John and Mancy now offer 4 wines:
Chardonnay
Pinot noir
Zinfandel Mescalanza (a blend)
Syrah Mescalanza ( a blend )
All 4 are great. You will be tasting at their house, by appointment only. It is a wonderful intimate experience. The Pinot is amazing.
Since 1988, Jade Mountain has been a pioneer in the production of Rhône-style California wines. The winery was founded with the belief that carefully chosen California vineyard sites planted to Rhône grape varieties can achieve quality on a par with the best from France and Australia.
Paras Vineyard, Jade Mountain's flagship vineyard, rests on the upper slopes of Mount Veeder, overlooking the Napa Valley. With rocky vine terraces and eastern exposures reminiscent of the finest Northern Rhône vineyards, Paras Vineyard grows Syrah and other Rhône grapes of truly exciting quality. From this and other select vineyards, Jade Mountain creates Syrah, Mourvèdre, Viognier and a proprietary southern Rhône-style blend called La Provençale
The vineyard has an interesting history that includes Clark Gable spending his honeymoon there. The Marston family purchased the vineyard in 1969 and use to sell their grapes to other wineries but began offering their own first commercial release in 1998. But an interesting history, warm hospitality and lovely setting are only part of the attraction. Marston Family Vineyard makes very limited releases of some outstanding, handcrafted wines.
They have very spacious grounds which allows for people to pick and choose their own spots to sit down, chat, drink, and eat, whether it was on the porch of the quaint house, or outside in the garden. We bought some crackers and cheese along and did the wine tasting ($15/person--possibly since we had a large group/booked in advance?) for 4 or 5 different wines. I lost track since we had been to two already before this one. But this was the last one of the day so we just relaxed here under the shady trees, with barely budding cherry blossoms, next to a little pond.
This hidden gem of a winery boasts a no-frills approach to great wine. Their taste is a bit different -- fruity & light merlots, light cabs, amazing port.
The true gem here is Petra. She's a great conversationist and has remembered me and my friends every time we come. This one is WAY out of the way, but a completely unique experience in Napa. The basic tasting was free, and the reserve tasting was $15. The wine was pretty good and the bocce court outside was a nice distraction. The place is like a deserted farm with dogs wandering around and unfinished road through the vineyard. It is NOT fancy, but it is often deserted and gives you the feel that you are in your own country vineyard.
Founded in Oakville, California in 1885 and restored in 1979, Far Niente is consistently recognized as a benchmark producer of Napa Valley Chardonnay and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
EMH’s vineyard is situated on the valley floor near Pickett Road in Calistoga, just east of the Silverado Trail. Pocketed by the Palisades Mountains to the north and Diamond Mountain to the south, the tiny vineyard of just under an acre produces outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon fruit.
In 1979 R. Thornton Boswell founded Chateau Boswell and under the direction of André Tchelistcheff began producing Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1997 Susan and RT Boswell planted the estate hillside vineyard in virgin soils that continue to be maintained organically. The Chateau Boswell caves, 65 feet below the estate hillside vineyard, were designed by Susan to green building specifications with the desire to continue to be responsible stewards of the land, reducing the impact upon the environment through green business practices which reduce energy and water use. As the first certified Napa Green Winery, Chateau Boswell continues to preserve and protect the Napa Valley through their practices and through their active participation in support of sustainable initiatives.
Redmon Family Vineyards began with a very limited scope of producing wine “to share with friends and family.” It has since become a commercial (albeit small), producer located in the St Helena AVA.
The Redmon Family has lived in Napa Valley since 1979. They originally came “for the root beer,” opening an A&W restaurant on Highway 29 in the southern part of St Helena. In 1991, Tom Redmon bought a small vineyard and began the process of making handcrafted wines.
Redmon makes several small quantity bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon. Some grapes are grown on the family’s 3 acre estate property, and others are sourced from other premium quality vineyards in Napa Valley.
