Howell Mountain Vineyards. This was our 1,100th Napa Valley based winery or producer visited with and written about since we started the Napa Wine Project back in 2006. Sure, it's just a number, but it's another milestone number as we work our way through the valley, and for a variety of other reasons, this was a very special visit. Proprietor, Mike … [Read more...]

Seven Apart. Proprietor Don Dady was born in Santa Rosa and raised west of its city limits in neighboring Sonoma County (a double sports standout at El Molino High School) although he now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. He co-founded Scottsdale, Arizona based Annexus in 2006 with a business partner, Ron Shurts. Annexus focuses on growing and protecting … [Read more...]

Guarchi Family Wines. The first vintage of Guarachi Family Wines was in 2007. Proprietor, Alex Guarchi began Guarachi Family Wines by purchasing fruit from a number of prominent vineyards, both in Napa Valley and in Sonoma including Gap's Crown, William Hill's Broken Rock Vineyard and from Beckstoffer owned Las Piedras and To Ka Kalon. His last vintage of … [Read more...]

Castiel Estate. Napa Valley, to proprietors Dave and Kathleen DiCesaris is extremely personal. Their highly serendipitous story begins with a Napa Valley tasting room romance. But first some background. Kathleen grew up in Southern California and was raised by professional opera singers; while working in a restaurant at Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, she … [Read more...]

Hobel Wines. Cameron Hobel grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a degree in Biology. His father was a physician and Cameron decided to follow in his footsteps - originally on a pre-med track. One day his father looked him squarely in the eye and said, "if you want to become a doctor, you will not become a … [Read more...]

Gentleman Farmer Wines is a partnership between Joe Wolosz and Jeff Durham; both who have long careers centered around hospitality and the culinary worlds. Joe grew up in Pismo Beach, central California around hotels; his family owned two properties along California's coastline including El Patio Motel and The Wayside Motel. Later he worked in restaurants in … [Read more...]

Vinoce Wines was founded by Brian & Lori Nuss (tragically Lori, who we first met with passed away in early 2016). Brian is originally from New Jersey; in 1976 he and his brother spent several months driving across the country, one taking the northern route and one taking the southern route. Both settled in Los Angeles and began a general contracting … [Read more...]

Regusci Winery (pronounced Rey goo she) is the site of the first winery built in what is now the Stags Leap District. Vintner and early Napa pioneer Terrill Grigsby was related to William Harrison (the ninth president of the USA) Grigsby’s father was Harrison's nephew. Terrill Grigsby oversaw the construction of a wooden winery by Chinese workers, and … [Read more...]

Robert Mondavi Winery (acquired by Constellation Brands, Inc. in 2004, the same company that also owns 50% of Opus One) is one of Napa Valley's most iconic and visited wineries; it is located on the busy "wine strip" on the west side of Highway 29 in Oakville just north of Oakville Cross Road. It is one of the few wineries in the valley that draws people … [Read more...]