Winery Partners
Miner Family Winery
Facing west on the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley's renowned Oakville appellation, Miner Family Vineyards exemplifies the vision of a new guard of Napa vintners. Winemaker Gary Brookman uses a combination of old world winemaking techniques and modern technology to make wines that reflect the pure clarity of the varietal while capturing the essence of the vineyard. Maintaining complete farming control, Miner artfully crafts wines of powerful elegance. minerwines.com
CA Appellations: Napa Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, Mendocino
Accolades: Sante Magazine: Emily’s Cab 2013, Gold. NY International Wine Competition: Napa Valley Chard 2014 Gold.
Peter Franus
The expressive and distinctive wines of Peter Franus showcase the distinct terroirs of Howell Mountain, Rutherford, Mount Veeder, and Lake County. Winemaker Peter Franus is guided by his love of wines that have richness, complexity, and harmony. He relies on intuition, experience and a minimalist approach to make wines that invite you back to discover something new with each taste. peterfranus.com
CA Appellations: Napa Valley, Lake Country
Accolades: 2013 ratings: Cab 93 pts (Vinous), Napa Red 93 pts (Wine Spectator), Brandlin Zin 92 pts (James Suckling).
Lamborn
The Lamborns have been farming atop Howell Mountain for three generations, carefully nurturing their estate Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon themselves. With grapes grown exclusively on their organic estate vineyard at 2200 feet, Lamborn wines develop their rich, structured flavor profiles and fine tannins in Howell Mountain’s rich volcanic soil. Above Napa Valley’s fog line, the vineyard has a distinct mezzo climate, with early morning sunlight, cooler days, and warmer nights. Heidi Barrett of Screaming Eagle fame has been the winemaker since 1997. lamborn.com
CA Appellation: Howell Mountain, Napa
Accolade: Robert Parker 2014 Rating: Vintage XII Cab 92 points.
Eco Terreno
As a certified bio-dynamic and organic grower in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, Eco Terreno Wines promotes a healthy ecosystem on their two single vineyard estates. With a name that means ecology of the land, Eco Terreno nurtures healthy soil with self-made compost by recycling the organic material the system generates. The winery farms its estates in the most regenerative and gentle way using natural fertilizers instead of pesticides or herbicides. ecoterreno.com
CA Appellation: Alexander Valley, Sonoma
Accolades: San Francisco International Wine Competition: Old Vine Cab 2013 Double Gold. SF Chronicle Wine Competition: Cab 2012 Gold, Cab 2013 Gold, Three Vine Red 2012 Gold.
Somerston Estate and Priest Ranch
High in the eastern Napa Valley mountains, Somerston produces single vineyard estate grown wine from 225 sustainably farmed acres. Winemaker and viticulturist, Craig Becker, draws on rich, diverse vineyard sources that feature a variety of elevations, exposures, soils and microclimates. He takes a minimalist approach to winemaking, encouraging the highest expression of personality, intensity and distinction in each varietal. somerstonwineco.com
CA Appellations: Napa Valley: Somerston Estate & Priest Ranch. Napa, Santa Maria + : High Flyer.
Accolades: Robert Parker ratings for 2013: Somerston Cab 95+, Somerston Stornaway 93 pts, Priest Ranch Coach Gun 92 pts.
C.G. Di Arie
High in the Sierra Foothills, C.G. Di Arie produces spectacular estate grown wine from the oldest living Zinfandel vineyards in America: over 140 years old. Chaim Gur-Arieh, Proprietor and Winemaker, likes to make wines that are elegant and have good balance. His style of wine has forward fruit that carries to the mid-palate and a long sustained finish. Chaim uses oak to enhance the varietal identity of the wine and not mask it. cgdiarie.com
CA Appellations: Sierra Foothills, Shenandoah Valley, Lodi.
Accolades: San Francisco Wine Competition ratings: Cab 2011 Double Gold, Interlude 2010 Silver, Petite Sirah 2010 Silver.
Dierberg Vineyard
With over 40 years of winemaking experience, the Dierbergs craft wine from a trio of peerless properties in Santa Barbara County. The cool coastal climate of the Dierberg and Star Lane vineyards are ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Situated on a steep hillside with steady winds, Drum Canyon Vineyards reflects the intensity and signature acidity of the Santa Rita Hills AVC. dierbergvineyard.com
CA Appellations: Santa Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley, Happy Canyon
Accolades: 2015 Chard SMV: Wine Enthusiast 92, Robert Parker 93, Wine Advocate 93. 2014 Dierberg Pinot: Wine Enthusiast 93, Robert Parker 92. 2015 Dierberg Pinot: Wine Enthusiast 92, Robert Parker 92. Wine Advocate 92.
Silver Ghost
Founded by the descendant of an automobile pioneer, Silver Ghost shares its name with the 1909 Rolls-Royce. Like its name, the wine is filled with layers of richness, authenticity, and culture. Silver Ghost is a full-bodied, opulent wine with perfectly integrated tannins. Dedicated to making wine worthy of its name with minimal intervention, Silver Ghost is crafted with grapes from some of Napa’s finest vineyards. silverghostcellars.com
CA Appellation: Napa Valley
Accolades: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition: Silver Ghost 2014 Double Gold, Cab 2015 Gold, Best in Class Label Design 2014. Wine Spectrum: Silver Ghost 2014 Rated #1 of Top 100 Wines.