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Guide to Spring Mountain Wineries in Napa Valley

Spring Mountain wineries are situated in the northwestern hills of Napa Valley, directly above St. Helena. Some of the most notable producers in the area include Smith Madrone, Cain Vineyard and Paloma Vineyard.

Fantesca Estate – This is a small winery that was originally established in 2002. The winery produces a Chardonnay originating from Carneros and a Cabernet Sauvignon that hails from Spring Mountain.

Pride Mountain Vineyards – Established in 1990, by Jim and Carolyn Pride, this family based vineyard has begun what will certainly continue to be a notable family operation.

Kongsgaard – This winery is considered to be a specialist when it comes to Chardonnay. The winery also produces a very small amount of Roussanne, Viognier and Syrah. Their 2003 Napa Valley Chardonnay reached the #8 spot on the 2006 top 100 list.

Newton Vineyard – Newton Vineyard is home to a group of exceptional terraced wines.

Spring Mountain Vineyard – Spanning 226 acres, this vineyard is quite diverse with elevations ranging from a mere 400 feet above sea level to some 1,450 feet above sea level. If you are in the area, it is truly something to see.

Robert Keenan Vineyards – The land that comprises this winery was originally planted in the late 19th century. Robert Kennan purchased the property in 1974 and since that time has been able to tap the potential of this property; producing wines that are known for their bold flavors.

St. Clement – West of Highway 29, you will find St. Clement. Like many properties in the local area, St. Clement has been planted since the late 19th century with grape vines. You will find the tasting room located in a breathtaking hillside building.

Frias Family Winery – It was Manny Frias Sr.s dream to one day retire to this beautiful region. Today his son produces a limited amount of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sherwin Family Vineyards – You will find a superb Estate Cabernet Sauvignon produced at this winery. The grapes used in the wine are all grown on the vineyard.

Smith Madrone – This winery is considered today to be one of the premier wineries in the entire Napa Valley region. The winery was originally established in 1971 by Stuart Smith.

Cain Vineyard – Established in 1989 by the Cain family, today the Cain Vineyard is well known for its Cain Five blend, which consists of a variety of traditional red Bordeaux varietals including Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Vineyard 7 & 8 – When this vineyard was established it was with the goal of producing the absolute best Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon that was conceivable. Situated at an elevation of more than 2,000 feet above sea level; it is entirely possible they have reached their goal. Stop by and find out for yourself.

Stony Hill Vineyard – The 160 acres that comprise this vineyard in the northwestern hills of Napa Valley were originally purchased in 1943 by Fred and Eleanor McCrea. Four years later they began planting Chardonnay vines. This was certainly a forward looking action as only 200 acres of Chardonnay were planted throughout the entire state of California at the time.

Hollywood & Vine – Doug Barr, a former actor and director, relocated from Hollywood during the 1990s to this picturesque location.

Atchley Vineyard – In 1968, 20 acres of this lovely region were purchased by Marvin Atchley. This was the beginning of Atchley vineyard, situated on the old location of Moding Winery.

Terra Valentine – The focus of this excellent winery is a mountain grown Cabernet Sauvignon.

Barnett Vineyards – This vineyard is worth stopping by if for no other reason than the breathtaking views you can see of the valley floor. As if that were not enough; however, Barnett Vineyards, produces an excellent and intense Cabernet Sauvignon.

On ThEdge Winery – When you visit this winery, you will quickly understand its rather unique name. The winery is situated on a ridge that serves as a separation between Sonoma and Napa Valley counties.

Domaine Charbay – This winery is frequently referred to as The Still on the Hill. The family that owns the winery has been distilling liquor in Europe since the mid-18th century. Today Domaine Charbay produces rum, brandy, vodka and wine.

Paloma Vineyard – Definitely one of the most historic vineyards in the area. The land that comprises Paloma was originally planted more than 100 years ago. Although the original vineyard was neglected and abandoned for a number of years, many of the century old Zinfandel vines have survived.

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Howell Mountain: Seclusion is Recipe for Success

Howell Mountain has been the home of noteworthy wines for a number of years. At first glance, this region might seem to be an unlikely location for such a popular wine region. The Seventh Day Adventist town of Angwin, which is alcohol free, is located quite nearby, afterall. Despite that fact; however, Howell Mountain has become a premier wine region in Napa Valley and is particularly well known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

The region is relatively secluded; however, this has not prevented Howell Mountain wineries from becoming successful.Even during the early 19th century, there was wine production in the region. Today, a large number of these wineries,which had become little more than ghost wineries, have since been renovated and are in production once again.

The mountainous and sunny climate of Howell Mountain, with its elevation that soars more than 1,800 feet above sea level, is perfect for the production of local grapes. As a result, the area has become known for producing Cabernets that feature velvety tannins and flavors that are highly developed. The stunning natural beauty of the area, combined with the nearby proximity to town, has also made Howell Mountain a popular tourist destination.

A large majority of the vineyards on Howell Mountain face to the west. This provides an abundance of afternoon sunlight to the grapes grown on the slopes. As a result, the area has become well known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon. The continual breeze and elevation of the region have helped to prevent mildew in the Howell Mountain region, despite the higher temperatures. The moderate winds and abundant sunshine are believed to contribute to the fact that the grapes in this region are able to retain their acidity. Historically, red Bordeaux varietals have been grown on Howell Mountain such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot and Malbec in addition to Petitte Sirah and Zinfandel.

True wine production on Howell Mountain began in the 1880s. Isaac Howell, for whom the region is named, had settled in the area in 1847. By the end of the 19th century, more than 600 acres had been planted in Howell Mountain. One of the most noteworthy landowners during the time was Charles Drug, who owned more than 100 acres of planted vineyards. Liparita Winery was also established in 1880, by William Keys, who had a moderate amount of success with clarets.

Howell Mountain Winery was established during this time period as well. Jean Chaix and Jean Adolph Brun had met in Napa and then went on to plant 20 acres on Howell Mountain. They used cuttings derived from the Medoc. In 1886, Howell Mountain Winery was established. The expansive stone walls which were used in the construction of the winery made the winery one of the most expensive buildings to be constructed during that time in Napa Valley.

Like everywhere else, Howell Mountain was almost decimated by Prohibition. Every single winery in the region was closed while the vineyards either fell into disrepair or were actually replanted with other crops as local owners attempted to survive the period. During the years following the repeal of Prohibition, a number of vintners attempted to reopen; however, by and large, their attempts failed. Howell Mountain Winery is just one example. Until the mid-1940s, the winery attempted to produce a small amount of wine; however, they were unable to continue and eventually closed. Later, it was would be re-opened as Chateau Woltner; however, that was not until many years later.

It was actually not until the 1960s that interest in Howell Mountain was revived. A number of the older properties in the region were purchased during this time period and revived. As a result, Howell Mountain became the first sub-AVA to be established within Napa Valley. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and sample one of the Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced on Howell Mountain. No visit to Napa Valley would be complete without it.

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History of the Carneros Wine Region

In the eastern part of Napa Valley, you will find Carneros. While Napa Valley has certainly become famous around the world in the last thirty years, Carneros has become decidedly unique. While you will certainly find plenty of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Carneros, you will also find plenty of Syrah and Merlot as well.

Some of the most well known wineries in Carneros include Talisman Cellars, Etude and Truchard Vineyards. One of the reasons that the wineries in the Carneros region have become so successful is widely attributed to the cooling by the fog and the wind from the San Pablo Bay. Still, you will typically find that compared to numerous other wine regions in California, the weather in Carneros is still rather warm. On the Napa side of Carneros, the weather tends to be warmer than on the Sonoma side.

The rolling, low hills of the terrain in the Carneros region have also contributed significantly to the way in which vineyards are developed in this region. Due to the fact that the soil in this area is quite shallow, the vineyards tend to grow at a slower rate. As a result, you will typically find that the vineyards will only measure two or three inches in diameter even when they are more than ten years old.

The Carneros region was originally developed from both Mexican and Spanish land grants. The rugged pioneers in this region were determined to develop the area despite the unfertile soil. The great majority of the Carneros region in Napa Valley was granted to Jacob Lease in 1840. The thousands of acres that were received by Jacob Leese, as well as Nicholas Higuera, were then subdivided and sold.

Grapes have been grown in this particular region for more than 150 years; however, it was not until the middle of the 19th century that this part of the Napa Valley became involved in winemaking. Jacob Leese is credited with planting the first vineyards in this region on Rancho Huichica, an 18,000 acre parcel of land. Several years later, Higuera sold a portion of his land to Nathan Coombs. The land was then surveyed by Coombs and the town of Napa was established.

During the 1850s a good portion of Leeses land was purchased by William H. Winter. Winter Winery was then established during the early 1870s. For a long time San Francisco served as the primary market for the wines produced in this region. Beginning in the 1880s the Phylloxera Louse devastated many of the vineyards in the Carneros region.

The Winter Winery was purchased in 1881 by James Simonton and it was renamed Talcoa Vineyards. This winery became the first to experiment with a specific type of rootstocks that were resistant to Phylloxera. A significant amount of damage had already been done to the vineyard; however. By the time Prohibition was enacted, it seemed as though the Carneros region was doomed. In fact, the region might very well have ended if it had not been for the commitment of several people.

John Garnetto constructed the first winery in the region following Prohibition in 1935. Louis M. Martini purchased more than 200 acres in the region in 1942 and began to experiment with a number of varietals that were suited for cool weather.

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