Gemstone Vineyards is a premier boutique Napa Valley winery, specializing in dark, potent Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate was recently sold to oil entrepreneur Jason Rebrook in 2023, who acquired neighboring vineyards to increase Gemstone's land ownership and production size. Star winemakers Philippe Melka and Thomas Rivers Brown have laid the foundation for the new head winemaker, Julien Fayard, to take the estate to greater heights.
Gemstone Vineyards History
Suzie and Paul Frank founded Gemstone Vineyards in 1997, first purchasing the 17-acre vineyard in 1992, then enlisting Philippe Melka to craft the wines. The couple owned a successful gemstone business in Los Angeles and were drawn to Napa Valley's wine scene. Thanks to the help of Ren and Marilyn Harris, owners of Paradigm Winery, the pair began to look for a "Bordeaux-like" site in the region. They stumbled upon a beautiful parcel planted to Chardonnay and, after working with Screaming Eagle's owner, Jean Phillips, purchased the land.
The Franks quickly understood the need to replant the vineyard and borrowed Cabernet Sauvignon clones from friends, eventually separating the site into 20 micro-blocks. Eight of the blocks were planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, while Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot were each planted with two blocks.
After 16 successful years of ownership, the Franks sold Gemstone Vineyard to Carole and Michael Marks in 2008. When speaking of the sale, Paul Frank told Wine Spectator, "We've been running [Gemstone] from the kitchen table. We couldn't expand because we got the biggest table we could fit in our kitchen." Despite the sale, the Franks transitioned into a consulting role for the Marks, who were just getting their start in the wine industry. Michael Marks was a former minority owner of the Golden State Warriors and the Interim CEO of Tesla in 2015, bringing a wealth of business acumen to Gemstone Vineyard. He quickly brought in Thomas Rivers Brown as the head winemaker, but later sold the estate to Jason Rebrook in 2023. Rebrook has since installed Julien Fayard as the head winemaker; Fayard previously worked at Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Smith Haut Lafite.
Gemstone Vineyard Terroir
Gemstone Vineyards owns 26 acres of land in Napa Valley's Yountville AVA. The site is set on the "Golden Triangle," a term coined by Robert Parker to describe the pristine corner between Stags Leap District, Oakville, and Pritchard Hill. The parcels contain gravelly alluvial soils and river rocks over ancient volcanic deposits and sandstone, forcing the vines to struggle and dig deep. Resultingly, the fruit is intensely concentrated, displaying dark hues and dark berry notes.
Each harvest is complete over a grueling 4-5 week period. The picking decisions are made per micro-block, and the mature fruit is fermented and aged separately in 70-75% new barrels from Burgundy coopers. Only 20% of the harvested fruit is used in Gemstone wines, with the remaining selection sold to neighboring Napa estates. Ultimately, only 300 to 400 cases are produced each vintage, with every vintage vinified at the Vineyard 29 facility in St. Helena. With such low production, Gemstone wines have become one of Napa's most coveted boutique wineries, as bottles are difficult to acquire on the open market.
Gemstone Wine Offerings
Gemstone Vineyards currently produces three main labels: Gemstone Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Gemstone Estate Cabernet Franc, and Gemstone Ruby Selection.
Gemstone Cabernet Sauvignon
Gemstone Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has long been acclaimed as a "sleeper" wine in Napa Valley. The wines are noted for their medium-bodied profiles, supple tannins, mineral components, and dark berry notes. The 2012 Gemstone Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the estate's most celebrated wines, earning 93-point scores from Robert Parker and Antonio Galloni, respectively. Both critics spoke to the bottle's aging potential, rich and intense structure, and spice aromas and flavors.
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Where is Gemstone Vineyards located?
Gemstone Vineyards is located in the "Golden Triangle," a term coined by Robert Parker to describe the corner between Stags Leap, Oakville, and Pritchard Hill.
Are Gemstone wines hard to purchase?
Yes, Gemstone wines are difficult to acquire direct-from-winery and on the open market due to the limited production. Only 500 cases of the flagship Estate Cabernet Sauvignon are produced each year.
Is Gemstone Vineyards considered a Napa "cult wine?"
No, Gemstone Vineyards is not considered a Napa Cult wine. However, the estate is one of the region's top boutique wineries.
