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Napa: A Prodigious Region Crowned with Cabernet

Bottles of Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

For many of us California wine lovers, Napa Valley represents the pinnacle of quality wine production in the United States.  Still a baby compared to Europe’s old world regions, Napa’s winemaking history began in the mid-nineteenth century.  Despite the ups and downs in its relatively short history, the valley has risen to world renown and produces many wines of indisputable quality, especially Cabernets and Cab-Merlot blends that rival those of Bordeaux.  As far as some Old World wine fanatics are concerned, California and Napa Valley may never shake a reputation for producing sell-out styled “Fruit Bombs”, but for long-time devotees and those of us more recently convinced, there is something truly special about the region’s terroir and the wines that are crafted from it.

Napa Valley lies north of San Francisco and is bordered by the Mayacamus Mountain Range to its west and north and the Vaca Mountains on its eastern side.  To the north, rises Mount St Helena, part of the Mayacamas Range.  Mount St Helena’s East Peak is the highest point in Napa County and one of the mountain’s five volcano derived sub-peaks.  Charles Krug, one of Napa’s original pioneering winemakers, founded his winery at the base of Mount St. Helena in the early 1860s.  This winery and land was eventually purchased by the Mondavi family 80 years later and was where Robert Mondavi started his winemaking career.

The vineyards of Napa Valley enjoy a Mediterranean climate and benefit from its proximity to the ocean.  Ideally positioned near enough to the Pacific, yet far enough inland, the vineyards are cooled by the infamous fog that rolls in off the San Francisco Bay, but are not enveloped by it.  The Valley gets hot in the summer and maintains moderate temperatures throughout the winter and the grapevines bask in the temperate climate. The northern end of the Valley is sheltered by the coastal mountain ranges and maintains warmer temperatures than the southern end, which is more exposed and closer to the San Pablo Bay.  Thus, there are multiple microclimates within Napa.

Not only do the northern and southern parts of the valley differ in climate, they also have different geological characteristics.  In the northern end, the soil is largely composed of volcanic earth, lava and ash.  The region’s volcanic history is evidenced by the hills and volcanic soils found in the middle valley as well, in the area surrounding Yountville.  The soils of the southern end have been formed by the ebb and flow of the San Pablo Bay over time, making this area rich in sediment.

From the region’s early years in the mid-nineteenth century to the present time, the Valley has undergone its fair share of hardship, including a devastating outbreak of phylloxera and the setbacks caused by Prohibition.  Yet during this same relatively brief time period, Napa managed to emerge as a world class wine region with a litany of iconic producers.  Perhaps the most noteworthy moment in Napa’s recent history was the “Judgment of Paris” tasting competition in 1976, the infamous blind tasting that really placed the region in the forefront of the world wine stage.  The tasting put Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays up against prestigious red Bordeaux and white Burgundies.  The judges ranked California wines above those of France in both categories.  The top scoring wines were the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon, besting First Growth Bordeaux including Mouton-Rothschild and Haut-Brion, and the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay topped the contestants from Burgundy.  These remarkable results proved that Napa Valley was a superior wine region with great potential.

When it comes to Napa, one thing is clear, Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme.  Cabernet crafted by the Valley’s most talented and dedicated winemakers is some of the most opulent, majestic and seductive wine to be had.  If you’ve ever doubted Napa’s distinctive terroirs and the variety of styles that come from this one appellation, try tasting a Cabernet from Howell Mountain next to one from a lower elevation vineyard with gravel or volcanic soils.  Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet showcases mountain fruit at its finest, while Far Niente produces some extraordinary Cabernet from its lower elevation, flat and gravelly Oakville vineyards.

The Who’s Who of Modern Day Napa

When I think through the canon of Napa Valley producers and consider the major players today, several groups tend to form in my mind.  The pioneering producers of the late 19^th Century, some of which are still making great wine today, are the first in my retrospective and include Far Niente, Beaulieu Vineyard, Chateau Montelena and Mayacamas Vineyards.  Next are legendary producers that emerged from the mid-20^th Century onward, major iconic names such as Robert Mondavi, Dominus Estate, Opus One, Shafer and Pahlmeyer.  Then there are the smaller artisanal producers that appeared during this time, including Flora Springs, Caymus Vineyards, Diamond Creek, Heitz Wine Cellars and Dunn Vineyards.

A new generation of artisanal winemakers and producers has emerged in more recent years, crafting some of Napa’s purest expressions of the unique terroirs within the appellation.  Our favorites in this category include Altamura Vineyards and Winery, Ramey Wine Cellars and Blackbird Vineyards.

Below your will find more thorough introductions to some of the incredible producers from our Napa Valley portfolio…

Far Niente

The Italian phrase Far Niente means “without a care” and conjures an idealistic time and place, a lazy summer afternoon spent sipping wine on the patio.  Far Niente Wine Estate, the namesake of this whimsical phrase, indeed dates back to a peaceful time in our country’s history.  Founded by John Benson in 1885, the winery was built in Napa Valley’s western Oakville.  Benson, one of the “forty-niners” who came to California with the Gold Rush in 1849, was the uncle of Winslow Homer, the American Impressionist painter.  The winery flourished until its doors were closed in 1919 by Prohibition.  The property lay deserted until 1979, when Gil Nickel purchased the land and vineyard and began restorations.

Today, the winemaking tradition that began over a century ago is continued through the joint ownership of Nickel’s family members and close friends.  Far Niente produces premium Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays that are celebrated for their age-worthy character.  The Estate owns vineyards in some of the very best areas of Napa Valley including the Martin Stelling Vineyard and John C. Sullenger Vineyard in Oakville, as well as Barrow Lane Vineyard, John’s Creek Vineyard and Carpenter’s Vineyard in Coombsville.  Far Niente has several sister wineries, including Dolce and Nickel & Nickel in Napa Valley, and EnRoute in the Russian River Valley.   View all available Far Niente wines.

Dunn Vineyards

In 1978, Randy and Lori Dunn purchased their initial 14 acres of property on Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain.  A year later, in 1979, the Dunn’s harvested their first crop of Cabernet Sauvignon, thus establishing the winery.  Randy graduated from UC Davis in 1975 and had been making wine at Caymus Vineyards before leaving to start his own label.  Now the Dunn’s children, son Michael and daughter Kristina, are assisting with the family business and both share their father’s passion for winemaking.

Randy Dunn set out to make great, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon in the old world style of Bordeaux.  He has remained faithful to this founding philosophy and, year after year, continues to produce spectacular Cabernets that are expressive of the Howell Mountain growing region.

Each year, Dunn Vineyards produces two red wine labels, Howell Mountain and Napa Valley, each 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Napa Valley bottling includes a portion of grapes from the Napa Valley floor (a maximum of 15%) with the rest harvested from their Howell Mountain vineyards.  The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has softer tannins and is ready to drink earlier on, although it can still age beautifully for 15 or more years.  The Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a bigger style wine, showing bolder fruit and tannins.  These wines can age for decades before reaching their peak!  View all available Dunn Vineyards Cabernet.

Ramey Wine Cellars

Founded by David and Carla Ramey, Ramey Wine Cellars is located in the charming town of Healdsburg, in the heart of Sonoma County.  David Ramey is one of California’s leading winemakers, recognized for contributing innovative techniques to New World winemaking, while staying true to Old World traditions.  David has a graduate degree in winemaking from the University of California at Davis and began his career working at the legendary Chateau Pétrus in Bordeaux, where he was exposed to the great French winemaking traditions.  Back home in California, he went on to make wine at Chalk Hill, Matanzas Creek, Dominus Estate and Rudd Estate, helping to establish these well known wineries.  David’s work, pioneering the use of native yeasts, as well as malolactic and barrel fermentation, has successfully created a luxuriant wine style that has garnered acclaim the world over.

Ramey Wine Cellars specializes in Cabernet blends, Chardonnay and Syrah, and crafts both a single-vineyard series, as well as an appellation series.  Ramey’s Cabernets come from Napa Valley’s best vineyards and are incredibly rich, powerful expressions of the grape.  View all available Ramey Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.

Heitz Wine Cellars

Founded by Joe and Alice Heitz in 1961, Heitz Wine Cellars is one of Napa Valley’s most legendary estates.  Joe Heitz began working part-time as a cellarman during the 1940s.  Then an aspiring veterinarian, destiny called and he fell for winemaking instead.   Joe and Alice bought their first vineyard in 1961 and set to work building Heitz Wine Cellars, quickly establishing a shining reputation as one of Napa’s most prestigious wineries.  Focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon, Joe’s talent for winemaking and the couple’s hard work resulted in wines of the highest quality.

Heitz Wine Cellars produced the first Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in 1966, introducing a wine that would develop a cult following and become legendary around the world. The story begins in 1963, when Tom and Martha May bought the land, recognizing its potential and believing that the site would merit a single-vineyard label. They were given a couple bottles of Heitz as a housewarming gift, and visited the winery soon after. When Joe and Alice Heitz met Tom and Martha, the couples were fast friends, a bond that proved very fortunate for Napa Valley Cabernet! The Heitz family arranged to be the sole buyer of the May family’s grapes, and thus began one of the greatest relationships in wine-making history. Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet would become the first vineyard designated wine in Napa Valley and helped to establish California as a serious contender in the world of wine.  The 2004 Heitz Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard is ready to be enjoyed.

Diamond Creek

Since 1968, Diamond Creek has been producing Cabernet Sauvignon exclusively.  The wines exhibit the distinctive qualities imparted by the soils and micro-climates of Diamond Creek’s three vineyards.  Keeping productions small, the resulting wines are long-lived, elegant and complex, celebrated by connoisseurs the world over.  View all available Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.

Altamura Vineyards and Winery

Well off the beaten path in Napa Valley, Altamura Vineyards and Winery is the only winery located in Wooden Valley, situated high amidst pastoral, rolling hills. Frank and Karen Altamura established the winery in 1985 and practice a careful, hands-on approach to grape growing and winemaking. Frank’s passion for winemaking is clear in each bottle of the winery’s highly collectible wines.  We were blown away by the 2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon.

Blackbird Vineyards

Located in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, Blackbird Vineyards bares a strong resemblance to Bordeaux’s Pomerol region.  With its cool climate and gravelly soils, Oak Knoll has proven to be an exceptional location for Merlot production.  Led by the expertise of winemaker Aaron Pott, one of Napa’s finest, Blackbird Vineyards produces truly special Bordeaux-style red wines.  The 2008 Blackbird Vineyards Arise is sublime.