Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
John and Tracey Skupny have spent most of their adult lives involved with wine and wineries. Their love affair with wines has finally resulted in the creation of their own venture ("At last!" - as many of their friends would say.). Through connections built up over decades, John has been able to source prime vineyards for what are arguably the best examples, to date, of Napa Valley Cabernet Franc. With vineyard sources as diverse as Calistoga , Atlas Peak, Rutherford and St. Helena, the Skupnys have given us wines that delight the palate.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.
Cabernet Franc, a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the subtler and more delicate of the Cabernets. Today Cabernet Franc produces outstanding single varietal wines across the wine-producing world. Somm Secret—One of California's best-kept secrets is the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Barbara. Here Cabernet Franc shines as a single varietal wine or in blends, expressing sumptuous fruit, savory aromas and polished tannins.