Mayacamas

Mayacamas Vineyards has been happy to do things differently right from the start, when its founder, John Henry Fisher, eschewed the lower lands of Napa Valley in 1889 to plant his first vines high up on Mount Veeder. Back then, just getting there must have been quite an adventure – let alone managing vineyards. And while Fisher’s original Zinfandel vines have long since been replaced with more classic Napa varieties – mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay – being high up on Mount Veeder’s volcanic soils gives them a very distinctive character.

At 1,800-2,400 feet above sea level, the vineyards are affected by the cooling influence of both the San Pablo Bay to the south and the Pacific to the west. The small, concentrated berries are harvested early to preserve acidity and ensure bright fruit flavours – not always the case in Napa. The ageing regime is unusual too, with the wines sitting in oak for several years - but in old barrels and large foudres rather than new barriques. These impart no direct flavour but allow the wine’s elements to knit together and develop. Such low-impact ageing is a key part of the house style, producing highly distinctive wines of restraint, finesse and longevity that perfectly express their unique site.