For over 40 years, the grapes at this vineyard have thrived on volcanic earth, snowmelt waters from Lassen Volcanic National Park, and abundant sunshine in the new AVA of Manton Valley. Genuine farming practices are employed, with friends and neighbors coming to help during the harvest and, of course, to enjoy the wine.

The vineyard's altitude provides cool nights during the hot summer growing season, and the vines are planted in well-drained, volcanic soils on arid slopes. As a result, the grapes exhibit great tannic structure and firm fruit acids. With meticulous attention to detail, the winemakers strive for a distinctive mountain character with focused flavors.

Had a wonderful afternoon enjoying the variety of wines from this lovely little vineyard. John and Linda Alger poured for us and took extra time to explain some of the complexities of the wines. The tasting room and outside deck area are tranquil and relaxing and the wines are excellent. Produces an outstanding Syrah!!

Lava Cap is a family-owned winery in Placerville, California. The Jones family planted their first vines in 1981 and opened the winery in 1986 on a special site in the heart of the Sierra Foothills. The family of geologists specifically selected this location for its prime volcanic soil that is particularly well suited to growing fine wine grapes. They named their new business after this unique "lava cap," where their grapes flourish in the volcanic soil, warmed by the foothill sunshine and cooled by gentle Sierra night breezes.

Founded in 1905 and deeply rooted in Napa Valley, Ballentine Vineyards is more than a winery; it’s a celebration of a century-old heritage. As a multigenerational, family-owned and operated winery, we pride ourselves on being an enduring symbol of quality, sustainability, and authenticity in Napa Valley.

The son of Van and Betty Ballentine, Frank Ballentine has seamlessly blended his passion for wine with business acumen, crafting his own major at UC Davis, crowning his academic achievements with an MBA at Fresno State, and continually augments his expertise through executive management programs at Stanford and Harvard. After college, Frank was a winemaker in the San Joaquin Valley and Fresno. Transitioning from winemaking to food manufacturing and distribution, Frank held senior roles at Odwalla during its meteoric growth and currently serves as the President and CEO of GreenLeaf for 25 years, a prominent purveyor of high-quality produce and specialty products. In all of these pursuits, Frank has ceaselessly sought best practices to elevate his family business.

In 2012, Frank joined forces with his aging parents to oversee the Ballentine Vineyards. Here, he rekindled his love for the land and the intricate science of vineyard management with his wife Linda and children Ryan and Audrey by his side. Collaborating closely with Winemaker Bruce Devlin, a shared vision emerged. 

Adobe Road Winery is a great place to hang. 

Uniquely connected to the thrilling world of professional sports car racing, Kevin Buckler understands that achieving victories at speeds of 180 miles per hour requires extreme focus, attention, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. This same dedication applies to his passion for winemaking.

Following the remarkable success of his professional racing team, The Racers Group (TRG), Kevin and his wife Debra established Adobe Road Winery in the heart of Sonoma County in 2002. Their mission is to craft wines that embody the true essence of California’s most esteemed winegrowing regions. “We work hard to ensure that each bottle of Adobe Road wine showcases the best attributes of each individual vineyard within the appellations we source from,” Kevin explains. “We select the finest sites in Sonoma and Napa Valley for our elite Cabernet Sauvignons, while Dry Creek is chosen for our hedonistically rich Syrahs and Zinfandels. The Russian River and Petaluma Gap provide the ideal conditions for our ethereal Pinot Noirs and lavishly flavored yet sleek Chardonnays.”