From Andretti Winery

After a decade of dedication, the “Oak Knoll District” was recognized as a distinct sub-appellation of Napa Valley. Located toward the southern end of the Napa Valley at a relatively low elevation on the valley floor, this exceptional land with its climate-moderating effects of San Pablo Bay, cooling breezes and coastal fog make for superior slow ripening, often extending a growing season up to eight months. Distinguished by it cooler climate from other Napa appellations, enthusiastic advocates of the AVA argue that Oak Knoll strikes the perfect climatic balance, not too warm and not too cool for exceptional wines.

Andretti Winery’s forty-two acre vineyard is situated in the heart of this acclaimed appelation, just a few miles south of the town of Yountville. With the cooler climate and rich soils that drain extremely well, our vines endure more stress, resulting in smaller, more flavor intensive fruit. Ideally suited for growing world-class Chardonnay and Merlot, for which we dedicate much of our Oak Knoll District estate, the most favorable growing blocks of vines within this vineyard provide the grapes for our prized Montona Series Reserve wines.

Andretti wines are crafted from estate vineyard fruit and select vineyards from California's finest appellations. Specifically chosen for their excellence and distinction, each wine released meets the highest standards of the Winery's vision and mission; to consistently offer unique character, exceptional quality and a legendary wine experience.

Montona Reserve Series

Named in honor of Mario Andretti's childhood home of Montona, Italy the ultra-premium Montona Reserve Series wines are crafted exclusively from estate-grown grapes and other stellar Napa Valley vineyards.

Each vintage Andretti's Winemaker takes the finest hand-selected fruit to create wines from this acclaimed series including, an Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Reserve Merlot and Napa Valley ReserveCabernet Sauvignon.

Produced in very limited quantities, these very high demand wines are made available first to Andretti Winery Wine Club Members and are offered through our Napa Valley winery and website.

Napa Valley Series

Crafted principally from prized Napa Valley fruit, Andretti Winery's Napa Valley Series includes an array of popular, food-friendly varietals that please even the most discriminating palate.

With an extensive varietal line-up, wine lovers enjoy the elegance, complexity and quality of each wine, including Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or a unique Zinfandel-Primitivo blend.

A premium wine experience, Andretti's Napa Valley Series wines are made available directly through the winery as well as select fine wine stores and restaurants around the globe.

California Selections Series

Inspired by its Italian heritage and "La Dolce Vita" principle, Andretti Winery's California Selections Series wines are made with the belief that good wine should be enjoyed daily with meals, as part of a fine lifestyle.

Venturing beyond the Napa Valley to Sonoma and the North Coast when sourcing the grapes for these fine wines, wine lovers can savor an array of diverse and delicious flavors. Selections Series varietals include Fume Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Made accessible to wine drinkers of all types with their impressive quality and exceptional value, the Selections Series wines are available direct from the winery as well as at fine markets and restaurants around the globe.

Andretti Winery
4162 Big Ranch Road
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 261-1717
http://www.andrettiwinery.com

From Barnett Vineyards

Each wine made at Barnett Vineyards is either Estate Bottled, from Spring Mountain or from a single vineyard in another viticulture district that we have chosen. The wines, therefore, are inextricably linked to the vineyards from which they come from.

With passion and patience, Fiona and Hal Barnett created this vineyard and winery in 1983 with the intent of producing small amounts of hand crafted Cabernet Sauvignon wines from their estate. Since the first vintage of Barnett Vineyards, Spring Mountain has proven to deserve it's own AVA and become known as a unique microclimate, producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots.

The vineyards are located at the top of Spring Mountain, at elevation 2,000ft, and planted on steep terraces that follow the contour of the land. In some places, the grade averages in excess of 35%. Mountainside farming is very challenging. The vines must struggle to reach nutrients and water in the soil and, as a result, yield only one to two tons per acre. The elements of sun, temperature, and well-drained porous soils give an advantageous water stress to the vines and contribute to the depth, richness and character of the wines. Grapes are harvested by hand; vineyard row by row, as optimum ripeness and maturity is reached. Fermentation is done in small batches.

Since the winery's first 100 cases in 1989, Barnett Vineyards has grown to approximately 6,000 cases total production. Rattlesnake Hill and Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignons are the focus at the estate with total Cabernet production varying between 2,100 and 3,000 cases annually. In addition, Barnett Vineyards produces limited amounts of Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown from single vineyards located in well-desired appellations.

Barnett Vineyards
4070 Spring Mountain Road
St. Helena, CA, 94574
(707) 963-7075
http://www.barnettvineyards.com

From Amici Cellars

Amici, in Italian, is "Friends!" Amici's handcrafted, limited production wines are from Napa's most renowned grape growing areas. Our farming and winemaking methods allow the characteristics of soil and climate to speak through each individual wine.

Amici was born out of a belief that good wine and good friends make natural partners. In 1991, Jeff Hansen and a group of friends from all over the country crushed a few tons of grapes in the Napa Valley for their personal cellars. The resulting wines received such outstanding accolades that Hansen and the group started producing wine the very next year to share with the public. In the 16 vintages since the inception of Amici Cellars, our wines have gained stature as some of the finest reds in America. Because our concern is quality, not quantity, our wines are hand crafted and highly allocated.

The success of Amici can be summed up in one word: passion. Passion is the primary ingredient of any artistic endeavor, and the art of great winemaking is no different. We at Amici share a taste for quality, and are truly passionate about creating great red wines. To do that, we marry the most advanced viticulture practices with skills and knowledge passed down through countless generations of winemakers and vineyard owners.

By tradition, the best winemakers charge themselves with making a wine that tells its own story: one that speaks of the rich, volcanic soil it grew in, the March rains that nourished the vines and the warm Napa Valley sun that ripened the grapes to perfection. That's why Amici lives with the grapes, and nurtures the vines to create the finest hand crafted wines. Our wines truly reflect the vineyards from which they come.

At Amici our true passion is to produce spectacular reds. And our friends who enjoy wine as much as we do, recognize our attention to detail. We invite friends old and new to share our particular brand of "bottled poetry." Taste our passion -- and our joy of life.

Amici Cellars
PO Box 399
Rutherford, Ca. 94573
(707) 967-9560
http://www.amicicellars.com

From Alpha Omega Winery

Alpha Omega Winery, located in the heart of Napa Valley, on the Rutherford Bench, has begun its journey to be recognized as one of the great wine estates in the world.

Our team of winemakers, who share a history of winemaking excellence, along with our highly regarded vineyards, combine to create a unique expression of the essence of Napa Valley.

Alpha Omega has been fortunate to acquire highly sought after vineyards in the unique appellations of Napa Valley: Spring Mountain, St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Atlas Peak, Oak Knoll, Wild Horse Valley and Carneros, including the historically well known To Kalon, Stagecoach and Hudson vineyards.

Aside from the vineyards on the Alpha Omega winery property, the winemakers strongly believe in sourcing grapes from terroirs representing different appellations in Napa Valley in order to bring a completely different complexity and aromatic profile to their wines.

Alpha Omega Winery
1155 Mee Lane at Hwy 29
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-9999
http://www.aowinery.com

From Bouchaine Vineyards

Bouchaine Vineyards inhabits the oldest continually operated winery in the Carneros wine region. The site was first planted to vines and orchards in the mid-1800s by pioneer Boon Fly. In 1927, before the end of Prohibition, the property was purchased by Italian immigrant, Johnny Garetto. After the Repeal he operated perhaps the first winery with a tasting room in the region.

Garetto shipped his wine to San Francisco and elsewhere from Buchli Station, a historic railway station located at the end of the road of the same name and the address of the Bouchaine property.

Garetto sold the ranch to Beringer Brothers in 1951. Beringer used the winemaking facility for the next thirty years making upgrades along the way. In 1981 Gerret and Tatiana Copeland, residents of Wilmington Delaware and long time admirers of the wines of Burgundy, purchased the facility from Beringer and established Bouchaine Vineyards. A massive renovation was completed in 1995 updating the winemaking facility with new technology and refurbishing the entire facility in a rustic style that garnered numerous awards from historic and architectural organizations.

The most noteworthy change in winemaking style has occurred recently with the hiring of Michael Richmond as winemaker and general manager. Mike Richmond has over 30 years experience in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production in the Carneros including his founding Acacia Winery. He and the Bouchaine winemaking team have updated both farming and winemaking to bring the wines to a new standard of excellence.

The pride of Bouchaine owners, Gerret and Tatiana Copeland, our Estate Vineyards total 85 sustainably farmed acres of the entire 104 acres of the winery estate.

A signature of our estate vineyards are the unique twin hills jutting up from the otherwise gently rolling hills of the Carneros. Portrayed on our wine label, the “Garretto Hills” are named for the estates original founder Johnny Garretto.

The two hills present a distinctive aspect for the pinot noir planted there. They are the southern most vineyards in the Carneros region and some of the highest vineyards in the region. From atop the hills one can see the San Pablo and San Francisco bays. The marine influence from the bay region is tantamount in establishing the distinctive character of the entire Carneros region.

The Garetto hills also lord over additional estate vines that undulate in small rises and valleys around the winery. Clay loam and cobbled soils, rows of beneficial grasses set the stage for the pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot gris and pinot meunier planted there.

Bouchaine Vineyards
1075 Buchli Station Road
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 252-9065
http://www.bouchaine.com