Red Wines

Red Wines

Capiaux Cellars

wine cellar - Pixabay

Sean Capiaux has an established and notable career at prominent wineries around the world which include: Jordan, Pine Ridge, and Peter Michael in California; Macari, Jamesport and Schneider in Long Island, NY; and Houghton's in Australia. In 1994 Sean launched his own label, Capiaux Cellars, and he presently works as winemaker for O'Shaughnessy winery in the Howell Mountain appellation of Napa Valley

Sean graduated from California State University, Fresno with a B.S. in Enology and a minor in Chemistry. He began his career at Jordan Winery in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley where he worked for two years before joining Houghton Winery located outside Perth in Western Australia. After working the harvest in Australia, Sean returned to the United States to work as the assistant winemaker at Pine Ridge Winery in the Stags Leap district of Napa Valley. Two years later Sean joined Peter Michael Winery in Calistoga as the assistant winemaker where he worked for four years.

Kukeri Wines

Winemaker Peter Kirilov

Winemaker Peter Kirilov, and Kukeri Wines is based out of Sebastopol. Peter has sourced the grapes for his 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder of the Mayacamas Mountains that separates Sonoma from Napa. The clay and volcanic soils that are characteristic of this area produce small, intense fruit. A rich, ruby red color, the wine is remarkably smooth and balanced considering its relatively young age. Though Kirilov has just recently launched Kukeri he’s no stranger to wine making or the wine industry. He’s a full time wine-maker for two other wineries and founded VinoEnology.com, an industry website that offers winemaking solutions for vintners, including calculators, tools and marketplace. This boutique winery and winemaker is a good one to keep an eye on. Small production wines with the fire of the winemaker’s passion for the wines he makes. Peter offers a Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

Stanton Vineyards

glass of red wine - Pixabay

The Stanton family has been growing grapes in the Napa Valley since 1947. They began making their own wine in 1999. For this first vintage and the next three they used grapes exclusively from our Oakville vineyard. In addition to the Oakville property, the Stanton family owns two vineyards in St. Helena.

In 2002, acclaimed winemaker Dave Phinney, joined the Stanton team, lending his talented hands to the ’02 vintage, creating a wine that quickly captured the attention of critics and wine afficianados. A fan of Petite Sirahs, Doug decided to dedicate some of their Petite Sirah production to introduce their first vintage in 2004. 

Stanton Vineyards remains, and will remain, a boutique winery, producing about 800 cases total (625 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 180 cases Petite Sirah) under their Stanton Vineyard label. This small production, which accounts for less than 7% of the grapes grown on their properties, allows them to focus on producing both grapes and wine of great character. Because, as Doug, his father John, and grandfather Jesse all agree, the grapes and the soil come first.

Bovino Vineyards

Painting by Agata Zaborowski

Dan Souza is the winery owner and an entrepreneur of many businesses who has found new passion in the fine art of viticulture and winemaking. He comes from a long line of farmers and cattle ranchers, and cultivating the land with extraordinary results is nothing new to him. Besides successful efforts in many of his ventures, he also greatly enjoys donating his time and resources to those who need it.

Bovino Vineyards is an 83.5-acre property with about 45 acres planted to grapes. There are 16 different grape varieties grown on the ranch. Some, like the sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon. The different clones were selected for the characteristics each brings to the finished wine. There are 27 separate blocks with different rootstock/clone combinations in each. Add this complexity to the fact that there are three primary soil types on the property loam, silt loam, clay loam, the elevation ranges from 1,020 and 1,125 feet above sea level, and the blocks have multiple exposures and sun tracks, and it makes the winemaker glad he does not also manage the vineyard.

Oso Libre

looking at the moon through a glass of wine

Good wines, friendly owners, fun animals. A field full of alpacas greets you as you enter Oso Libre. The husband and wife owners were absolute gems, but let's face it, unfriendly people simply don't own alpacas. They shared a lot of interesting info about the winery and animals which made for an entertaining conversation. The wines were tasty and the term “wine farm” setting of Oso Libre is a great experience.

White Rock Vineyards

wine corks and wine glass - Pixabay

Christopher the wine maker was very welcoming. We made our appointment last minute but he accommodated our schedule. He was super laid back and very knowledgeable, and he made us feel comfortable. I recommend this tour to anyone looking for a nice secluded vineyard with a lot of history and a casual setting.

Blankiet Estate Winery

wine barrel room - PIxabay

Blankiet Estate is nestled high on the western foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains above Yountville. The vineyard, named Paradise Hills, is planted on one of the most acclaimed viticultural areas of the Napa Valley. The Estate was created in 1996 by Claude & Katherine Blankiet with the single vision of producing wines in the tradition of the great Bordeaux First Growth.

Tres Hermanas Winery

glass of wine

This is a great little winery along the Foxen Canyon trail. If you want a winery where the owners pour and you can actually talk about winemaking and the whole experience you get it here. Tres Hermanas does not make super jammy Central Coast wines but rather produces numerous wines in a more European style...lower in alcohol, higher in acid and basically more food friendly. I will have to say I enjoy 90% of what they produce. Their Tres Hermanas Cuvee is incredible as is there Nebbiolo, Refosco, Syrah/Sangiovese blend and Muscat Cannelli.

Staglin Family Vineyard

wine with chateau in the background - Pixabay

Located in Rutherford, west of Hwy 29 off Bella Oaks Lane. The tour/tasting appointment here will last about 60-90 minutes, depending on the group dynamic. Standard cave tour and sit-down tasting. You pay for what you get - pricer than other wineries, but the wines are excellent, full-bodied and rich. Family owned and run, committed to the environment. Great tasting experience.

Shannon Ridge - Shannon Family of Wines

grape cluster

Clay Shannon has always been a bit of a maverick. In 1996, he decided to shake things up by embarking on a bold journey to establish a progressive and pioneering winery and ranch in Lake County, California.

This rugged, challenging terrain captured Shannon’s imagination and fueled his unwavering commitment to the land itself. “We wanted to grow the best fruit possible,” says Clay, “but we also wanted to enjoy living here.”

Today, Shannon Family of Wines encompasses over 2,000 acres of mountain property, with about half of that area dedicated to vineyards. In the face of a changing climate, the winery is stepping up to make a difference. They’re transforming 1,000 acres into a regenerative organic farming system, significantly reducing their environmental impact.

Nestled on ridges of ancient volcanic soil at higher elevations, Shannon Family of Wines offers an extraordinary guest experience. While the conditions may seem extreme, visitors are treated to rustic charm, breathtaking lake views, and abundant wildlife that celebrate the western spirit of Clear Lake.

Guests can indulge in award-winning wines and a diverse range of varietals—all crafted with an earth-first approach that prioritizes sustainability and quality. At Shannon Family of Wines, the commitment to authenticity shines through, staying true to both the land and their own values. Cheers to an adventure that promises unforgettable sips and stunning scenery!

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