We’ve visited quite a few family wineries in our travels so far, but the Fontanella family may very well invite you into theirs if you hang around long enough…you and your dogs! Yep, this is a dog friendly winery and the dog lover in me feels like that’s all you need to know.
I’m a professional though, so here we go. Jeff studied Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis and completed his first harvest at Opus One in 1998. He’s been immersed in Napa winemaking ever since. He met his wife Karen at a Jimmy Buffet concert (how cool is that?!) in 2000. Her law degree has been an integral part of their success because of her experience in business development, land use, and commercial real estate. Together they have the experience, passion, and drive to bring all of their visions to fruition.
They purchased the property in 2005, and a week later welcomed their first son John Henry. In 2007 Andrew was born, and a month later they broke ground on the construction of their new facility. Do you sense a pattern?
After years of studying and coming to understand the microclimates and soils of their property, Jeff and Karen started planting strictly Cabernet grapes and here we are.
Lots of things make this winery unique, but one definitely worth noting is that they don’t distribute their wines. You can purchase them at the winery or you can join their wine club. Be warned though-if you do visit Fontanella you’re going to be very tempted join their wine club! Something about this family, and their fabulous property, makes you want to bring home a bottle of their wine whenever possible!
Another source of revenue for Fontanella is their custom crush. They allow others to use their crushing facilities for their own grapes. I love this. I love the idea of local businesses helping other local businesses to succeed. It offers a sense of camaraderie that you don’t always see in the business world. Wine making is different though, and it’s refreshing.
So next time you’re in the Mt. Veeder area of Napa, call up Fontanella and make an appointment to go visit and experience these exceptional wines. You’ll be treated like family, and the dogs will give you a tour! Say hi to Burt Reynolds for me! – Lea Gourley
