Looking for something off the beaten path? Let me suggest Pride Mountain Vineyards,
located at the tippy top of Spring Mountain and straddling the county line between Napa and Sonoma. It takes a bit to get there, but once you’ve arrived, the views, wines and hospitality will make the trek worthwhile.
Top of the mountain
We arrive at the winery and park at the foot of a stone arch that designates the Napa/Sonoma county line (which bisects a Sangiovese vineyard). Sweeping views of rolling vineyards across the mountaintop feel a world away from civilization; a sense of tranquility sets in.
Our Summit Tasting Experience begins in the tasting room, where we sample a 2022 Chardonnay and a 2021 Sangiovese, a wonderful start. (Wines poured will depend on season and availability.) We step outside to enjoy the warm day and learn about the Pride family, which started the winery in early 1990.
Jim and Carolyn Pride, high school sweethearts, bought the 140-acre property as a weekend retreat. At the time, 45 acres were planted to vineyard, with fruit contracted to the Mondavi family and Rombauer. (Today, the estate encompasses 235 acres, with 86 of vineyards.) The first Pride family wine was produced in 1991, the same year they stopped selling fruit; a few high scores from Robert Parker and they were off and running.
We stroll to the nearby mouth of the cave; inside, tasting stations are set up at intervals. As we wander, we sample 2021 Cabernet Franc and 2021 Merlot. Each is a blend (the cab franc includes 19% cabernet sauvignon, the merlot has 12% cab). “We love our blends,” says Quique Jovel, our host. “We think blends are the truest representation of the estate.”
Eventually, we arrive at a private salon, once a study for Jim Pride, now a reserve tasting room attached to the cave system. Stone walls, dark wood and plush furniture welcome us in, and we settle in for the next phase of the experience.
The Reserve Room
The next wines are decanted and waiting for us, as is a small tray of charcuterie to share (necessary, at this point, to balance all our sips).
Here we taste a 2020 Vintner Select Merlot, 2020 Reserve Claret (a merlot-based Bordeaux blend), a 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2020 Reserve Cabernet. Again with the young vintages—but, points out Jovel, “These wines are ready out of the bottle but also ageable. You can absolutely lay these down for 30 years or more.”
Particularly surprising are the 2020s. Given the devastating wildfires of that year, it’s amazing to find such beautiful wines from that vintage. “People can be gun shy about the 2020 vintage,” agrees Jovel. “But these wines taste fantastic. We only kept 60% of production that year. It makes them more special.”
Throughout, our conversation meanders from wine and all its intricacies to far-flung topics including the devastating wildfires of recent years, Texas Riesling and, oddly, the late, great comedian Norm MacDonald. That is to say, it’s a comfortable exchange, accentuated by laughter and shared interests (including, duh, Pride wines).
By the time we leave, we’ve made a connection—both to our gracious host and to this place. This majestic, faraway place that’s just a short drive away.
Did you know?
When traveling to Pride, ride shares are strongly discouraged. While there are drivers who will bring you to the winery, most will not drive up the mountain for a return trip. GPS can also be unreliable for this destination. Pride includes a map with driving instructions in every appointment confirmation email to help negate any confusing directions. Plan ahead and plot your course carefully. On request, Pride will provide a list of reliable transportation companies.
Pride Mountain Vineyards
4026 Spring Mountain Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
pridewines.com
Tastings Experiences
By appointment, Wednesday through Monday
Six-guest limit
Estate Experience offers a unique and educational opportunity to learn about mountain viticulture and winemaking during a progressive tasting of current-release wines. 90 minutes. $30 per person.
Reserve Experience offers the opportunity to add a seated tasting experience of limited production wines including the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and library wines to a tasting of current release wines. 90 minutes. $60 per person.
Summit Experience offers guests the opportunity to enjoy a seated tasting in an environment completely removed from the main visitor area. Included in this experience are both current and limited release offerings, such as library, Vintner Select or Reserve wines. 90 minutes. $90 per person.
