Priest Ranch

We produce wines that pay respect to their varietal composition and the intricacies of place. They are deep, lush, complex and uplifting. All of our wines have an approachable quality in their youth, but possess the intensity, balance and structure to guarantee longevity.

At Priest Ranch we produce four wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc, all which represent the distinctiveness of the Somerston property. The name Priest Ranch is a tribute to the historical name associated with part of the property. It was originally settled by James Joshua Priest in 1869 and was known as the Priest Ranch for well over a hundred years.

Our Zinfandel is blended for intricacy of flavors and round tannins. The wine is handpicked and carefully sorted to capture the delicate flavors of Zinfandel.

Some vintners have described the 2007 vintage as a “vintage of the decade”. After a mild spring bud break, the Napa Valley experienced a perfect conditions through out the summer months. An ideal weather pattern came in August and an “Indian Summer” followed into October allowing for slow and even ripening resulting in acids and sugars in perfect harmony.

This Zinfandel displays notes of black cherry, bittersweet chocolate and roasted coffee. On the palate, the wine has a fruit forward entry with round supple tannins. The finish is complex and lingering. Our favorite pairing is a triple cream cheese drizzled with fresh pesto on a baguette

Our Petite Sirah is sourced from two individual blocks, one at 2400 feet elevation and the other at 950 feet elevation. Each block was handpicked and double sorted before undergoing extended maceration for increased flavor and color. The wine was aged for 20 months in 20% new French oak.

2007 is once again a super-hero vinatge, providing us with lush, beautiful Petite Sirah grapes. For us it was a year focused on richness and power, all you would expect from this unique varietal. The vintage offered us fruit quality that looks and tastes to be some of the best we have ever had. Perfect flavors, acids and sugars offered us a wine that seems perfectly in balance.

Our 2007 Petite Sirah is dark purple in color with aromas of black fruit, cassis framed by cedar and vanilla. The mouth feel is focused with fine tannins and a long finish of dark supple texture. We recommend pairing this wine with blackened lamb chops off the grill.

Our Sauvignon Blanc is sourced form two distinct blocks on the estate property each contributing unique expressions of the varietal. This wine was fermented slowly at cool temperatures in a combination of French oak (60% of the blend; only 5% new) and stainless steel tanks (40%). Our intent is to preserve and enhance the delicate varietal nuances.

2009 was an exceptional vintage. It started with mild spring temperatures, perfect midseason weather and a warm dry finish to the growing season. The result was a light crop load with ideal ripening throughout harvest. 2009 was an above average to excellent year in Napa Valley.

Our 2009 Priest Ranch Sauvignon Blanc exhibits vibrant aromas of lemon, lime, guava and passion fruit with a hint of honey. The refreshing acidity provides for a rich yet balanced mouth feel and a surprisingly long finish. Our favorite food pairing is oysters on the half-shell topped with charred shallots

Our Priest Ranch Cabernet is noted for its rich flavors and supple tannins. Harvest took place in the early morning to keep the fruit as cool as possible. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes for this wine were carefully sorted and de-stemmed. The berries and juice were cold soaked and fermented, and then aged for 24 months in French Oak.

Some vintners have described the 2007 vintage as a “vintage of the decade”. After a mild spring bud break, the Napa Valley experienced a perfect conditions through out the summer months. An ideal weather pattern came in August and an “Indian Summer” followed into October allowing for slow and even ripening resulting in acids and sugars in perfect harmony.

Our 2007 Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon shows enticing aromas of black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and cedar. The mouth feel is dense and focused with a long finish. Our favorite food pairing is Lamb burgers with avocado and fresh ground mustard on a brioche bun.

Somerston, the exclusive source of fruit for Priest Ranch, is located high in the eastern hills of Napa Valley. This remote, untamed viticultural frontier is eight miles due east of Rutherford midway between Lake Hennessy and Lake Berryessa.

The 280+ acres of vines at Somerston are planted between 850 and 2,400 feet above sea level. The elevation helps to moderate temperatures producing a climate that is warmer than Mt. Veeder and Howell Mountain, but cooler than Oakville and St. Helena. The elevation helps moderate temperatures producing a climate that is similar to Howell Mountain but cooler than Oakville and St Helena. The relatively large diurnal temperature swing helps balance ripeness and sugar accumulation creating wines that are both concentrated and elegant.

The diverse terrain features a wide range of valley, hillside and mountain top sites. Each block is based on the interplay between soil, pitch, sun exposure and air flow. Of the 89 blocks on the vineyard, Priest Ranch harvests fruit primarily from ten specific blocks planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc.
For more than 30 years, the fruit from Somerston has been purchased by some of the valley’s most renowned winemakers including David Ramey and Heidi Barrett, plus a handful of respected wineries including Duckhorn, Caymus, Pahlmeyer, Orin Swift and Viader.

We invite you to appreciate our distinctive wines by visiting our Yountville Tasting Lounge, located at 6488 Washington Street in Yountville, Napa Valley. It is open daily from 10AM to 10PM.  A sample of our current release wines are available for tasting and for purchase.  Each day our chef prepares three delectables paired perfectly with three selections of our wines. $15 for the flight of three wines. An additional $10 with the food pairing. No appointment necessary.

Each day our chef prepares delicious pairings that add to the experience when enjoying with our current releases. No appointment necessary.

Contact us at 707-967-8414 or email us at

info@somerstonwineco.com

The philosophy for Priest Ranch is that each of our wines has its own remarkable way of expressing the hillsides and mountain tops it is sourced from. We believe that great wines are a reflection of their place—the combination of soil, topography, microclimate and people—and we believe that quality grapes handled with minimal processing have the potential to produce the greatest wines.

Craig Becker our winemaker believes in native fermentations and unfiltered wines. He also feels that blending is the key to crafting the most complete balanced wine and enhancing the inherent characteristics of each variety.  The ultimate goal is the creation of an intense yet seamless wine.

Winemaker / General Manager
Craig Becker

Sales and Marketing Director
David Zurowski

Hospitality and Events Director
Kaia Van Praag

To download a full packet of marketing material, please click below. In the .zip archive you will find: • Label Artwork • Priest Ranch Logo Art • Fact Sheets For all of the Priest Ranch wines. Click here to download the compressed file