Wine industry publicist and lobbyist Tom Wark recently wrote: Dear Subscriber: Here Are Your Wines A departure from the norm…sort of From The Mailbag: “Tom, I’ve subscribed to this newsletter of yours since the beginning and I count exactly 200 issues. And in not a single one have you recommended a wine. I’m wondering what…
Written by Jesse Duarte, Napa Register, May 16, 2023 The Glass Fire obliterated Flying Lady Winery so thoroughly that “it looked like a missile hit it,” recalls owner Zach Nassar. Looking down on the valley from the top of Langtry Road on Spring Mountain, Zach Nasser recalled how his family’s dream of owning a Napa Valley…
On Friday, February 10, 2023, Manfred Esser, loving husband and father, passed away peacefully at the age of 85. He was born September 1, 1938, Germany, to his parents Peter and Else Esser. He grew up during WWII and overcame many adversities. In 1974, he met his beautiful bride, Barbara Matznetter, at a carnival party…
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a beloved member of our Spring Mountain District Family. Christopher S. Peacock Jr from Peacock Family Vineyards passed away on March 14, 2023, in St. Helena, CA, at the age of 90. Christopher Sheller Peacock Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother. Born on May 13,…
In a tragic accident on February 11, André J. Minor died at his home at Ritchie Creek Vineyard on Spring Mountain in St. Helena. He leaves his wife Tina and infant daughter Maisie, his mother Maggie Minor, his sister Beth Minor and partner Celia Jimeneze and nephew Landon Jimeneze. A memorial will be held at…
Yes, snow is blanketing Spring Mountain. The extensively wet heavy snow brought down an enormous amount of trees and limbs, which were weakened by the 2020 Glass Fire. The snow and downed trees have clogged Spring Mountain Road from beginning to end. Napa County is working on clearing the road. Here are reference websites to…
Pride Mountain Vineyards is pleased to announce that Matt Ward, formerly of Atelier Melka, has joined the team as Winemaker. Steve Pride: “Matt is an amazing young man. Through his hard work, inquisitiveness and experimentation, he has developed as much insight into all aspects of the winemaking process as any winemaker I have ever met…
We have some upsetting news about one of the core team members of Keenan Winery. Laura March, whom you have surely met if you’ve come for a tasting at the winery, was recently injured in a motorcycle accident when riding with her partner, Marc Ferneau, near Calistoga. Laura has been the heart of their tasting…
A new team at Stony Hill is making important changes while embracing its history and its singular style of wines. New York Times, Written by Eric Asimov, April 14, 2022 HELENA, Calif. — Through almost 70 tumultuous years of California wine history, one thing seemed never to change: Stony Hill Vineyard, a pioneer of California chardonnay since its…
Ron Rosenbrand didn’t need a fire to cement his legacy at Spring Mountain Vineyard in Napa. By that awful late September night in 2020, he had already logged almost 20 years as a premier grape grower at one of the region’s most historic properties. Two fires engulfed Spring Mountain, which “essentially vaporized” most of the…