Fenton Herriott Vineyards is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills at the gateway to Apple Hill, and is situated on what was once the old Pony Express Route and resides just 1/2 mile from the Smith Flat house. This region has a vibrant prospecting history, and is just a short distance from the gold mining towns of Coloma and Sutter's Mill. The Sierra Nevada foothills has been used for farming for well over 100 years. The Mediterranean climate of this area combining warm summer nights and hot summer days with free-draining volcanic soils is especially ideal for grape growing and allows us to produce the quality fruit needed for our complex, delicately-balanced and full-bodied wines. As a small, family owned winery, Fenton Herriott is intimately involved in every part of the vintner process - vineyard and vine maintenance, grape crush, fermentation, barrel ageing, bottling, and packaging.

In 1846, former Army Captain John G. Ray moved West to the rough-and-tumble frontier of Northern California. He settled with his family first in the town of Sonoma, where he took part in the Bear Flag Revolt. Ray's old residence still stands to this day as a historical site in downtown Sonoma.

Curious name, Serious wine!

Bruce Ahnfeldt moved to the Napa Valley in the mid 1980’s. While Ahnfeldt Wines did not begin until 2002, the Ahnfeldts developed and planted their first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in 1985. Grapes from the Ahnfeldt vineyards have been sold to BV (Bealieu), Markham, Sterling, Kendal Jackson and Hagafen wineries. These mature vineyards produce such fine quality grapes, that they are now used in their wines.