Wellington Vineyards is owned by the father and son team of John and Peter Wellington. John purchased the winery site in 1986. At the time, it consisted of 20 acres of old vines and a few decrepit old fruit and nut trees. Replanting of part of the old vineyard and orchard started in 1988. The winery was completed in time for the 1989 crush.
The origins of Joyce Winery trace back to 1972, when Russell Joyce’s father, Francis, discovered the small rural town of Carmel Valley, California. Francis was searching for a place where he could establish both a dental practice and a race shop for his race cars, reflecting his professional racing career. The proximity to the renowned Laguna Seca Raceway and the rural charm of the area appealed to him, especially as a small-town farm boy from Wisconsin. After settling down and starting a family, Francis embarked on a new passion: winemaking. In 1986, he planted a small 5-acre vineyard around the family home, marking the beginning of Joyce Winery.
Russell Joyce, born in 1986, grew up immersed in vineyard work from a young age. His childhood involved tasks such as pulling weeds, hand-terracing vineyard rows, and pressing grapes in the small micro-winery on the property. This early exposure nurtured a passion for winemaking, even though he was unaware of it at the time. A self-taught winemaker, Russell dedicated his adult life to transforming Joyce Winery into a sustainable and thriving business, hoping to one day pass it on to his children. His work in produce and metal fabrication in the Salinas Valley helped support him financially, but his passion for winemaking remained unwavering.
The next chapter for Joyce Winery began with Russell and his father setting up a small production winery in an industrial building in the Salinas Valley, which operated from around 2006 to 2019. Facing space constraints, Russell and his wife Charlotte sought a rural property, vineyard, or winery to purchase and develop into a family estate. After several unsuccessful attempts, Russell found the old Ventana Winery in Soledad, California. Despite its dilapidated appearance, Russell saw potential in the site due to his familiarity with the Arroyo Seco AVA from years of fruit purchases. In 2020, a handshake deal was reached with the former Ventana Winery partners, marking a new chapter for Joyce Winery.
Russell has since revitalized the old winery and developed much of the surrounding barren land into a new organic vineyard. He has collaborated with the original Ventana Vineyard owners to plant new Gamay vines. All long-standing fruit contracts are with neighboring family-owned vineyards located within a 10-mile radius of the winery.
Oakville Ranch is the original mountain vineyard of the sub-appellation that produces the New World's most celebrated Cabernets. Covering just two square miles at the heart of Napa Valley, the Oakville district may be small, but its wines play a very big role in the connoisseur's collection. At 1,400 feet above the valley floor, the Oakville Ranch vineyards produce fruit that speaks from the appellation's signature red volcanic soil with a mountain accent. In the two decades since Bob and Mary Miner purchased the 350-acre ranch, plantings have slowly increased from an initial 55 acres to today's 75 acres of predominantly Bordeaux varietals. It's definitely a trek up the mountain, but well worth it. Kristin led our tasting in the greenhouse--the grounds are amazing and the wines are especially good (Cab Franc). They are only open by appt. M - F, but it you will be on the Silverado Trail on a weekday call and make an appt.
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.
BK Cellars is a unique urban winery in Escondido. Here you can enjoy aiir conditioned, crystal chandelier tasing lounge. Enjoy the wide selection and flights of 5 or 6 of their wines. Feel free to bring along a few snacks to enjoyr with your tasting.
In the heart of the California wine country stands the picturesque Glen Ellen house surrounded by vineyards
first planted in 1883. Both the house and the wines of Glen Ellen have stood the test of time.
Our wines are crafted using methods usually reserved for twice the price in vineyards where the warm
California sun lingers on and gently ripens the grapes to perfection. Glen Ellen wine’s timeless charm
continues to inspire dinner parties and gatherings of friends around the world and is served as
the wine that makes everyone feel welcome.
HdV is a venture between the Hyde Family of Napa Valley and the de Villaine Family of Burgundy. The families, related by marriage, share long histories in French and Californian winemaking. In HdV, we have brought together our knowledge and experience for the purpose of creating single vineyard wines from the slopes of Hyde Vineyards.
The wines are great. There are two basic tasting menus, the market list and the reserve list. The market list is wine you can find at your local store. Most of these wines are good, but for the really good stuff you won't see in stores spend a bit more and sample the reserve list.
Wine is a magnificent creation formed by the union of natue with cultue. To sybolize this idea Mark McCoy and Bobby Moy include a stylized key, the symbol for Chiron to represent the "I" in Chiron. In January of 2020 Chieron wines became a winery partner with The Studio at Feast It Forward. 1031 McKinstry Street in downtown Napa. You can do a walk-in or call ahead for a private tasting.
The first Stevenot’s came to the area during the great Gold Rush of the mid 1800’s. During that time vineyards began cropping up throughout the region as miners from France, Germany, and Italy were creating a demand for wine on an unprecedented scale. At one time the Sierra Foothills rivaled the areas of Napa and Sonoma combined in vineyard acreage with over 100 wineries established. Although the industry eventually declined with the advent of prohibition, it wasn’t long before a 5th generation member of the Stevenot family took up where his family had left off and established the winery in the late 1970s. Recognized as one of the pioneers of the rebirth of wine production in the Sierra Foothills, Stevenot Winery quickly secured its reputation for producing world-class wines and for its innovative and award-winning style.
Painting by Agata Zaborowski - two women with wine at table
