Grace Family Vineyards

Last updated
Grace Family Vineyards
Location Saint Helena, California, United States
Wine region Napa Valley
Appellation St Helena AVA
Other labelsCornelius Grove Vineyard, Reliquus
First vines planted1976
First  vintage 1978
Key people
Cases/yr1000
Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Other productsOlive oil
Website http://www.gracefamilyvineyards.com

The Grace Family Vineyards is a vineyard and winery in Napa, California. It is widely regarded as one of the original cult wineries [2] in the Napa Valley, and was the first American winery to use the word "family" in its name. [3] [4]

Contents

Today the winery manages two estate vineyards with distinct geologies in the St Helena AVA, separated by the West Napa Fault line. Grace estate was formed by a discrete volcanic event 5 million years ago, whereas Heath Canyon Ranch (home to the Cornelius Grove and Heath Canyon vineyards) was formed by a combination of volcanic and fluvial activity some 100 million years ago. [5]

Production has remained very limited. [6]

In 2014, Helen Keplinger took over as winemaker. [7] In 2019, Kathryn Green became the custodian of Grace Family Vineyards. [8]

Some forty years after the first release, the Grace Family Estate and the Cornelius Grove Vineyard wines were both awarded 100 points by Antonio Galloni [9] and James Suckling [10] respectively, with the former also choosing Helen Keplinger as his winemaker of the year. [11]

A third wine, Reliquus, has been produced since 2016, a blend of grapes from the winery's two estate vineyards, farmed to the same standard as the vineyard designate wines, it is aimed as an expression of the vintage as opposed to the distinct terrior, with the intent of being drunk earlier as such it is often found on wine lists of prominent restaurants. [12]

History

The winery began when Ann and Dick Grace planted one acre (0.40 hectares) of vines in 1976. The first vintage was produced in 1978, at Chuck Wagner's winery, Caymus. [13] A second acre was added in 1985, but phylloxera took its toll, as the winery's vines were planted on non-resistant rootstock. [14] Additional problems with oak root fungus in the original acre caused the need to replant the entirety in 1995. [15] The winery's yield dropped from 350 cases in the[ clarification needed ] to a low of 48 cases in 1996, when the wine was allocated as one 1-liter bottle per customer on the winery's mailing list. Another acre of planting and re-planted vines in the old acreage brought production up to 150 cases in 1998. [14]

Charity

The winery's mission statement is "Wine as a catalyst towards healing our planet." The programs of the Grace Family Vineyards Foundation are primarily in India, Nepal, Mexico, Tibet, and America. [4]

Grace Family wines has been involved with the Naples Winter Wine Festival since its first year in 2001. In 2006, a 12-liter Balthazar of 2003 Grace Family Cabernet drew $90,000 ($136,025 in 2023 dollars [16] ) in bids at the festival's charity auction. [17] For the 2012 charity auction, a Balthazar of both Grace Family and their second label, Blank, drew a $160,000 ($212,344 in 2023 dollars [16] ) bid. [18]

Vineyard and winemaking

The Grace Family properties are organic and biodynamically farmed. [4]

Gary Galleron was head winemaker between 1988 and 1995, when Heidi Peterson Barrett took over winemaking duties. [15] Barrett, in turn, turned over duties to Gary Brookman. [13] Helen Keplinger became winemaker in 2014 and continues to manage winegrowing at the estate alongside vineyard manager, David Abreu. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ "Grace Family Vineyards Sold".
  2. ↑ "Icons & Innovations: California Cult Wines: Anatomy of a Cult Wine".
  3. ↑ "Grace Family Vineyards Sold".
  4. 1 2 3 "Grace Family Vineyards". Dean & Deluca. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  5. ↑ Molesworth, James (August 10, 2022). "Tradition Informs the Future at Napa's Grace Family". Wine Spectator. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Grace Family Vineyards redux | JancisRobinson.com". www.jancisrobinson.com. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  7. ↑ "Grace Family Vineyards redux | JancisRobinson.com". www.jancisrobinson.com. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  8. ↑ "Grace Family Vineyards redux | JancisRobinson.com". www.jancisrobinson.com. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  9. ↑ "Vinous | Explore All Things Wine". vinous.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  10. ↑ Suckling, James (March 6, 2024). "GRACE FAMILY VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA VALLEY ST. HELENA CORNELIUS GROVE 2021". James Suckling. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Vinous | Explore All Things Wine". vinous.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  12. ↑ "Vinous | Explore All Things Wine". vinous.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  13. 1 2 "History". Grace Family Vineyards. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  14. 1 2 Morgan, Jeff (12 Apr 1999). "Grace Family Vineyards Confronts Wine Shortage with New Bottle". Wine Spectator . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  15. 1 2 Clark, Carolyn Stewart. "Grace Family Vineyards". AtlasOfWineries.com. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  16. 1 2 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Winery News". Grace Family Vineyards. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  18. ↑ Albers, Katherine; Laura Layden (28 January 2012). "Naples Winter Wine Festival ends; $107 million overall, $12.2 million today". Naples Daily News . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Grace Family Vineyards Sold".
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