It's too bad they aren't open to the public or have a tasting room. This is about as good as Napa Cabernet gets. Big and Bold as the way Norcal Wine Country should be. It's definitely on the pricey side, but as a person that doesn't usually drink Cabernet by default and usually only if I have food, this was still tremendous standalone. Kudos to our sommelier who was not only highly entertaining, he definitely hit it out of the park as a recommendation. The "Blank Vineyard" cabernet is truly a great wine. I hear that they also make olive oil. Grace Family Vineyards can be reached by fax at: 707-963-5271. Or via email to Marna Farver: beoptimystic2 [at] aol.com Grace Family Vineyards regrets that the winery is not open to the public, nor do they have a tasting room.

The Spence family's journey on Howell Mountain began in 1994 when Allen and Jacalyn Spence purchased a small piece of land situated at 1,900 feet. Initially, the property was intended to serve as a peaceful retreat from the fog and hustle of San Francisco. However, over time, Allen and Jacalyn realized that this mountain paradise would become much more than just a "weekend getaway."

After becoming full-time residents of Howell Mountain in 1996, Allen and Jacalyn dedicated years to restoring the neglected property. They pruned back the overgrown, 40-year-old table grape vineyard and renovated the orchard, ultimately reviving more than 50 fruit trees.

With the support of their new Howell Mountain neighbors, the Spences quickly became part of a vibrant community of winemakers, wine enthusiasts, and friends. This newfound passion culminated in 1998 at the "Taste of Howell Mountain" auction. Eager to try their hand at winemaking, Allen and Jacalyn placed a bid on a "home winemaker's kit." Their winning bid, which unexpectedly included 2,000 pounds of Howell Mountain Cabernet, marked the beginning of their winemaking journey.

Frank Farella founded Farella-Park Vineyards in 1985, starting with a small 400-square-foot winery adjacent to his home in Napa. His journey from a modest, depression-era background to growing premium wine grapes unfolded gradually. Beginning with homemade wines from his Italian grandparents and test vintages from young Farella Vineyard grapes, the commercial venture started with a barrel of Chardonnay, a stainless-steel fermented Sauvignon Blanc, and a Merlot/Cabernet field blend in 1985.

While Frank Farella produced the first five vintages with Tom’s assistance, Tom took over winemaking duties in 1991 and continued until the end of 2018. In 2019, Ryan Pass, also a UC Davis Viticulture and Enology graduate, was promoted to Winemaker. His passion and expertise have perfectly aligned with the winery’s winemaking goals, and he and Tom continue to collaborate on the production of Farella wines.

In 2009, amidst the Great Recession, Tom Farella spearheaded the effort to petition the federal government for the designation of the "Coombsville" American Viticultural Area (AVA). This designation was granted in November 2011, making it the 16th sub-AVA of Napa Valley.

A Napa Valley rarity, they have free tastings here. I went all the way to Anderson Valley and most of those places still charge $5. And it's not like Heitz is pouring low-priced wine. I tasted an $80 cab that was four years out of vintage which was a joy to drink. They also sell a decades worth of library vintages from both Trailside and Martha's Vineyards. If $75 to $150 cabs are too much, then pick-up a balanced bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for $20.