Grace Family Vineyards in Napa

Grace Family Vineyards is in St. Helena, Napa.

It's a small winery, but this is one of the first Napa Cult winery.
They have very small production so their wine is not found at any store and there is no tasting room, but Mr. Grace, the founder of this winery, kindly invited us to his winery.

While visiting Napa, he and his wife were happened to be introduced to an old house for sale, fell in love with, decided to buy the house and moved to Napa, and everything started from there.

Starting winery wasn't their original idea: they planted vines in the garden as a fun family project when somebody told them that it was a good location for grapes. When grapes were harvested, sent to nearby winery (Caymus Winery) to sell, the winery suggested to make wine separately because their grapes were so good. Therefore their first wine was produced under Caymus Winery.

Mr. Grace told us about those winery's history as well as his very active philanthropic project with passion and sense of humor.

Although they are famous, winery still stays small.

This is all the wines. Smallest winery I've ever visited.
Grace only makes one wine. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
They also make wines for Blank Vineyard in Rutherford.
We had a chance to try those wines side by side.

Both were very good. Strong structure and soft and smooth texture, yet they were different.
Blank had more ripe fruit and rich feel, and Grace was more elegant, had floral and fresh feel.

It was interesting to find such difference because the grapes are same clone and wines are made in a same way at the same place. The only difference is that grapes of Blank are from flat valley floor of Rutherford and Grace are from the valley side of St. Helena.
Terroir had spoken!

Blank can be more approachable, but I personally liked Grace more.

The wines were great; however, I was more intrigued by Mr, Grace himself. By his passion and action.
Thank you very much for the hospitality.