Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Ed and Deb Fitts have always believed in building the strongest business and personal relationships possible, selecting the right model and choosing the best people. They were drawn to this spectacular location above the cloud line because of the view of the distant valley and Lake Hennessey, but what they found up close was the proven soil of their neighbors and upon deeper inspection, we discovered that this land was ripe with promise. They were compelled to develop the potential of this property and guided by the expertise of our team we feel that we have begun the journey of a lifetime. Their vision is to build BRAND to a highly recognized name that represents the best red wine our vineyards on Pritchard Hill have to offer. Ed and Deb's personal goal is to help promote vineyards on Pritchard Hill as the most respected in the valley.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.