parts Design then drafted the illustration of the press for their front label, collaborating with Terry and Bruce to refine the final look.
Clone 8 Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone 8 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the foundational Cabernet selections in California, widely regarded as a workhorse clone that combines reliable productivity with a classic varietal profile. Its history traces back to cuttings taken in 1893 from Château Margaux in Bordeaux, which were brought to Concannon Vineyard in the Livermore Valley and propagated from what became known as the “Concannon Mother Vine.”
In the 1960s, Concannon collaborated with UC Davis on a grapevine certification program that formally established Cabernet Sauvignon Clones 7, 8, and 11, now considered industry standards for California plantings. Thee three clones from Concannon are estimated to account for roughly 80% of California Cabernet Sauvignon vines, with Clone 8 frequently cited as “the most popular clone in California.”
Viticulturally, Clone 8 is known as a strong producer, delivering relatively high yields driven by larger cluster weights rather than significantly more clusters per vine. Commercial and grower descriptions often reference typical yields around six tons per acre, underscoring its suitability for vineyards seeking both quality and economic viability. UC Davis clonal work has shown that FPS Selection 8 is among the highest‑producing Cabernet selections in experimental blocks, while still capable of making “exceptional wines” at the Oakville research vineyard. The clone has been widely planted since the 1970s and is described as a backbone of California Cabernet production.
The clone is not confined to California; it is also widely planted in Washington State, where it comprises much of the Cabernet acreage and serves as the basis for several high‑end, single‑clone bottlings that highlight its capacity for concentrated, structured Cabernet Sauvignon.
Select Wines
The wines are primarily estate grapes with a very small percentage, depending on the year, either Merlot or Petit Verdot included.
The 2024 Calistoga Press, Cabernet Sauvignon Trailview Vineyard is blended with 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. This wine is deep ruby and nearly opaque; the bouquet is higher toned featuring primarily red fruits with the oak providing a supporting complement. The nose smells red cherry, currant, spicy red plum skin, a light ferrous, minerally character and a note of smoked cedar. As it opens, more barrel influences show including of mocha, espresso, brown sugar and cocoa powder. On the palate there are flavors of red cherry, currant, Persian mulberry, raspberry, boysenberry and a lingering note of cocoa powder. Despite its youth, at less than two years post vintage, the tannins aren’t edgy or overtly dominating. Rather their texture broadly coats the palate with a dusty and chalky character, but never feels heavy. The balanced acidity keeps this wine fresh. 93 cases produced.
The 2023 Calistoga Press Cabernet Sauvignon, Trailview Vineyard is blended with 1% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. This wine is deep ruby and opaque; the nose is darker expression right out of the gate as compared to the 2022 bottling. The aromatics are a union of both barrel toast and fruit. This wine smells like toast, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla, cinnamon stick – accompanied by blackberry, boysenberry, cherry pie and dark mulberry. The palate is layered in terms of its fruit profile, offering flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, Satsuma plum, dark mulberry, dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Brighter than the 2022 vintage, this wine shows plenty of energy at 3 years post vintage. Finishes savory with a darker edge including of smoked sage. The tannins are already well resolved and rounded, persisting with a light to medium chalky texture. It is more cerebral than the 2022 and more age worthy. We would enjoy trying this again in the next 10-15 years. Aged for 19 months in French oak. 75 cases produced.
The 2022 Calistoga Press Cabernet Sauvignon, Trailview Vineyard is blended with 2% Malbec and 2% Merlot. This wine is deep ruby and nearly opaque; the nose offers an immediate spicy, savory and floral bent with aromas of dried sage, dried rose petals, lavender, dried bay leaf and old cedar box. In terms of its fruit, it is brambly with aromatics of raspberry and blackberry. And Santa Rosa plum. As the wine breathes, some of its sweeter barrel influences start to show including cocoa powder and cinnamon stick. Plush, a riper expression and indicative of the warmer vintage in Napa Valley, this wine tastes like raspberry, red plums, red cherry and currant with supporting flavors of dried herbs including of sage. Finishes in a balanced place with not one attribute dominating. The tannins are ripe, resolved and rounded at 4 years post vintage. This wine is easy drinking right out of the gate. For reference, grapes for this wine were harvested prior to the heat spike centered around Labor Day weekend that year. Aged for 22 months in French oak. 67 cases produced.
In 2025 production jumped significantly to around 200 cases. The wines have already received handsome scores from well-known wine writers and related publications including Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate and James Suckling.
Olive Oil
140 olive trees are planted on the property, including primarily the Manzanillo variety with a few dozen trees of Italian varieties. When they purchased this property, the trees had not been cared for very well. They were given advice to remove the trees, but they decided to keep most of them and nursed them back to health including cutting the trunks back to their base, forcing a crown of restarts to develop, which are now healthy and producing olives. Remarkably the Glass Fire in 2020 only burned two olive trees; both ultimately survived and started bearing again.
They use organic products to keep the olive fly at bay. And instead of spraying for olive knot, a bacterial disease, branches are trimmed as needed.
Terry and Bruce started making their own olive oil in their garage for personal use, a small project that gradually grew into a commercial endeavor. As production increased, they transitioned to having the oil processed at Goldridge Organic Farms in Sebastopol. Their first vintage of olive oil was produced in 2019. Their extra virgin olive oil is certified each year under the California Olive Oil Council (COOC). Each year total production has ranged from 40 to nearly 100 gallons but with filtering, overall production is less. They bottle in both 375ml and 500ml sizes.
From the beginning, the idea was that the olive oil would be a product visitors to Napa Valley could bring home, a tangible piece representing where Terry and Bruce live, so they decided to name it in homage to Calistoga. Initially, they bottled the olive oil in a long‑necked bottle, but a buyer at Sunshine Market in St. Helena pointed out that this format would never fit on their shelves. Taking that feedback to heart, Terry and Bruce switched to a stout bottle that was better suited to retail display while still reflecting the character of their brand.
The 2025 Calistoga Press Olive Oil (harvested October 28th). This oil is deep gold in color; it smells fresh and spicy. But it is not as spicy on the palate as the bouquet would lead one, and never crosses into the territory of being overly green or grassy. Its aromatics include artichoke and a herbaceous character. A subtle spice lingers gently on the back of the palate. Its mouth feel is rounded with plenty of texture fully coating the palate. But never heavy.
The 2024 Calistoga Press Olive Oil (harvested November 4) is deep gold in color; smells very fresh at 1.5 years post vintage. Green and grassy with a peppery edge. Additional aromatics include artichoke and a light nutty character, but this never dominates. On the palate, this olive oil feels creamy and rounded in terms of its texture. This bottling features more pepper and herbal spice on the finish than the 2025 vintage. Pleasant bitterness. A clean burn. And that makes more sense as the percentage of Italian varieties in his vintage was more than in 2023 contributing a higher polyphenols count.
Tasting these, versus some of the larger production oils, makes one realize why it makes a lot of sense to support small olive oil producers. And your palate will be richly rewarded.
Both the 2024 and 2025 vintages earned silver designations from the New York International Olive Oil Competition, placing it in the top 100 from over 1,000 entries. And the 2024 vintage earned a gold medal from the California Olive Oil Council.
Their wine and olive oil are available at a number of locations within Napa Valley including ACME Fine Wines in St. Helena where they have been offered to their customers in their, ‘Under the Radar Club’. Other retail outlets include at Sunshine Market and CalMart, Solbar at Solage and at the Oakville Grocery where Terry & Bruce have personally showcased both of their products for Oakville Grocery’s Industry Night.
Terry and Bruce enjoy introducing their olive oil and wines to those who appreciate artisan products. In 2026 they submitted their wines for judging to the inaugural Calistoga Wine Festival.
For more information or to purchase olive oil or wine, visit: www.calistogapress.net
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