I can count on two fingers the families that I know who have farmed more than 100 years in Napa Valley. One....the Pelissa family and descendants. That is Napa Wine Co. and its four brands–the top tier brand Ghost Block, the value brand Elizabeth Rose, the high quality Oakville Winery and their new luxury label BW9. 2022 marks their 120th harvest. Everything they grow on their 550+ acres is certified organic.
The only other family I know of that length of tenure is the Bartolucci Family at Madonna Estate in the Carneros. They're celebrating 100 years in the wine business in Napa. They're also organic.
Other organic growers in the Carneros come and go (Domaine Carneros came and went). Their winery, wines and tasting room are unpretentious but grounded in their deep Napa roots. Bus tours visit, as they're conveniently located on the main east-west route in the Carneros. They also have a few picnic tables out back in the shade. And sell cheese and treats in the tasting room. Many travelers stop in.
They have roughly 150 acres of dry farmed wines–Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are more than 50 percent of their acres plus Alsatian grapes. They also make Dolcetto and Muscat Canelli, Italian varieties, that have been successful, too. Cab and Merlot are among the traditional Napa reds. Look for future vintages of Vermentino.
Once upon a time they were up valley in Oakvlle. The family elders remember playing ball on Highway 29 back in the day, when there was so little traffic on the road.
Hear the family–Susan, Buck, Taylor and Brette–talk about drought, fire, how the pandemic affected their lives, and good times.
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