We tasted some exceptional wine here and the customer service was great here. We were able to enjoy our tasting on their beautiful ground outside while snacking on some really nice cheeses, meats, and crackers that we brought along with us. They poured us some wines that were Members Only wines that we really fell in love with.
The inspiration for the name comes from the winemaker's former mother-in-law, who raised four daughters as a single woman on a homestead in Mendocino County during the 1970s. They lived in a sheep barn without plumbing, windows, or doors, surrounded by pot growers who frequently encroached on their property. Defending her family with a six-shooter, she soon became known as "The Crazy Woman" and was widely respected in the community for her fearlessness. The winery aims to honor the countless women who have changed history while facing the label of being called crazy.
The winery is excited to host tastings in the barrel room, located in the Tin City Annex, where the wine is produced. This immersive experience will include tastings of wines in bottle alongside barrel tastings, allowing guests to see how the wines are made and enjoy an individual tasting experience.
Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski
Their wines were good, and actually moderately priced. The one that really stood out was their Gemini a Zinfandel-Syrah blend? We also picked up a bottle of their Full Moon a Zinfandel, Syrah and Cab Franc blend. Worth a stop if you are in Paso.
Midnight Cellars had its origins in a slightly tipsy, laughter-filled moment on the back patio at Domaine Carneros during the summer of 1993. While enjoying a family getaway to Napa and Sonoma and after several winery visits, Rich made a whimsical statement that would later prove to be life-changing: "Hey old man, when you retire you should buy a place like this and have us run it for you."
Initially laughed off and soon forgotten, the idea resurfaced years later when Robert, ready to retire early from his career as a patent attorney, still brimming with energy and passion, recalled Rich's suggestion. He approached Rich with the proposition, "If you were serious about this winery idea, I'm in."
At the time, Rich was newly married and living in Chicago with his wife Michele, and their first reaction was a firm "no way, Dad." However, after considerable reflection and several glasses of wine, Michele and Rich decided to embrace the unconventional plan. They sold their new house, one of their cars, and made the move to California to start anew. Despite how improbable it sounded, they followed through with the plan. They arrived in California on July 31, 1995, and immediately immersed themselves in country life—one that lacked bars, restaurants, and shopping. The city dwellers from Chicago experienced a significant culture shock.
Each family member took on a specific role and began learning their responsibilities: Robert and Mary Jane focused on the overall operations, Michele managed the tasting room and later took on bookkeeping duties, while Rich learned the intricacies of planting, maintaining, and harvesting the vineyard, as well as winemaking.
After 29 years of steep learning curves, the family remains committed to making wine accessible, affordable, and enjoyable for everyone.
Ridge wines begin with respect for the natural process that transforms fresh grapes into wine, and for the 19th century model of guiding that process. A great vineyard that produce high-quality grapes of distinct, individual character, this approach is not only environmentally and socially responsible, it’s also the best way to consistently make fine wine.
Caymus Vineyards is located in the center of the Napa Valley. Primary production is Cabernet Sauvignon grown on low-fertility soils on both the valley floor and the mountains that surround the valley. Attention to viticulture details, some dry farming, high-density plantings (with some blocks spaced as close as meter x meter), thinning of the yield, along with healthy vines and harvesting at an elevated degree of ripeness – all of these elements produce a unique and singular style of Cabernet.
While the wine has sufficient tannins and structure for long-term bottle aging, Caymus Cabernet is dark and concentrated, with ripe, luxurious, fruit-driven softness that shows from the day of release.
In addition, Caymus produces a smaller amount of Special Selection Cabernet. A limited bottling of Napa Valley Zinfandel honors winery co-founder Charlie Wagner Sr., for whom it was a favorite. All a part of Wagner Family of Wines.
Richard Partridge Wines is a small, family-owned winery located in the Napa Valley, producing approximately 500 cases of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay each year. This limited production and intimate operation preclude mass marketing approaches, but it ensures a compelling story—and fortunately, they have one to tell!
Richard Partridge's journey began far from the vineyards of Napa Valley. Raised on soybean and wheat farms in Indiana, he initially pursued a career as an electrical engineer in Illinois. There, he met his wife, Cris. The couple eventually relocated to Southern California to establish their own company, R.F. Partridge & Associates, Inc., specializing in large electrical generators and backup power solutions for data centers, hospitals, military bases, and other significant facilities. Richard’s expertise in delivering reliable power set the stage for his next venture.
Despite their home in Orange County, Cris and Richard had a deep passion for Napa Valley. They decided to invest in property there, leading to the creation of their winery. A fortuitous introduction to winemaker Bob Egelhoff sparked a fruitful partnership focused on crafting exceptional wine from the Valley's finest grapes. Under Bob’s skilled winemaking, their inaugural 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon earned the second-highest rating for a ’98 Napa Valley Cab from James Laube of Wine Spectator, affirming that Richard had once again delivered exceptional results.
Since 2005, winemaker Jeff Fontanella has overseen the creation of their wines with expert precision. The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon vintage marked their first estate wine, and their goal remains to consistently produce a limited quantity of the finest wine from their St. Helena vineyard.
As a boutique winery, Richard Partridge Wines aims to maintain its focus on quality over quantity. By keeping production small, they ensure meticulous attention to every aspect of the winemaking process, from grape cultivation to the final bottle on the shelf.
El Dorado's wine area is known for having great Zinfandels, Mourvedres and other reds, but at Holly's Hill Winery there's something there for the white wine lover. Holly's Hill Vineyards is a wonderful family owned and operated winery creating Rhone style wines. Their white wines are solid, dry and not overpowering with strong oakey overtones. You can easily eat food with them - especially the Roussanne and Viognier.
Vincent Arroyo Family Winery was founded by Vincent Arroyo, who discovered his passion for viticulture in the early 1970s. While browsing the San Francisco Chronicle, Vince came across a listing for a farming property just north of Calistoga, California. Feeling more connected to the land than to his career as a mechanical engineer in Silicon Valley, he was drawn to the prospect of a rural lifestyle and decided to make a change. In 1972, he purchased the 23-acre property and began transforming the existing prune and walnut orchards into what is now Vincent Arroyo Family Winery.
Initially, Vince sold all of his grapes to the Napa Co-Op. However, he soon began experimenting with winemaking, releasing the first commercial vintage of Vincent Arroyo Family Winery in 1984. In the early days, Vince managed everything himself, from driving the tractor to making the wine. Today, the winery produces 8,000 cases annually but remains a true family affair. Vince's daughter, Adrian, and her husband, Matt Moye, are dedicated to preserving the family's traditions while keeping the winery relevant and current, with the hope that Vince's three grandsons will one day carry on the family business.
Matthew Moye, the co-proprietor and winemaker at Vincent Arroyo Family Winery, has been tending to the wines under Vince's guidance for the past decade. Originally from California's Central Valley, Matt graduated from the University of San Diego and pursued a law degree at the University of the Pacific-McGeorge, where he met his future wife, Adrian, who is Vince's daughter. After passing the California Bar, Matt realized that law wasn't his true calling. Vincent offered him a position at the winery while he figured out his path, and it didn't take long for Matt to discover his passion for winemaking.
When he's not in the cellar crafting wines, Matt enjoys golfing, fishing, and beachcombing with his family. He and Adrian live in Napa with their three sons, who they hope will one day lead Vincent Arroyo Family Winery into its third generation.
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.
When Winemaker Christopher Carpenter envisions each new vintage of Cardinale, he becomes a composer to each of our esteemed Napa Valley mountain vineyards. Together, the Cardinale vineyards create a perfect composition in a remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon.
