Patrick Elliott-Smith, owner and winemaker at Elan Vineyards, was born in the United States to a French mother and an American father. His appreciation for fine wines began early, influenced by his grandfather René's extensive wine cellar filled with pre-World War II Bordeaux wines. As children, Patrick and his siblings were allowed just a few drops of red wine in their water—a practice that led Grandmother Madeleine to exclaim, "René, you will make them drunk!" This early exposure cultivated Patrick's taste for fine wines.

After completing high school in France, Patrick returned to the United States and earned a B.A. in philosophy. He found that his philosophical studies provided an excellent foundation for addressing the climatic challenges of agriculture. Following college, Patrick was drawn to Napa Valley by its resemblance to southern France, with its familiar topography and climate evoking fond memories. Deciding to make it his home, Patrick and his brother Dennis, an artist, acquired a parcel of land. Over the next four years, they raised horses, sheep, and goats; produced goat cheese; and grew gourmet herbs and vegetables for upscale Napa Valley restaurants. They also explored French intensive gardening techniques and bio-dynamic farming, which takes organic farming to an advanced level, sharing the 1960s ideal of living off the land.

In 1979, Patrick discovered his ideal property at the top of Atlas Peak Road. Situated about 2,100 feet above sea level—roughly 1,900 feet higher than the average Napa Valley vineyard—the site was perfect for viticulture. Patrick entered the wine industry by developing vineyards for prominent wineries such as The Hess Collection, Liparita, Dominus, and Beaulieu Vineyards, along with various private hillside estate vineyards. In 1980, he constructed a small stone house on the property and lived in a teepee on the future winery site while clearing manzanita brush from five acres. He planted Cabernet Sauvignon on 110R rootstock using a French-style trellis, which was uncommon in California at the time. For the first seven years, Patrick sold the fruit to Caymus Vineyards.

Soquel Bargetto has the prettiest tasting room and patio overlooking a creek and wilderness. Getting to the wines, the Sauv Blanc and Pinot Grigio are pretty good and well balanced, the Chard not my preference. The reserve reds are quite delicious and the sweet wines are good if you are into the sweeter wines.

The winemaking heritage of Bargetto began with brothers Phillip and John Bargetto, who emigrated from Castelnuovo Don Bosco, a small town in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Bringing with them years of winegrowing experience, they established BARGETTO WINERY on the banks of Soquel Creek in California.

Some History 

Phillip was the first to leave Italy in 1891 at the age of seventeen. In 1909, John joined his brother in San Francisco.

The original Bargetto family winery was located in San Francisco from 1910 to 1917, operating under the name South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company. With Prohibition on the horizon, the winery was closed, and the brothers relocated to Soquel in 1917.

In 1918, Phillip and John purchased the current site of BARGETTO WINERY and began producing wine in an old barn on the property. During Prohibition (1919-1933), the brothers continued to make wine for family and friends while selling produce to local customers and growing apples at their family ranch in Soquel. When Prohibition ended in 1933, they devoted more time to the wine business, expanding into a wholesale operation while maintaining their produce sales.

Phillip Bargetto passed away in 1936, leaving John as the sole owner of the business during the 1940s and 1950s. John continued to produce and sell wine both wholesale and retail, with the support of his sons Ralph and Lawrence during these years.

Garré Winery is located in Livermore California. Historians can trace the viticulture activity in the Livermore Valley back to 1832. We can trace our family wine making back to the early 19th century as well to a small village outside of Genoa Italy.

YES, as good as it gets. This is where culture, style, design, money and dedication to wine come together and make an oasis for enjoying wine. The cave is meticulously clean, deeply detailed in design and artwork. What a great way to relax before the tour & tasting begin. The staff is extremely friendly & knowledgable about wine. Some great reds!