USA

The history of the US wine industry is a thorny one; try as they might, the early East Coast settlers had little success making wine and had to wait until the mid-19th century for their first commercially-successful example: Nicholas Longworth's famous sparkling Catawba from Cincinnati, Ohio. The West Coast had a climate far more conducive to vine-growing and from its first vineyard (most likely Mission) planted in 1769 at San Diego, the wine industry swiftly flourished, boosted by the influx hastened by the Gold Rush.

However, the twin blights of mildew and phylloxera at end of the 19th century, followed by Prohibition from 1920 to 1933, set the wine industry back 100 years. Ever since, wine has endured a somewhat uneasy existence, flourishing despite an obstructive distribution system and often tacit government disapproval.

California is far and away the country's most important winemaking region, accounting for 90 percent of production.

California produces some of the world's greatest Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from famous regions like Napa and Sonoma. Recognition of this success dates back to the 1976 Judgment of Paris where The Golden State’s finest trounced the cream of French wine in a blind tasting.

  • Schug Carneros Estate

    Walter Schug, a Pinot Noir-favouring German winemaker, founded Schug in and very late 1981 after working for Joseph Phelps in Napa Valley, where is was involved in creating Insignia, Napa’s first ‘cult’ wine.

    The Schug winery is situated on a 50-acre site in the Carneros Appellation, south-west of the town of Sonoma. Vineyards of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay surround the winery, while other grapes are bought in from highly respected and experienced growers.

    The Carneros District lies at the south end of both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. An area of low hills and flatlands, the region is profoundly affected by cool marine air from the bay and Pacific Ocean. During the summer, a ceiling of fog hovers over the Carneros vineyards in the morning, burning off as the day goes on. Specifically on the Schug Estate, the fog is replaced at midday by summertime winds that come rushing through what is known as the Petaluma Gap, a break between two mountains which creates a kind of wind-tunnel across the vineyards. The wind stress causes the skin of the grapes to thicken, particularly the higher Pinot Noir plantings, a characteristic that adds pepper and spice nuances to the wine.

    These are highly sought-after, high-quality Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs that give a great introduction to the Carneros cool-climate style.

  • Spottswoode

    Spottswoode is a historic, family-owned Napa vineyard and winery renowned for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Established in 1882 by George Schonewald, the estate is distinguished by the pre-Prohibition Victorian building depicted on the wine label. Spottswoode was named by Mrs. Albert Spotts in 1910, and it was acquired by Mary and Jack Novak in 1972. Mary released Spottswoode’s first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, exactly one hundred years after the estate was founded.

    Situated on the western edge of St. Helena at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains, the Spottswoode terroir is ideal for growing fine wine grape varieties. The forty acres are given primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, with small blocks of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc. The estate has been farmed organically since 1985, and the vineyard was certified organic in 1992.

    Today, Mary’s daughters are at the helm: Beth Novak Milliken manages the winery.

    *ICON WINE/WINERY

    *HIGHLY SUSTAINABLE

    *CERTIFIED ORGANIC/BIO-DYNAMIC

    *HIGHLY ALLOCATED

    ***

    Chappellet Vineyards

    Chappellet is recognized as one of the great Napa Valley wineries, and one of the few which remains family owned. Today, the second generation is committed to continuing the vision of their parents, Donn and Molly Chappellet. Together, the siblings are dedicated to maintaining sustainable farming techniques, a relentless focus on wine quality, respect for Pritchard Hill’s natural beauty and the preservation of family ownership for generations to come.

    In 1967, Donn Chappellet dreamed of making a wine to rival the great First Growths of Bordeaux. Pritchard Hill was the answer to that dream. Considered a pioneer in the Napa Valley, Chappellet established the second new winery there after the repeal of Prohibition and became the 18th registered member of the Napa Valley Vintners.

    Of Robert Parker’s 2 greateest ever wines of Napa Valley, 1969 Pritchard Hill from Chappellet is one.

    *ICON WINE/WINERY

    *HIGHLY SUSTAINABLE

    *HIGHLY ALLOCATED

  • Turley Wine Cellars

    Among California’s prestige producers of Zinfandel, Turley Wine Cellars is undoubtedly the one accorded the most “cult” status: coveted with almost religious fervor by zin lovers to the point where they often pay ridiculous prices for some of their top cuvees. Its status as an ultra-premium producer of Zinfandel is no longer a secret, therefore these wines are becoming very hard to source.

    Turley has been producing big, lush Zinfandels from old vines throughout California since 1993. Larry Turley heads up this family owned winery while legendary Tegan Passalacqua oversees the winemaking.

    Organic farming comes naturally for Turley wine cellars. As Larry was raised on an organic tobacco farm in the southeast, both organics and farming are in his blood. The house style favours a style of Zinfandel built on an expression of aromatic intensity & richness but not excess heaviness.

    "Turley remains the reference point for world-class, quintessential old vine Zinfandels. As always, a mind-boggling array of Zinfandels and Petite Syrahs are produced by the world’s premier Zinfandel specialist, Larry Turley. He deserves remarkable credit for his “holy grail” quest to locate largely forgotten parcels of old Zinfandel vines, and preserve as many of these historic sites as possible.” - Robert Parker

    ORGANIC FARMING

    ICON WINERY

    Arriving Summer 2025