- Cuong Pham, former Apple engineer and founder of Red Boat fish sauce, transitioned into winemaking with his family’s Napa Valley venture, Đồi Đá (Doy Dah).
- Đồi Đá means “Rocky Hill” and reflects the volcanic soils that shape its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Winemaker Nova Cadamatre, MW, the first female Master of Wine in the U.S., brings extensive Napa and Sonoma experience to the project.
- The 2022 vintage was the inaugural release, overcoming a September heatwave and rain event to produce a balanced and expressive wine.
- The 2022 Đồi Đá Cabernet Sauvignon features bright blackberry and blueberry notes, floral hints, supple tannins, and fresh acidity.
- Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from premier vineyards in Oakville and Rutherford, aged 18 months in 100% new French oak.
- Only 160 cases were produced, making it a limited and highly sought-after wine.
- Flint Knoll was founded in 2016 by Midwestern transplants who pursued their dream of making terroir-driven Napa Valley wines.
- The founders met at a Napa wine tasting, bonded over their love for wine, and quickly set out to create their own mark in Napa.
- Flint Knoll follows a hands-on, traditional approach to winemaking, reminiscent of Napa’s early vintners in the late 1860s.
- Philippe Melka, a Bordeaux native and world-renowned winemaker, brings experience from Château Haut-Brion, Petrus, and top Napa wineries.
- Melka has worked alongside industry legends like Christian Moueix, Michel Rolland, and Paul Draper, shaping his expertise in Napa Valley wines.
- Maayan Koschitzky, Director of Winemaking, has experience from Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, and Israel’s top vineyards.
- Koschitzky, with a background in engineering and viticulture, plays a key role in both winemaking and operations at Flint Knoll.
- Flint Knoll wines are crafted with meticulous detail, reflecting the passion and dedication of its founders and winemaking team.
- Gubel Wines was founded by Gustavo and Joanne Gubel, inspired by Gustavo’s childhood experiences with Argentine wines and agriculture.
- Their love for wine and olive oil grew from family traditions and a honeymoon in Italy, leading to their dream of owning vineyards.
- In 2020, they acquired a property in the Calistoga AVA, implementing organic and sustainable, off-the-grid practices.
- Robbie Meyer, a renowned Napa Valley winemaker, crafted their inaugural 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon using minimal intervention techniques.
- The estate-grown Gubel Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, velvety wine with blackberry, plum, tobacco, and graphite notes.
- Gustavo, originally from Argentina, moved to California to study architecture, later becoming a distinguished designer of hillside homes and hospitality spaces.
- Their passion for olive oil production began when they pressed olives from a tree on their property, leading to a thriving olive oil business alongside their vineyards.
- Gubel Wines embodies a journey from wine enthusiasts to vintners, blending heritage, sustainability, and craftsmanship in every bottle.
- Legacy of Farming: The Hardin family has cultivated Napa Valley land since 1852, spanning six generations of farmers and ranchers.
- Elite Winemaking Team:
- Matt Hardin – A renowned vineyard manager behind Napa’s most iconic vineyards.
- Thomas Rivers Brown – A winemaker with a track record of high-scoring and cult-status wines (Maybach, Outpost, Caterwaul, and more).
- Distinctive Vineyard Sites:
- Hardin Ranch (Pope Valley, Howell Mountain foothills) – A cool-climate site with fog influence, ideal for Sauvignon Blanc.
- Wallace Ranch (Section 15) – A prized 18-acre plot planted to Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, featuring alluvial and colluvial soils for complexity.
- Regusci Block 1 (Stags Leap District) – A historic vineyard on rocky outcroppings, fostering slow-ripening, intensely flavored Cabernet.
- Precise Farming & Vineyard Matching: Each site is meticulously planted with clones and rootstocks tailored to maximize quality, just like Napa’s most prestigious vineyards.
Founders: Steve Nordhoff and Dean Gray, inspired by their deep connection to Napa Valley, founded Riverain Vineyards after years of wine tasting trips and developing relationships with others in the area.
Riverain Name: Derived from the French term “near the river,” reflecting both their proximity to the Napa River and their local connection to the region.
Winemaker: Thomas Rivers Brown, a highly acclaimed winemaker with multiple 100-point ratings and “Winemaker of the Year” honors, is the creative force behind Riverain’s exceptional wines.
Wines Reflect Terroir: Riverain wines are crafted to showcase the unique Napa Valley terroir, emphasizing quality and consistency with every vintage.
2022 Sauvignon Blanc: Sourced from Gamble Family Vineyards in Yountville, this wine is vibrant, with notes of green apple, melon, and apricot, aged in both neutral French oak and stainless steel.
2022 Pinot Noir “Generations”: A Burgundian-style Pinot Noir with aromas of cherry, cranberry, and forest floor, fermented with 30% whole cluster to achieve aromatic depth and balance.
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard “The Reserve”: A limited 160-case release, this powerful wine features smoky black fruits, graphite, and crushed stone, with massive tannins and a long aging potential (98+ points from Jeb Dunnuck).
Commitment to Excellence: With Steve‘s legal expertise and Dean‘s passion for hospitality, Riverain wines combine exceptional craftsmanship with personal connections to Napa Valley, overseen by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown.
- Founders: Matt Sands, originally from New Zealand, and his partner from Michigan, met as ski instructors in Tahoe.
- Journey: After their ski season, they moved to Waiheke Island, New Zealand, where they worked in a vineyard café and discovered their love for wine. After seven years, they moved to Napa Valley to continue their journey and start a family.
- Winemaker: Matt Sands brings 15+ years of winemaking experience, including work at Passage Rock Winery, Man O’ War, Stonyridge Vineyard, Screaming Eagle, and Bryant Estate. He focuses on the pure expression of terroir in every wine he crafts.
- Vineyard: Te Mama sources its grapes from the Alley Family Vineyard, located 5 miles from San Pablo Bay, on the cool Sonoma side of the Los Carneros AVA. The vineyard features 7 Syrah clones interplanted, providing unique complexity.
- Family & Philosophy: Te Mama represents Matt and his partner’s journey, from their love of people and places to the passion they put into every bottle. Their shared experiences in wine, travel, and family are at the heart of their wines.
- Wine Focus: Te Mama’s wines embody the romance and deep connection they have with the land, crafted with care to reflect the character of the unique terroirs where they’re grown.
- Founders: Brian and Nova Cadamatre met in 2000 and together realized their shared dream of owning a vineyard. Nova has an impressive background in winemaking, and Brian is the visionary behind their dream, bringing entrepreneurial spirit to their venture.
- Family-Owned & Operated: The Cadamatre family keeps the business in the family as much as possible. Nova’s mother, artist Linda Williams McCune, created the artwork for their wine labels, and Brian’s sister, illustrator Katie Cadamatre, helped with the logo design.
- Winemaker: Nova Cadamatre, the first female winemaker in the U.S. to achieve the title of Master of Wine in 2017, has a diverse background in winemaking. She has worked across the East Coast, California, and Finger Lakes. Nova has numerous 90+ point wines to her credit.
- Brian’s Background: Brian has a degree in Forestry and Natural Resources Management and a passion for nature. He moved to California and worked in the wine industry before returning to the Finger Lakes to start their own vineyard.
- Commitment to Craftsmanship: Trestle Thirty-One is dedicated to producing small-lot, luxury wines that express the unique terroir of the Finger Lakes. They are constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation and quality in winemaking.
- Trestle Thirty-One: A small-production, luxury Finger Lakes wine brand that pushes boundaries in winemaking. The winery is expanding with a tasting room in downtown Geneva, NY.
- Wine Philosophy: Trestle Thirty-One wines reflect a deep connection to the land, with a focus on quality, innovation, and family values.
