Pahlmeyer Winery
Excellent red wine. Huge, fruit forward modern cabs... Napa style
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Ferrari-Carano Vineryards & Winery
If ever you decide to meander the wineries of Dry Creek Road, this place is a must! Landscape architects have touched every inch of the estate with their magic wand blending color, textures, and aromas that match the bouquet of their family owned wines. Their 2010 Chardonnay Reserve is beautiful with hints of vanilla & pear with a slight buttery finish; very smooth. The 2009 Sky High Pinot Noir from the Alexander Valley is bright & crisp with a beautiful color; it is a limited production so get them while you can. This family basically carved an opulent French estate out of the hills of Dry Creek, and it has to be seen to be believed.
Chimney Rock Winery
The Chimney Rock estate began to take shape in 1980 when Hack and Stella Wilson purchased a 180-acre parcel on the east side of the Silverado Trail, which included a golf course. They constructed a country house inspired by Cape Dutch-style architecture and soon began planting vineyards.
The initial 59 acres were planted with a mix of red and white grape varieties, leading to the production of the first vintage of Chimney Rock estate wines in 1984. In the early 1990s, the estate saw the addition of a Cape Dutch-style winery building, featuring a massive allegorical frieze of Ganymede, the cupbearer to the gods, and a new tasting room.
In 2000, the Terlato family partnered with the Wilson family, bringing additional resources and a vision to enhance Chimney Rock’s reputation for producing exceptional estate Cabernet Sauvignons. By 2002, the remaining 46 acres of land were exclusively planted with Cabernet Sauvignon.
Since the Terlato family assumed sole ownership of Chimney Rock in 2004, they have been dedicated to realizing the estate's full potential. They have consistently upheld the highest standards in viticulture and winemaking. Today, the Chimney Rock estate spans 119 acres of vineyards, divided into 28 distinct blocks, each tailored for specialized viticulture to match the unique characteristics of each site.
Pear Valley Estate Wine
It started with 20 acres in 1999 and now Tom and Kathleen own 113 acres where they dedicate their energy and resources to providing the best environment for growing premium grapes. The vineyards are operated with sustainable farming practices to ensure that the best fruit possible will still be grown there when their grandchildren operate the farm. The next phase of the dream began in the Spring of 2008 when they broke ground on a 14,000 winery and 5,000 square foot tasting room. Continuing the dedication to providing the best environment possible, the winery and tasting room were designed in partnership with PG&E through their “Savings By Design” program to design buildings that are energy efficient and environmentally sound. In August 2012 Pear Valley officially achieved Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Vineyard Certification. Attaining SIP Certification demonstrates dedication to vineyard practices that are environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically-viable Exceeded expectations are the best words to begin this review. The east side of Paso Robles is a place that at times does not receive the credit due or publicity that the west side has basked in for many years. Despite what some public opinion states there are a growing number of incredible attractively priced wines and well run establishments creating unique experiences all over the east and my recent trip to Pear Valley Winery was something that far and beyond exceeded my expectations. Serving both Rhone and Boudreaux varietals, various blends, and well balanced wines all around they have something for the varying discerning tastes. Throw in some complimentary warm meatballs, a nice cheese spread, various cracker selections, and a friendly staff how could you not enjoy yourself.
Kuleto Estate Family Vineyards
Located on the eastern edge of the Napa Valley in the hills above Lake Hennessey and the town of Rutherford, this extraordinary mountaintop estate features 82 individual vineyard blocks, three distinctive soil types, and a range of elevations and exposures. From this rich and diverse palette of fruit, Kuleto Estate produces a small portfolio of exceptional estate grown wines.
Kuleto Estate wines are 100% estate-grown, produced and bottled. With 82.9 acres of vines planted between 800 and 1,450 feet, each of the 100+ micro-blocks must receive individualized treatment to maximize their potential. Winemaker Giovanni Verdejo has been working at Kuleto since 2002 and has mastered the art of cultivating the unique personalities of each block into some of the finest mountain estate wines in the Napa Valley.
Le Vin Vineyards & Winery
The Le Vin Estate Winery & Vineyards, on hillside terraces, rise up 1550 to 1900 feet above sea level, in the prestigious and beautiful Yorkville Highlands appellation of southern-most Mendocino County near the Sonoma County line.
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery
Cinnabar Winery is a family-owned establishment that embraces winemaking as a harmonious blend of science and nature's magic. Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, their vibrant Saratoga and Gilroy Tasting Rooms serve as the heart of the winery, where they collaborate with local growers to transform California's finest grapes into distinctive and approachable wines.
History
Founded in 1983 by the late Tom Mudd, Cinnabar initially planted vineyards and constructed a majestic winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Following Tom's passing, the estate changed hands in 2007, and Cinnabar relocated to its new home in downtown Saratoga.
In 2019, Ron Mosley, the original vineyard manager, took ownership, completing a remarkable full-circle journey. Ron is dedicated to honoring Cinnabar's legacy while steering the business toward an exciting future. Cinnabar's philosophy remains rooted in the joy of creating serious wine with a sense of fun.
Baily WInery
Decor at Baily Winery is fun with an amusing assortment of gargoyle and medieval statuary scattered about the very pleasant grounds. We ate on the lovely patio (Carols) with refreshing breezes and the sounds of wind chimes. It was a spectacularly sparkling day and the patio was just delightful.
All of the wines are crafted from grapes grown in the estate vineyards by Winemaker Phil Baily at a state-of-the-art production facility. Specializing in Bordeaux varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon—Baily's red wines are renowned for their smoothness and expressive varietal character. This is achieved by aging the wines in barrels for 24 to 30 months, significantly longer than the typical industry standard of 12 to 18 months. Baily's white wines are celebrated for their crisp, clean freshness and distinctive aromas. The consistency of the wines, honed over more than twenty years of production from the same vineyards, is a quality that few wineries in the region can match.
Additionally, all of Baily's wines are sealed with Nomacorc®, a synthetic cork that offers the benefits of natural cork while eliminating the risk of tainted wines or bottle-to-bottle variation.
Melka Wines
Napa Valley isn't quite like Hollywood (yet), where the stars get by on a first-name basis. Even so, what serious wine collector doesn't know who Helen and Heidi are? While the name Philippe may not register so quickly, winemaker Philippe Melka is definitely a Napa winemaker to watch, a man many believe is poised to become one of the valley's hottest consultants since Helen Turley and Heidi Barrett.
Robinson Family Vineyards
After retiring from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1967, Norman (Bud) Robinson and his wife Helen (Dinky) Robinson acquired 78 acres in Napa Valley. Encouraged by friends and neighbors, including wine-industry pioneers Nathan Fay and Father Tom Turnbull, who recognized the site's great potential, they decided to shift their focus from horses and cattle to viticulture. In 1970, they planted the first grapes on the property, and with the establishment of the Home Winemaker's Association, Robinson Family Vineyards was born.
Over the years, Bud’s dedication to cultivating high-quality fruit for world-class wines became the foundation of the family’s legacy. When the estate was passed to their daughter Susie Robinson Jinks in 1998, along with her husband Tom Jinks, they embraced a similar lifestyle as her parents: managing the family estate full-time, dealing with the challenges of hands-on work, and overseeing the operational aspects of the vineyard and winery. Susie and Tom instilled these values in their three daughters—Carrie, Kim, and Robin—who also contribute to the winery’s operations. The hope is that someday, the next generation, including the eight grandchildren, will continue the legacy begun by Bud 50 years ago.
The Team
Tom & Susie Jinks
Susie Robinson Jinks spent her early childhood moving around due to her father Bud’s military career, living in places like Japan, Bolivia, Texas, Oklahoma, and Washington. When Bud retired to Napa Valley, Susie joined him in working the vineyard and winery. Tom Jinks, a Napa Valley native, started assisting in the vineyard during high school while dating Susie, and they married in 1971. Both Susie and Tom had successful careers—Susie in real estate and Tom as a contractor—before transitioning to full-time management of the vineyard and winery. Today, Tom serves as the winemaker, vineyard worker, cellarmaster, and resident storyteller, while Susie handles the roles of CEO, CFO, and human resources director.
Carrie Robinson Francoeur
Carrie, the eldest of Tom and Susie’s three daughters, graduated from California Polytechnic University with a degree in Agricultural Business. She manages daily office operations, including hosting tours and tastings, managing events, overseeing the RFV wine club, and assisting in harvest, winemaking, and production. Outside of the vineyard, Carrie is actively involved in her sons’ sports activities and enjoys golfing, glamping, and traveling.
Kim Jinks-Whipple and Robin Jinks-Yates
The twins, Kim and Robin, both graduated from Chico State University with degrees in Physical Education. Kim, who has two children (including the only girl among Susie and Tom’s eight grandchildren), and Robin, the mother of three boys, contribute to the winery by assisting with tastings, events, harvest, and production.
In accordance with Napa County regulations, our tours and tastings are available by appointment only.
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