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Over the past twenty years I have traveled to Napa Valley in excess of one hundred times. My goal of each visit is to find and make some new friends. Many of you who read this story will learn about wineries you've never heard of before. We at Imbibe Wine and Spirits work hard to inform you about the latest new releases and producers that come to market. We're asking where the grapes coming from and who is making the wine. Without great grapes you can not make great wine and you need a talented wine maker as well to make great wine. The following is a list of who I feel is doing a great job at the art of wine making. When you’re out dining or shopping for wine I would encourage you to try some of the new guard represented on this list.

Neal Family Vineyards. Owner Make Neal has been farming Napa Valley for sometime now and what he puts in his bottles is OUTSTANDING. Look for his Napa Cabernet along with his Vineyard Designates and if you are lucky enough to find his Petit Syrah or Sauvignon Blanc, grab it.

Paradigm Winery. Owners Ren and Marilyn are as good as it gets. Their vineyards are the same. Located in the Oakville appellation, Paradigm Cabernet and Merlot is on the top tier of quality. With great grapes and help from Heidi Peterson-Barrett, how can you go wrong. LOOK for these wines.

Larkmead Vineyards. Owners Cam and Kate Baker have some of the finest dirt in Napa Valley and with great people like Colin MacPhail and Andy Smith it is sure to be at the top of everyone’s list.

Rudd Oakville Estate. No one is more committed to making the finest wine possible than Leslie Rudd, period.

Madrigal Vineyards. Owners Chris and Jess Madrigal (The real deal). Chris is the Mayor of Napa Valley in my opinion. Look for their Petite Syrah - the best in the valley, along with their Zin and Cab.

Revana Family Vineyards. Very limited and very good. Always one of the wines of the vintage. Another fine effort of Heidi Peterson-Barrett.

Stanton Vineyards. A great farmer of grapes and we all know it takes great grapes to make great wine. Look for his Cabernet and Petit Syrah.

Tamber Bey Vineyards. Owner Barry Waitte and the Tamber Bey wines are one of my recent finds. An outstanding Cabernet from Oakville. They also produce a great effort from Yountville.



Wolf Family Vineyards. I have been a fan of these wines and of winemaker Karen Culler for sometime now. Karen does an outstanding job with this estate. A beautiful property that produces some of the Valley’s finest wine.

Versant Vineyards. Owner Richard Martin has some of the finest grapes in the valley. Each time I put a Versant Cabernet in a blind tasting it is the winner. Very limited! One taste and you will know why it is a winner.

Karl Lawrence Cellars. Owner Michael Karl Trujillo is a prince. I have know Michael for some time now and his label is one of the most consistent and mouth watering Cabernets in the world.

Ladera Vineyards. Owners Patrick and Anne Stotesbery have come to the market with a great product and a great team. Another fine wine made by Karen Culler. Look for this outstanding Cabernet that comes from Howell Mountain. You will be glad you did.

Dumol. Partner Kerry Murphy has put a team together that is second to none. Dumol produces the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in California. Now that is saying something.

Cloudview Vineyards. Always a favorite of mine. I have known Linda and Leighton for sometime know and each year they make a outstanding blend of Cabernet and Merlot from Prichard Hill. The wine is limited but well worth the effort to track down. Some of the finest people in the world.

Krupp Brothers Estates. Brothers Jan and Bart Krupp farm what has turned out to be the biggest undertaking in all of Napa Valley. Most men would never take on such a challenge. The Brothers Krupp have been justly rewarded with a waiting list a mile long for their grapes and the keep the best for themselves.

Dierberg Estate Vineyard. Owners Jim and Mary Dierberg have come to California in a big way. With over 230 acres planted and 26,000 square feet of caves, winemaker Nick De Luca has all the tools to make great wine and if he has any questions he can ask his consulting winemaker David Ramey, who is one of the finest in the world. I love this wine and you will too. Also look for the Three Saints Label.

Audelssa Estate Winery. Audelssa in my opinion is the finest Cabernet and Syrah coming out of Sonoma. Winemaker Erich Bradley is making some of the finest wine in California. He has worked under Richard Arrowood and David Ramey, two American icons in winemaking. One of my greatest finds.

Cristom. If Pinot Noir is your favorite wine - as it should be - then Cristom is your wine. Winemaker Steve Doermer is Mr. Pinot Noir in America. I have tasted great wine from around the world and the wines of Cristom are as fine as any in the world. Taste for yourself, you will be glad you did.


Anselmo Vigne. My latest find in Napa Valley. Anselmo Vigne is located in the Stag’s Leap AVA and is making some outstanding wines. With the addition of Karen Culler to the team owners Steve and Cecilia have got into the big leagues in a big way. The wine is very limited but worth the effort to search out.


Altamura. Frank and Karen have been in the Napa Valley most all of their lives. Frank made a name for himself as wine maker at Caymus Vineyards for close to ten years. After leaving Caymus, Frank started Altamura Vineyards and has been making the finest Sangiovese in America, along with am outstanding Cabernet that is starting to get some press. I have been talking about Altamura for over ten years and it’s about time you start asking about them.