Sequoia Grove

Open: Year Round

Sequoia Grove takes its name from the giant Sequoia trees that dominate the 25-acre estate on the Rutherford Bench. The winery is housed in an attractive 140-year-old barn that also houses their tasting room. A dozen massive puncheons (upright wooden casks) dominate the room and are used for storing wine.

The emphasis here is on Bordeaux-style wines that emphasize finesse and balance. As a boutique winery, Sequoia Grove produces a limited quantity of ultra-premium red wines, specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon. The blend for their flagship estate wine is 85 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 percent Cabernet Franc, 4 percent Merlot, 2 percent Petite Verdot and 1 percent Malbec.

To make their Cabernet Sauvignon, all grapes are selectively harvested and hand-sorted prior to crushing, then fermented in small-batch fermentors. After a gentle pressing, wines are transferred to 100-percent French oak, 55 percent of which is new. In the barrel the wines undergo secondary malolactic fermentation. Throughout the 22 months of barrel aging in French oak, the wine is carefully blended. The wine is then aged 16 months in the bottle prior to release. The winery boasts having the first underground cellar in Napa Valley that hosts special VIP barrel-tasting events. Call for an appointment. Picnic facilities are also available.