At the beginning of the 1970s, Napa Valley was home to less than 50 winemakers. Today the valley boasts more than 450. If I could still use a calculator, I’d give you an actual growth percentage, but let’s just settle on the fact that it’s a lot. Now, one might imagine that with all of the growth in both influence and technology over the last 40 years, those 50 some-odd producers kicking up Rutherford dust might have lost their relevance in the boom. Not so. In fact, many of the winemakers who came to Napa in the ‘70s still remain some of the most enlightened.
As the region began to flood with winemakers from various backgrounds all heading to Napa as if it was the Sacramento River circa 1848, the style of Napa wines slowly began to shift: low alcohol wines that favored elegance over power made way for fleshier, more extracted wines with high levels of alcohol (this shift became most noticeable around the mid 90s). Now, I’ll refrain from sharing my opinion on why we ended up with big, extracted wines—some of which border on flammable—as the dominant style preference because my perspective is predictable. The point is: Napa’s once-dominant “restrained” style has now become novel amidst the new. In fact, many of the winemakers that shaped CA’s wine culture in the 70s have remained true to their original house style, and even after more than 30 years and 400 new wineries, these same trailblazers are becoming more and more important within the evolving framework of Napa Valley winemaking.
Over the next week we’ll highlight a few of our favorite winemakers, their history, and of course, their wines. Stay tuned and do let us know who your favorite old-school CA producers are in the comments section.
Will Napa’s Old School Lead The New?
At the beginning of the 1970s, Napa Valley was home to less than 50 winemakers. Today the valley boasts more than 450. If I could still use a calculator, I’d give you an actual growth percentage, but let’s just settle on the fact that it’s a lot. Now, one might imagine that with all of the growth in both influence and technology over the last 40 years, those 50 some-odd producers kicking up Rutherford dust might have lost their relevance in the boom. Not so. In fact, many of the winemakers who came to Napa in the ‘70s still remain some of the most enlightened.
As the region began to flood with winemakers from various backgrounds all heading to Napa as if it was the Sacramento River circa 1848, the style of Napa wines slowly began to shift: low alcohol wines that favored elegance over power made way for fleshier, more extracted wines with high levels of alcohol (this shift became most noticeable around the mid 90s). Now, I’ll refrain from sharing my opinion on why we ended up with big, extracted wines—some of which border on flammable—as the dominant style preference because my perspective is predictable. The point is: Napa’s once-dominant “restrained” style has now become novel amidst the new. In fact, many of the winemakers that shaped CA’s wine culture in the 70s have remained true to their original house style, and even after more than 30 years and 400 new wineries, these same trailblazers are becoming more and more important within the evolving framework of Napa Valley winemaking.
Over the next week we’ll highlight a few of our favorite winemakers, their history, and of course, their wines. Stay tuned and do let us know who your favorite old-school CA producers are in the comments section.
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cellarmistress
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Rob Perelli-Minetti
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Zachary Adam Cohen
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