Igneous Winery is the teamwork of the Huckfeldt family who own Huckfeldt Ranch Vineyard and legendary vineyard consultant David Abreu, arguably one of the most important figures in the Napa cult wine movement. Working with famous properties such as Harlan Estate, Colgin, Bryant Family, Sloan Estate and Spottswoode, David has helped to create some of the most sought after wines in world. Don and Ann Huckfeldt, longtime Napa Valley residents, created Igneous Wines in 2002.
In the summer of 1979, Bill and Susan Hawley, both 27 years old with a one-year-old son named Emile, acquired this rugged and untamed property. The site was heavily forested and located at the end of a challenging dirt fire road that marked the boundary between Napa and Sonoma Counties.
Bill Hawley named the property Random Ridge on a poetic impulse, believing the name perfectly suited the land’s character. The terrain is steep and rugged, positioned on a 2,200-foot ridge at the edge of Mount Veeder. This area, an ancient uplifted seabed, features rock-strewn decomposed volcanic soils. The northern and eastern views offer vistas of pine-covered mountains with no visible homes, while the southern view provides a breathtaking panorama of the San Francisco Bay, Mount Tamalpais in Marin, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Occasionally, the sunset reveals a glimpse of the ocean, 30 miles to the west, through a gap in the coastal foothills.
Today's wine tasting tour began at 1:00. Rob was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. The underground cave is a wonderful experience. There is even an underground waterfall & an underground creek! At the end of the tour you sit in a tasting room with one of the best Brie as well as Goat cheese plates and plain crackers that we have ever had. 6 glasses of 6 different wines. You get to experience the change in taste (richer/bolder/smoother) when a glass of wine sits for 10 minutes. Over all experience was excellent.
We had four distinct wines and it was so difficult to choose which ones to go home with! We bought 2 and will be joing their wine club for sure. The grounds were so beautiful ~ such rich history. This small family owned winery is a hidden treasure! The old barn, the cave and the tasting room were so beautiful. I strongly recommend this as your first stop..... it will be hard to find anything better.
Pavi Wines - you can drink (not visit) - have some wonderful Italian varieties...almost the only people in Napa who do. You'll find their wines on a lot of restaurant lists...it's great quality at good prices. I especially love the Pinot Grigio ... way better than the average "nothing there" pinot grigio, very refreshing on a hot afternoon. They sell it by the glass at Calistoga Inn - I'd say it's best on the deck there! You can also find it in St. Helena at Tra Vigne, Farmstead; in Calistoga at Brannan's; and in Rutherford at Rutherford Grill. You can also enjoy a glass at: Napa Wine Company Tasting Room “Cult Wine Central” 7830-40 St. Helena Hwy Oakville, CA 94562
On the sun-soaked, vine-dappled slopes of Napa Valley, overlooking the town of St. Helena, a family took a chance. Driven by an unshakable desire to create something truly their own and to leave a lasting impression, they embarked on a journey to craft a signature wine worthy of their name. It was 1993, and the world of wine shimmered with possibility.
Winemaking is a blend of mystery and mischief, and with this alchemy, they produced not just one but two proprietary blends. The first was Bacio Divino—a “divine kiss” composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced by Sangiovese and, occasionally, other varietals. In 1999, its vivacious younger sibling, Pazzo, made its debut—an exuberant Sangiovese-centric blend enriched by Merlot, Syrah, and a touch of estate Cabernet.
Ever curious, they expanded their vision, venturing into single-varietal wines. This evolution led to the creation of their namesake wines: Janzen (2004), Vagabond (2004), and Lucie (2009).
Now, twenty vintages into their small, family-run venture, they take great pride in each bottle. Every accolade humbles them, yet the drive to single out, blend, taste, and create remains unwavering. Through hard work and dedication, many dreams have been realized. They invite others to discover a favorite among their offerings, with the hope that the enjoyment of each will come effortlessly.
Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Agata Art Gallery
Wine Maker Jon Priest and General Manager, is dedicated to inspired winegrowing. His focus is on cultivating grapes in optimal locations with ideal conditions to produce wines of exceptional world-class character. Through his intentional winemaking approach, he aims to express the intrinsic qualities of each varietal while highlighting their unique characteristics and a distinct sense of place.
In 1982, Etude was established in the cool-climate Carneros region with the aim of producing world-class Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir is the most appropriate vehicle with which to study wine growing, precisely because of its demanding nature but also because of its delicacy and transparency. Make no mistake it is a humbling pursuit, but when it’s right, Pinot Noir is a glorious and moving thing. It is in the pursuit of that experience that we all work.
Wow! What a great place to come across. I have been coming up to Napa for the past few years now and I have tasted alot of good wine but Barlow wines might be some of the best wines I have tasted in Napa Valley and not many people know about it! It's a family owned business with a father (Warren) and his son (Barr) who run the tastings at Warren's house on the Silverado trail. They only do two tasting appointments a day, so try and get an appointment ahead of time. There wines are fantastic! They do a Merlot, Zin, Sauvignon Blanc, Curvee blend and Cabernet Sauvignon. My favorite was the Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. They only make around 1,000 cases in total production a year and approaching their goal of 2,000 case a year!
The Showket Vineyard is situated on the Oakville Hillside overlooking the Silverado Trail and Oakville Crossroad. I would like nothing more than to write about the vineyard’s soils, but it is actually the propertys lack of soil that makes it so unique. The ground is a mix of red volcanic rock and limited amounts of clay loam. The conditions at Showket are so extreme that each plant receives up to ten gallons of water weekly, and yet a day after watering, there is no trace of it.
The other key factor is the vineyard’s virtually ideal orientation. It faces almost due west, so it receives sunlight from the dawns first light until the sun sets over the Mayacamas Mountains. From the Showket Vineyard we source Cabernet Sauvignon, clones 7 and 8, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, both of which predate individual numbered clones for their varietals.
The owner, Kal Showket, personally manages the vineyard. During the growing season he never leaves the property. Each day he rides through the vineyard and makes watering decisions based on what he sees, smells and tastes. The vineyard guides his choices, not a preset schedule..
Discover potential and create excellence at Bevan Cellars. Since its founding in 2005, the winery's philosophy has been consistent: the journey is as significant as the result. Each vintage is an opportunity to seek out hidden gem vineyards and craft wines that embody their unique origins with intensity and balance.
The team at Bevan Cellars embraces a sustainable approach both in the vineyards and the cellar. This meticulous, hands-on process fuels their passion to produce wines that are not only exciting to enjoy upon release but also worthy of aging for years. They are driven by the excitement of discovery and invite others to share in the experience.
Lail Vineyards traces its Napa Valley roots back five generations to the founding of Inglenook in 1879 by Captain Gustav Niebaum, great-granduncle of Robin Daniel Lail. The venture carries forward the stories and patina of over 130 years of winemaking into the 21st Century. Today, the Lail family continues the quest to produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc of extraordinary elegance and brilliance.
