LJ Crafted Wines was founded in 2015 by Lowell Jooste and his wife Anne; both are originally from South Africa. Lowell is fourth generation wine family - his relatives have been involved in the South African wine business for decades. His father Duggie purchased Klein Constantia in 1980, one of South Africa's most historical vineyard properties. Dating back … [Read more...]

Sylvie Estate was founded in 2010 by Henry and Christina Lopez and their friend and business partner, Brian Atwood. Henry is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and Christina is from the San Francisco Bay Area. They purchased a small plot of land on the lower hills of the Vaca mountains in 1989 and built a small pueblo architecture styled house. They … [Read more...]

Kaiser Family Winery was founded by Rick and Theresa Kaiser (no relation to any of the Kaiser businesses). Rick grew up in Long Island, New York and met Theresa while both were working at what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers (created in 1998 by a merger between Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse). Both are practicing CPA's. Rick recalls drinking mostly … [Read more...]

Carte Blanche Wine was founded and is owned by Nicholas Allen. Nicholas's interest in wine grew during college at the University of Denver. He remembers building a small cellar at his first house in Washington Park and simultaneously nurturing an interest in food including hosting dinner parties. He was the 'resident cork dork' as he puts it. The first … [Read more...]

LOCALISM WINES was founded in 2010 by two winemakers Ryan Knoth and Landon Donely. Landon is no longer involved and today Ryan and his wife Nicole oversee the operations of their tiny brand. LOCALISM is tribute to a lifestyle centered around the connections and the network that Ryan and Nicole have made locally in Napa Valley ranging from vineyard sites, … [Read more...]

Shed Creek Cellars. William and Barbara Morgan purchased property in the southeast corner of Napa County in 1977 - at the time they lived in the San Francisco Bay area and were looking for a more rural getaway (both William and Barbara currently live on the property). William spotted an advertisement for this property in the classified section of the Contra … [Read more...]

Housley Napa Valley was founded in 2011 but their roots go much deeper into Napa Valley. Art Housley moved to Napa in 1969 and raised his family here; he is 5th generation from the San Francisco Bay Area. Wanting to get away from the south bay and its impending urban sprawl, he chose Napa as a less crowded more rural environment for his family. Working for … [Read more...]

Courtesan Wines. For founder and owner Bridget Raymond, producing her own wines is deeply rooted in her own upbringing. Growing up in the Oakville/Rutherford part of the Napa Valley her family home was surrounded by vineyards, her family grew grapes, and she fondly recalls her childhood playing among the vines, grape fights in the vineyards with her brother … [Read more...]