Winemaking
"Unwavering dedication to producing the finest wine from a magical corner of Napa Valley."
The highest achievements in winemaking are equal parts art and science. To realize a world-class product, the ingredients are essential, and High Ranch provides an extraordinary canvas. The initial research of marrying Cabernet Sauvignon clones to the soil has yielded to ongoing vintage decisions promoting vine health and vigor while recognizing optimal ripeness and balance at harvest.
High Ranch Vineyard's acclaimed winemaker, Sam Kaplan, joined forces with legendary viticulturist Mike Wolfe to select the optimal varietals, row orientations, and spacing for our Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. They envisioned the natural flow from meticulous farming to intricate winemaking, blending, and aging. In doing so, they have captured an artistic expression of a wine that reflects the unique character of our hillside estate vineyard.”
Mike has played an instrumental role in shaping some of the most celebrated vineyards in Napa Valley. With more than 50 years of combined experience with some of the Napa Valley’s most prestigious properties, their expert guidance has produced amazing wines. We look forward to watching High Ranch evolve into a reference point for the Coombsville AVA.
Terroir
“Terroir -The essence of this site is ultimately expressed in the wine”
Terroir is a French term which encapsulates the related and interconnected elements of a specific growing environment. Climate, topography, soil depth and composition, wind direction, light intensity... all of the myriad factors that influence the quality and individuality of a specific site are considered. There is no equivalent word in English for terroir, but all who grow grapes and make wine from them recognize its vital importance. It is a true sense of place as expressed in the glass.
Ancient volcanic soils comprise the bedrock of the High Ranch vineyard, providing well-draining and distinctive soils ideal for deep rooting vines. The early morning fog and cool afternoon breezes create a long, slow growing season with an extended ripening period. The unique micro-climate promotes layers of incredible flavor development, structure, complexity, and balance of the wine.
Winemaking begins in the vineyard. As the grapes move to the cellar, the process transforms into the balance of science, intuition, and experience - the true art of our winemaker, Sam Kaplan. Wine is aged in individually selected French oak barrels for 24 months, followed by an additional two years of bottle aging before release. The unwavering attention to detail and commitment is what defines High Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, beautifully expressed in every bottle.