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Mayacamas Vineyards

wine with four footed friends

Mayacamas Vineyards is a wine estate located in the Mayacamas Mountains that divide the Napa and Sonoma valleys. Near the top of Mount Veeder, the old stone winery was dug into the side of a dormant volcano crater in the late 19th century. Fifty-two acres of vineyards are planted on mountainsides ranging from 1,800 to 2,400 feet above sea level. Deer, eagles, cougars, foxes, bobcats, and an occasional bear and mountain lion still inhabit this rugged terrain. A hidden gem that conjurs up what old world winemaking is suposed to be like rather than a theme park. Only open by appt. on weekdays, but the wine and the location are stunning. And be prepared for quite a little drive (Greg Lemond trained on the road up there prepping for the Tour de France) with stunning views as a big payoff.  Art work by Wine Artist Gata Zaborowski - Agata Art Gallery 

Dana Estates

red wine pouring into a wine glass - Pixabay

Located on Napa Valley’s western slope, Backen, Gillam & Kroeger designed the renovation of what was the stone ruins of a winery dating back more than 100 years. In addition to creating a hospitality space, the winery’s unique cave system incorporates all other aspects of a winery. Private tastings.

Stanton Vineyards

glass of red wine - Pixabay

The Stanton family has been growing grapes in the Napa Valley since 1947. They began making their own wine in 1999. For this first vintage and the next three they used grapes exclusively from our Oakville vineyard. In addition to the Oakville property, the Stanton family owns two vineyards in St. Helena.

In 2002, acclaimed winemaker Dave Phinney, joined the Stanton team, lending his talented hands to the ’02 vintage, creating a wine that quickly captured the attention of critics and wine afficianados. A fan of Petite Sirahs, Doug decided to dedicate some of their Petite Sirah production to introduce their first vintage in 2004. 

Stanton Vineyards remains, and will remain, a boutique winery, producing about 800 cases total (625 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 180 cases Petite Sirah) under their Stanton Vineyard label. This small production, which accounts for less than 7% of the grapes grown on their properties, allows them to focus on producing both grapes and wine of great character. Because, as Doug, his father John, and grandfather Jesse all agree, the grapes and the soil come first.

Shafer Vineyards

glass of wine - Pixabay

Tasting visits are available by prior appointment from Wednesday to Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Three distinct experiences are offered for guests' enjoyment: The Terrace View Tasting, The Private Collectors Experience, and The Hillside Select Experience.

The Terrace View Tasting
The Terrace View Tasting provides an opportunity to take in the stunning sights of the surrounding hillside vineyards and the breathtaking views of Napa Valley and the Stags Leap District. Guests can enjoy a relaxing session featuring Shafer’s current releases, including Hillside Select, paired with a selection of cheese and charcuterie.

The Private Collectors Experience
Hosted in Shafer’s distinguished private tasting salon or private vineyard suite, The Private Collectors Experience includes a comprehensive lineup of current wines, alongside a library vintage of Hillside Select. This experience is enhanced with an elevated selection of cheese and charcuterie.

The Hillside Select Experience
The Hillside Select Experience is the winery’s most luxurious offering, focusing exclusively on Hillside Select. The visit begins with Billecart Salmon Champagne and Regiis Ova caviar, followed by a private tour of the estate in a Polaris Ranger vehicle. Guests will taste the current vintage of Hillside Select in the heart of the vineyard with panoramic views of the Stags Leap District. The experience concludes with a private seated tasting of three rare library selections of Hillside Select, showcasing Shafer’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon at 5+, 10+, and 20+ years of age.

Edge Wines

grape cluster - Pixabay

Ray Signorello is well-versed in the art of producing exceptional wine. With a premium Napa Valley estate winery, Signorello Estate, a wine distribution company, and two additional Cabernet Sauvignon projects under his ownership and management, Ray possesses extensive knowledge of what it takes to craft world-class wine.

Ray oversees the winemaking process and, alongside his outstanding team, meticulously selects the vineyards for EDGE. The result is a sumptuous Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that is delightful to drink immediately and also has the potential to develop further with age.

The main reason behind EDGE is to give their customers a premium Cabernet Sauvignon, without the premium price. EDGE is the most reasonable North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon that one will find on the shelf, which does not compromise on quality. Blended by a notable winemaker, EDGE Cabernet Sauvignon drinks wonderfully now, and will age well for five to eight years. Edge spent 16 months in French and American oak barrels, of which 30% were new. It is a blend of Cabernet and a small amount of Merlot to round out the edges.

Screaming Eagle Winery & Vineyards

bottle of wine, glasses of wine with a chateau in the background - Pixabay

The most sought after California CultWine in the World! This small operation is located just below the Dalla Valle vineyard near the Oakville Cross. Screaming Eagle's Cabernet Sauvignons are going to create quite a stir among lovers of that varietal - if they are able to latch onto a bottle or two. The estate is owned by Tony Bowden and Jean Phillips, one of Napa Valley's leading real estate agents. With the help of Heidi Barrett and Gustav Dalla Valle, this operation's debut vintage is the extraordinary 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the greatest young Cabernets I have ever tasted. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, and aged in 60% new oak.

Plumpjack Winery

grape clusters in the vineyard - Pixabay

PlumpJack Winery's story began in 1992 with the opening of a modest wine store in San Francisco's Cow Hollow/Marina neighborhood, known as PlumpJack Wine & Spirits. Founded by Gavin Newsom, the store was designed to create a welcoming space where people could explore and discover wines in a friendly, approachable setting.

The name "PlumpJack" was inspired by one of Shakespeare's most memorable characters, Sir John "PlumpJack" Falstaff, a fun-loving, irreverent figure known for his unbreakable bond of loyalty with Prince Hal (Henry V), shared over many goblets of wine at the local tavern. Embracing this spirit of camaraderie and enjoyment, Newsom, along with acclaimed composer and philanthropist Gordon Getty, envisioned a winery that would embody the essence of Falstaff's character. This vision came to life when they acquired a historic 42-acre estate in the heart of Napa Valley, an area renowned for producing dynamic, long-lived wines that capture the essence of Oakville, with a history dating back to 1881.

The property had changed hands over the years, eventually being acquired by James and Anne McWilliams in 1974. In 1995, the McWilliams received a proposal to revive winemaking at the historic estate, leading to the creation of PlumpJack Estate Winery. The winery was founded with a commitment to crafting high-quality wines that celebrated the land while remaining approachable.

A pivotal moment in PlumpJack's history came in the 1990s when the wine industry faced the growing problem of cork taint, or trichloroanisole (TCA), which caused undesirable flavors in bottled wines. Unwilling to compromise on quality, Getty and General Manager John Conover took a bold step toward innovation. PlumpJack Estate Winery pioneered the use of alternative closures for luxury wines, introducing screw caps with the flagship 1997 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This move eliminated the risk of TCA while ensuring bottle consistency and longevity. To this day, PlumpJack bottles its Estate and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons 50% under screw cap and 50% under cork as part of a long-term experiment.

In 2012, Winemaker Aaron Miller joined the team, continuing the legacy of producing elegant wines that honor the Oakville Estate Vineyard. Under Miller's leadership, PlumpJack achieved significant milestones, with the 2013, 2015, and 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons earning perfect 100-point scores from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate—a testament to the winery's dedication to quality and approachability.

 

 

 

 

Cuvaison Estate Wines

grape cluster - Pixabay

They have a simple tasting room with seats and tables outside facing the vineyards. If the weather is lovely definitely opt for sitting outside! I came here for a girl's wine tasting day. Our wine guide was nice and friendly, he was nice enough to give us two extra tastings. We sat outside and admired the pretty vineyards wine sipping our wine. We got three tastings and just split among the five of us. My favorite was the chardonnay, nice and light and as our wine guide said "can go with anything." Great winery with nice staff. If you're around this area, definitely stop by.

Venge Vineyards

wine and cheese - Pixabay

The Venge (ven-ghee) family has farmed vitis vinifera varieties in Napa Valley for nearly half a century. It is a journey that began when Knud Venge emigrated from Denmark to the United States in the early 1900’s. Knud’s son, Per Venge, found his passion in the wine and spirits industry and started Vencom Imports, focusing on the importation of Western European fine wines and spirits. It was Per’s son, Nils Venge, who left the family business in the 1960’s with a vision to study viticulture at UC Davis and establish the family name as an icon in the winegrowing community.

The family’s viticultural roots flourished in 1976 with the purchase of a 17-acre vineyard in the Oakville District that was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This fortunate development cast the family among the winemaking pioneers of Napa Valley.

Nils’ and Dianna Venge’s son, Kirk Venge, gravitated to winemaking at an early age. He proved to be as talented a winemaker as his father, making wines in his own style, with a vision to build on the family legacy. In 2008, Kirk achieved his lifelong dream and acquired full ownership of Venge Vineyards. Today, Kirk continues the Napa Valley heritage, focusing on select vineyard sites that produce fruit worthy of bearing the Venge family name.

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