Images Courtesy of Suzanne Becker Bronk
The Yountville AVA is a Napa Valley Appellation named after the American pioneer, trapper and frontiersman George C. Yount. He was the first person to plant grapevines in the area in 1836.
Yountville’s wines are among some of Napa Valley’s most elegant, refined and intricate creations, from Cabernet through to white grapes. The elegance comes from Yountville’s more southerly position which means it is constantly experiencing fog and wind. The wines are supple as they come from a low elevation region without mountain influence. But the same benchland that runs through Rutherford and Oakville extends here, creating a very favorable growing area for Cabernet. So the wines are similar to Rutherford and Oakville bench Cabernets in that they are complex with finely knit tannins, yet tend to be lower in alcohol due to the cooler climate.
Yountville is of course also justifiably famous as being a jumping off point for Napa Valley’s tourists. Some of the regions finest hotels and restaurants are located in this quaint village.
The area making up the Yountville AVA and the town of Yountville is named after the American pioneer, trapper and frontiersman George C. Yount. He was the first American settler in the area which was originally part of the Rancho Caymus land grant, two leagues of land given to Yount in 1836 by Governor Nicolas Gutierrez, with influence from Yount's friend General Mariano Vallejo. As the first major landowner in the area, George Yount had a large influence on how the region would develop, even after his death. The town now called Yountville was originally named Sebastopol when founded by Yount in 1855, but after his death in 1867 the town was renamed to Yountville. George Yount is credited with planting the very first grapevines on his property in the 1840s and making wine using traditional processes, trampling grapevines with bare feet and storing grape must in suspended ox skins. When the fermentation process was finished, the wine was drained through a hole punched in the skin.
George Yount's original rancho would eventually grow to become some of the most valuable vineyard real estate in America. In 1864, George Yount gave a 1040 acre portion of the Caymus Rancho to his granddaughter Elizabeth and her new husband Thomas Rutherford as a wedding gift and that area, now called Rutherford, still bears their name to this day.
Wine production in the area diminished during the onset of Phylloxera and later Prohibition, but today is home to over 3000 acres of planted vineyards, over 100 winegrowers and over 20 winemakers.
Yountville was officially recognized as an American Viticultural Area in 1999. Today the Yountville AVA and town of Yountville are widely renowned for their world class vineyards, wineries and restaurants.
"Yountville in the heart of Napa is gifted with a gentle micro-climate, providing grapes plenty of time to develop rich, complex flavor compounds whilst retaining natural acidity. The alluvial and loam gravelly soils allow roots to sink deeply resulting in wines that are a true reflection of their terroir."
- Ivo Jaramaz, Grgich Hills Estate
Crafted from a single parcel of Malbec on our Yountville Ranch estate property. Beautiful, bright boysenberry fruit is layered with darker licorice and tar notes. This first vintage of our Malbec is so textural, full of juicy fruit, lavish oak and sex appeal. The youthful tannins build through to the end. Pasta carbonara or an unctuous mac & cheese is a heavenly match.
Cabernet Sauvignon from the historic Ghostblock Vineyard in just north of the town of Yountville next to the cemetery.
Savor the profound elegance of the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Father Mathew Family Collection, sourced from the hallowed vineyard at St. Joan of Arc Church in Yountville. This limited-production wine reflects the care and dedication of Father Mathew, who personally nurtured the vineyard, resulting in a wine of exceptional depth and character.
Our 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from the Riverbound Vineyard in Yountville opens with alluring notes of citrus zest, jasmine and pineapple on the nose, leading way to a bright, crisp, full-bodied palate, with notes of white peach, ginger and mineral, with a long, juicy finish. Only 335 cases were produced of this exquisite, handcrafted Sauvignon Blanc.
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