Normally a headline like this would not grab my attention. However, I have two vintages of wine in my wine room that Kathy and I made with grapes sourced from Stagecoach Vineyard in the Atlas Peak and Pitchard Hill sub-AVAs of Napa Valley. My attention was on a Wines & Vines article about the sale of the vineyard to E & J Gallo Winery. In this article it was noted that Gallo intends to honor contracts to more than 90 wineries. Some of the famous wineries that use Stagecoach Vineyard fruit include Chateau Montelena and Darioush Winery. Lesser known on this list would be California Wineworks in New Jersey. We received our Stagecoach Vineyard fruit from them via Tin Lizzie Wineworks in Clarksville. Maryland, where we made the wine.

On our drive to the tasting pavilion we passed a stagecoach.

In 2014, since we were making a 2014 blend using Stagecoach Fruit, we visited the vineyard while touring vineyards in Napa Valley. At the time, the vineyard was owned by Dr Jan Krupp. The sustainably farmed Stagecoach Vineyard is the largest vineyard in Napa Valley. It is on a south facing mountain. There are 16 varietal wine grapes planted in 175 blocks. Of the varieties planted, over half of the vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. Together with the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot account for 85% of the varietal grapes planted.

Terry & Kathy at Stagecoach Vineyard weeks before the Cab was to be harvested.

We toured the vineyards. Near a summit, there was a pavilion built out of rocks. We enjoyed a wine tasting of some of the portfolio of Krupp wines. It was a lovely spot for an outdoor wine tasting with panoramic views.

Views from the wine tasting pavilion.

Cheers,
Terry