Vineyard 29

Vineyard 29

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Vineyard 29

 

Since the release of our first vintage, we have been determined to

produce the best wines we can, reflecting all the beauty and quality of

this special place on earth. We rely on unmatched vineyard sites and

classic winemaking techniques to create our 29 Estate, Aida Estate

and CRU wines. Each of our wines are hand-crafted in small lots in our

technologically sophisticated, gravity flow winery and caves in St.

Helena.

 

For those of you who have visited with us and stood on our balcony

looking southeast, you have seen the Mediterranean style house and

beautiful vineyards of our neighbors, Clare and Cliff Abbey.  We are

pleased to announce that in late 2008, we acquired Clare and Cliff's

property, including its 7 acres of cabernet sauvignon and 1 acre of

cabernet franc vines. We look forward to sharing updates as we

integrate this fantastic property into our portfolio and our wine

production.

 

We invite you to explore Vineyard 29 within these pages. From our

vineyards, through our winemaking process, to our wines, we look

forward to sharing Vineyard 29 with you.

 

Cheers,

Chuck and Anne McMinn

Ownership · History

Chuck and Anne McMinn acquired the stewardship of Vineyard 29 in

2000 and began its evolution from a single vineyard to a full scale

winery.

 

In 1989, Teresa Norton and Tom Paine came to Napa Valley to retire -

a dream that was quickly replaced by another when they learned their

estate was prime cabernet sauvignon territory. In a matter of weeks,

they were putting in a 3-acre vineyard under the watchful eye of

lauded vineyard manager David Abreu and, within a year, planting

cuttings from neighbors, Grace Family Vineyards. The first release in

1992 was warmly received by press and public alike.

 

The turn of the century ushered in the next phase of Vineyard 29.

Along with the Vineyard 29 property, Chuck and Anne acquired the

historic Aida vineyard in 2000 as a perfect complement to the

Vineyard 29 site for expansion of the winery's portfolio. With a new,

state-of-the-art winemaking facility, and the unquestionable skill of

winemaker Philippe Melka, all the pieces were in place for Chuck and

Anne to lead Vineyard 29 to a new and exciting level of winemaking.

Today, we continue to pride ourselves on caring for fruit down to the

single berry and believe in the crafting of memorable wines from the

vineyard soil up.

 

Winemakers

 

Gary Galleron (1992-1994) vinified at Grace Family Vineyards

Heidi Barrett (1995-1998) vinified at Grace Family Vineyards

Philippe Melka (1999-2001) vinified at Miner Family Vineyards

Philippe Melka (2002-present) produced and bottled at Vineyard 29