Wineries

Of the over twenty labels in our Tasting Room, each and every one has a personality of their own. Wines equally reflect their vineyards and the Winemakers who chose those vineyards. These Owners and Winemakers have unique and joyful qualities, just like the wines they make. The following are profiles of those personalities our winemakers and owners who make us smile everyday here at the Tasting Room at Napa Wine Company.

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Dusty Boots, Stained Hands, Classic Wines

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Apriori cellar

Apriori was founded on the principle that quality, authenticity and joy should be part of every wine experience. A winemaking philosophy deeply rooted in balance and terroir that strives to showcase the pure qualities of their grapes and distinctive personalities of the fruit’s climate. Apriori’s exacting commitment to beauty and truth results in very high quality wines that are sure to bring pleasure to everyone.

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Blackbird Vineyard

Perched to seize the day as Oak Knoll's foremost Merlot is Blackbird Vineyards, located in the heart of the Oak Knoll District. Since 1999, this vineyard has quietly provided fruit to many of Napa's finest winemakers, for whom it has yielded astonishing reviews and stellar scorings. Purchased by entrepreneur Michael Polenske in 2003, who recognized its potential, Blackbird Vineyards is now an ultra premium label in its own right. (Fittingly, 'merlot' is French patois for 'little blackbird.')

As artisans, the Blackbird team's goal is to create beautifully handcrafted wines that embody the best of what the Oak Knoll terroir has to offer. As Michael Polenske puts it, "Our promise is to offer a wine that represents our personal integrity and to maximize the natural advantage we have with a vineyard of truly unique character."

In launching Blackbird as an ultra premium label, Polenske has assembled a dynamic team to execute his vision. Among them is Winemaker Aaron Pott, whose experience has included Quintessa,, Château Troplong Mondot, Premier Grand Cru Classé St. Emilion, Château La Tour Figeac Grand Cru Classé St. Emilion among other acclaimed producers. Consulting winemaker Sarah Gott, whose extensive experience producing noteworthy wines includes Insignia and Backus for Joseph Phelps, Quintessa, and Joel Gott Wines, which she makes with her husband.

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Dylan's Ghost

Vintner Joseph Carr & Winemaker Aaron Pott

Aaron Pott and I walked through a vineyard in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley one day, musing and discussing the surrounding landscape. We both commented on how deep and dark it was; the rugged cliffs seemed to contain a story and a secret. Our conversation turned to literature and we bantered back and forth about the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas. We sat down to chat with one of the most prolific growers in Napa Valley and the Stags Leap District. Surrounded by his vineyards, iconic winery and art collection, we convinced him to sell us grapes from the fabled Stags Leap Ranch Vineyard. This new chapter in our lives would be called “Dylan’s Ghost”, and would emphasize Aaron’s philosophy of winemaking with out intervention, as well as finding the poetry and power of the surrounding terroir. Three years went by, and today, we are proud to release our inaugural vintage of Dylan’s Ghost.

Dylan Thomas once wrote, “I hold a beast, an angel and a madman in me...and my efforts are their self-expression.”

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Elizabeth Rose

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Eponymous

I have named my new wine Eponymous in a playful vein. Eponymous means “one for whom or which something is or is believed to be named.” My fanciful definition is “a play on words by one who is unable to use his family name on his own bottle of wine.”

I built my reputation making Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese for my family's Napa Valley winery and for other wineries in Napa Valley and around the world. For my new, personal label I chose an outstanding fruit source for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Two years later I had the opportunity to work with another exceptional vineyard just over the Sonoma County border from Mount Veeder. I'm using fruit from this remarkable vineyard to make a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Together, I think these wines strongly assert that hillside Cabernet-driven wines from Napa and Sonoma can be the rival of any in the world. -- Robert L. Pepi

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ERBA

In 1998, after two years in searching for a site that could be developed into a premium, world class vineyard, the goal was finally achieved. This site possesses the attributes for a unique terroir with features of steep slopes at high elevations of 1100 to 1550 feet above sea level with very rocky volcanic soils.

The vineyard has a unique microclimate next to Atlas Peak. It is above the morning fog which allows abundant sunshine throughout the day to ripen the grapes fully. Cooling westerly breezes come over the mountain ridge midday and in the late afternoon the mountain ridge shades the hot afternoon sun.

The vineyard was developed into 14 blocks with a total of 20 acres planted. Each block has varying row direction and slope and therefore each block is harvested separately for optimum ripeness. Tight vineyard spacing was used to give the vines more competition to improve grape quality. Rootstock and varietal recommendations from Paul Skinner, PhD, matched the soil to the rootstock to keep vigor low and balanced. With much research the highest quality, low yielding clones were used including many of the ENTAV-INRA clones from France. All five Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, as well as Syrah were planted. Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for approximately 70% of the vineyard plantings.

All wines are made from the estate grapes. 2003 was the first commercial vintage for Erba Mountainside Vineyards.

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Ghost Block

Nestled on a gently sloping knoll, Ghost Block vineyard is named in honor of Napa's pioneer winemakers who rest in a tiny 150 year old cemetery on the north edge of Yountville - the epicenter of Napa Valley. Graced with perfect drainage and sunny exposure, Ghost Block Vineyard is a jewel, an heirloom, passed down through a single family for over 100 years. Coveted by celebrity winemakers, the fruit from this and nearby vineyards has been the cornerstone of many of Napa's "Cult Wines".

The secret is out. Ghost Block is a winery that specializes in Cabernets from Yountville and Oakville, all of our vineyards are family owned and organically certified. Production is very limited, always based on our very best fruit.

We grow incredible cabernet. We do not purchase grapes - rather we take great pride in the fact that ALL Ghost Block wines are family owned and grown. Ghost Block is the culmination of our family's 100 year history in the Napa Valley. We have been growing cabernet for generations; Ghost Block is our personal expression of our vineyards best, made with quiet pride. Pour a glass; the story begins...

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Hoopes Vineyard

The Hoopes Family Winery and Vineyard has been a labor of love. They were fortunate when selecting land for their new estate in Oakville by purchasing 14 acres that happen to be some of the greatest grape growing territory in Napa Valley.

They first planted the land back in 1991 with the expectation of selling the crop to local wineries. The first mature harvest in 1994 was quite good and the people they sold the grapes to said these were the best grapes they had purchased. Hoopes continued to sell the grapes with the same input each year until 1999 when they decided to produce their own wine, with their own label. The results were better than they could have hoped.

The Hoopes Vineyard isn't about expanding and winning market share, it's about passion. What matters is making the absolute best wine possible from their grapes.

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Jelly Jar

Jelly Jar is hand crafted by a fourth generation Napa Valley winemaker whose roots date back to the late 1890s. Andy Pestoni's great-grandfather, Albino Pestoni, arrived in the Napa Valley from Italy and settled with his family. Making wine was part of their heritage and the family's original hand-built stone winery still stands today at the base of Howell Mountain. Andy continues the winemaking tradition with Jelly Jar, a wine reminiscent of those early days when times were a bit simpler.

The organically farmed Nova Vineyard lies on a gradual slope of benchland in the Kelseyville area of Lake County. For more than 40 years, these head-trained, dry-farmed Zinfandel vines have taken deep root in the site's volcanic soils.
Old vines like these naturally reduce their own yields, producing fewer and fewer clusters as the years go by. These clusters also become smaller with each year, and the heightened juice-to-skin ratio greatly intensifies Zinfandel's rich, varietal characteristics.

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Johndrow Vineyards

Entering the business world at the age of 21, David Johndrow, founder of Johndrow Vineyards, became fascinated with wine as he realized that the person who knew the most about wine at a business dinner controlled the table conversation and was seen as an expert. David began to study wine throughout the next 15 years while making journeys to Napa Valley and surrounding areas in search of the perfect drinker. "I loved finding the best wine at the best price point." For David, the only turn off to wine was the wine snobs that thought they knew everything about wine or more than anyone else because they ordered the most expensive bottle on the reserve list. "The great thing about wine is the optimism that everyone has when they first open the bottle. They want to love it!" It's that optimism and vision that is at the heart of Johndrow Vineyards.

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William Knuttel

Ottimino's winemaker, William Knuttel, is uncompromising, ever curious, a winemaker's winemaker. For him, wine is terroir and style and technique, and it is more than that too. Wine is geography and it is a study in psychology - geography because the land nurturing the grapes stamps a character into the wine, and psychology because the experiences of past winemaking ultimately find their way into the current endeavor.

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Kelly Family Vineyards

Kelly Family Vineyards is a luscious family-owned 7122 acre vineyard located in the historic Oak Knoll District Appellation of Napa Valley, CA.

Over the past 40 years the Kelly Family has established themselves as leading advocates of agricultural land preservation in the Napa Valley by sitting on the board of Connelly Ranch and supporting measures to preserve farm land.

In an effort to focus on sustainable agriculture and true craftsmanship in the wine, Kelly Family Vineyards currently only produces a few hundred cases per vintage. Working alongside noted winemaker Bob Pepi, the goal of our vineyard is to create a wonderful bottle of wine worthy of being shared with close family and friends while you tell your family story.

So whether you’re a Kelly, Kelley, O’Kelly, or even just “Irish-For-A-Day”, we here at The Kelly Family Vineyards would like to invite you to join our family and raise a toast to you, our combined heritage, the best of health, and living the good life!

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Levendi

Yasou, Levendi! Small, family owned Napa Valley winery, Levendi, has just been added to our tasting room here at Napa Wine Company. The Gianulias’ have a strong Greek tradition of private winemaking dating back for centuries and concentrate on producing the best wine from their family to yours. The Greek toast, “Levendi” acknowledges a hard day’s labor and achievement. It’s a toast to celebrate life and it is the philosophy in which they craft their wine. Alison Green Doran, Levendi’s winemaker, is one of the first woman wine makers of Napa Valley. She studied fermentation science at UC Davis, spent time in Alsace, France and finished her studies under the most legendary American winemaker since the Prohibition, Andre Tchelistcheff. She produces award winning wine year after year by hand picking all of the grapes and concentrating on getting the “pop and jump” out of every grape. Last year Levendi received multiple 90+ scores and gold medals by Wine Enthusiast, Tasting Panel Magazine, Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition and more. Levendi is in hundreds of top restaurants across the nation and is continuing to grow. Make sure to stop by Napa Wine Company during your next trip to Wine Country and taste some exciting, award winning juice!

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Liparta

Since the first vines were planted in the late 1800's, Liparita has been dedicated to bottling the pure expression of the terroirs of California’s Napa Valley. Today, Liparita's small production gives us the ability to carefully craft each wine and accentuate the unique characteristics of the distinct appellations in which the fruit originates. As a result of our commitment to creating extraordinary wine, Liparita's wines today are worthy of the gold medals they received over a century ago.

"Our dedication to crafting Cabernet Sauvignons in the same spirit of the Liparita that existed over a century ago has resulted in two truly astonishing wines...unprecedented successes that we are extremely proud to offer." Spencer Hoopes, Proprietor of Liparita.

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Nova Wines

In 1981, Bob Holder and a small group of friends started a home winemaking operation at Holder's house near St. Helena, CA. They adopted the name 'Maneater' and their first production was a Cabernet called 'Cannibal Sauvignon' with a label designed by Denys Cazet (a friend who writes and illustrates children's books). In 1983 the group switched its production to Merlot and one evening over dinner and a bottle of that homemade Merlot the concept of 'Marilyn Merlot' was born. The homemade 'Maneater' Marilyn Merlot enjoyed a great deal of popularity around St. Helena as Holder donated the wine to charity auctions and gave it to friends as Christmas gifts.

A few years later the commercial potential was becoming obvious. The 'Maneater' group put together a few thousand dollars to bottle a 1985 vintage Napa Valley Merlot and became Nova Wines Partners. Although they took a lighthearted approach to the wine business they decided to produce a serious wine which would appeal to wine drinkers with a sense of humor and Marilyn Monroe fans.

An exclusive license agreement was negotiated with the Estate of Marilyn Monroe. The royalties paid by Nova Wines are directed according to Marilyn's will to Anna Strasberg who helps support the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and to the Anna Freud Foundation in London, which has set up a special child treatment center called the Monroe Young Family Center.

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Mirror Napa Valley

During the first four years that my wife, Stephanie, and I had the opportunity to spend in the San Francisco Bay area, we developed a passion for wine. The explosive richness of a well made Napa Cabernet unleashed something within me. I became enthralled with wine-- simple as that. Football had guided us here, to "wine country" as my boys would say, and in those years we met new friends and explored Napa. The pure physical beauty of "the valley" drew us in.

I couldn't let go of the idea of one day operating a winery--the thought kept lurking in the back of my mind. While playing for Oakland, I had the opportunity to meet Jeff Smith of Hourglass (it's tiny by production, but one of the great cabernets of Napa Valley). Jeff is a crazy Raider fan (not the painted face type, but a fanatic nonetheless) who sent me some of his cabernet. Unbeknownst to him, I was already an Hourglass fan and was thrilled to find the package on my doorstep. We struck up an immediate friendship and would go on to have great dinners and taste a lot of Napa wine together over the next few years. When I decided I wanted to pursue my passion in the wine industry, Jeff introduced me to a childhood friend of his, Rob Lawson, an amazing winemaker. In the early days of "cult" winemaking in Napa Valley.

From those early conversations, I found we shared a common philosophy: a humble approach to making the best wines possible and a desire to over-deliver at every stage. Forget the hype, the glitzy style and the exaggerated price, let's do something spectacular yet subtle. I had found the perfect project!

The project took an ironic and fateful twist when Jeff suggested we use a name he had conceived for a project he had abandoned -- Mirror. Because my last name shares the same spelling as the phonetic spelling for mirror (mirer), I have often been referred to as Rick "Mirror." The parallel was too good to pass up and the name stuck. The Mirror Wine Company was born.

Rick Mirer

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oakville East

"There are places in the world that are so special that the wine that is produced there becomes renowned. The eastern side of Oakville, CA coined 'Magic Mountain' is one of those places. What emerges from this rocky, sun-drenched soil is like no other Cabernet in the world." Matt Kramer, The Wine Spectator, Oct. 2004

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Oakville Winery

Oakville Winery was first established in November 1877 as Brun & Chaix, Oakville Winery. It was the 9th bonded winery in California. In 1993 when we purchased the winery and surrounding vineyards, it was sold to us as The Oakville Winery. Our Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are planted adjacent to the winery, the essence of an estate definition in the very center of the Oakville appellation.

Our family has owned vineyards in Napa Valley since 1903. We strive to produce wines that represent our land and its heritage. The Bonded Winery #9 Portfolio always represents Napa Valley’s best quality at reasonable prices. The "new" Oakville Winery will produce wines from the same vineyards and the same location as the founding winery, thus continuing a 132 year old tradition. In a real sense, the name Oakville Winery was chosen for us from the beginning. The Oakville appellation is precious to all of us who share this region's bounty.

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Ottimino

Ottimino – A Story of Simplicity, Strength and Spirit

Ottimino, the person, was a spirited Italian-American, the eighth child in a family that came to personify The American Dream – the dream to seek and find fulfillment in the quest of a personal goal. In Ottimino’s case, he wanted to live peacefully on the land he tended in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. He did this for the bulk of his 101 years, doing honest work, forging his own vineyard tools, and nurturing the vines he planted.

Ottimino, the wine, celebrates the spirit of the original caregiver to these Zinfandel vines and other spirited individuals that share his and our passion.

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Pavi Wines

Husband-and-wife team, Pavi Micheli Lawson and Rob Lawson, founded PAVI WINES in 1998. Rob Lawson is the winemaker for PAVI WINES and is also the Winemaker for Napa Wine Company.

With a long family involvement in the wine business, it is not surprising that Rob has already launched his own brand. Rob has always been intrigued by Italian varietals because of their unique flavor profiles and the characteristics that Napa Valley would impart on these wines.

Rob became even more fascinated with the idea of producing his own brand of Italian varietals after visiting wineries in Italy on his honeymoon. His' wife's passion for her heritage provided the motivation to pursue his dream. Rob's winemaking philosophy is to the let the fruit speak for itself, to enhance the true characteristics of the varietal.

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Michael Pozzan

Michael Pozzan Winery is owned and operated by Michael and Mary Ann Pozzan, both natives of California. Michael was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but spent his summer months with his grandparents on their 35 acre vineyard estate in Sonoma County. Michael's grandfather purchased the land in Healdsburg after WWII and planted Zinfandel grapes, which he sold to local wineries. He always made sure that he retained a portion of the harvest to make his own wine. It was here that Michael learned from his grandfather the art of making and caring for wine. With roots extending to Piemonte, Italy, Michael's family has been in the wine business since the mid 1800s. Michael has benefited greatly from his family's experience and expertise, and has continued the tradition by creating fine wines here in California.

Michael Pozzan Winery was founded in 1991 and is based in Oakville, California, in the heart of the Napa Valley. The winery currently produces 40,000 cases a year and distributes its wine throughout the United States in selected markets. The wine is sold under two labels, Michael Pozzan and Dante. In the fall of 2000 the winery introduced its newest creation, Marianna, made in the Bordeaux style.

The winery is committed to producing fine wines that represent quality and value. Michael Pozzan wines can be enjoyed with good food, family, friends and all who share the love of wine.

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Switzer Family Vineyards

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Red Mare

Wines with personality. Produce wines with energy, concentration and life. Do this in a sustainable way in order to honor the land that provides us with this precious resource. Have fun and make these wines affordable so that as many people as possible may have fun with these wines too.

The Red Mare In My Life I’ve always loved horses. I had been very involved in Pony Club as a girl, focusing mainly on three day eventing, which is the combination of dressage, show jumping and cross country jumping. I fell in love with that challenging sport. Once married, I began a journey to find a horse of my own.

I was working as the assistant winemaker at Paradigm winery under Heidi Barrett at that time. I wanted a horse that I could take to shows, specifically three day eventing. So the search was on for an athletic, intelligent horse that I could train up. At the time, Ren Harris, the owner for Paradigm Winery, was trying to find a creative way to give me a bonus. He asked me if I would be willing to name the horse I found “Paradigm” in exchange for her purchase price.

I found a young, beautiful chestnut mare at the end of her short racing career. She proved to be the most challenging and dynamic horse I have ever worked with – she has taught me more about horses than I had ever hoped to know. She has taken me down a path of training that has broadened my ideas about horses and my relationship with them as well.

Before I owned a red mare I was unaware of the reputation that they have. Now, it seems that everyone knew about their vivacious and saucy nature except me! I love her personality and energy and life. She is constantly teaching me that I don’t have all the answers and that we have to work together as a team to be successful. This is a life lesson that I will carry with me always. Naming my wine brand Red Mare is a bit of homage to Ren Harris and Paradigm Winery. - Anne Vawter, Winemaker/Owner

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Vinum Cellars

Our basic winemaking philosophy is to work with great grape growers to develop the best fruit in the vineyard. We pick the grapes at optimal ripeness and gently process the fruit. We are very experimental with yeast strains and use different cultures for each variety. Our whites are barrel fermented slowly and aged Sur Lies in small French Oak barrels. With our reds, skin contact is optimized by the use of small open top fermentors, hand punch downs and extended maceration before pressing.

Our belief in the use of older French Oak barrels allows the varietal fruit of our wines to be expressed. We are committed to experimenting and learning new winemaking methods while preserving an old world approach.

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Volker Eisele Family Estate

Three generations of the Eisele family have participated in the development   of the 400 acre estate on which the vineyard is located. Volker and Liesel, the principals in the family business, have been joined by their son, Alexander, who now manages the vineyard and assists with marketing. Their daughter, Christiane an MD who received a B.S. from U.C. Davis in viticulture and enology, participates as a consultant.

Due to rigorous thinning, the long, cool growing season, and the harvesting of only mature ripe clusters, tannins, fruit and acidity are robust and interactive with a resulting complexity. Thus, all of the Estate wines are full flavored and can be enjoyed alone of with food for an enhanced dining experience. Winemaker, John McKay, has 30 years of experience in the Napa Valley, and has worked with Eisele grapes for over 10 years.

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Voss Vineyards

Intense. Intriguing. A world apart. Voss Vineyards chooses a different path from the vineyard to the cellar. Our vines grow in areas famous for their soils, areas like the Rutherford Bench and Carneros. But we don’t use the classic Napa Valley varietals. Instead we nurture grapes like Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. And we use new winemaking ideas. All to create a new world of wines.