Pahlmeyer Wines

Similar to other great Napa producers like Peter Michael Winery and Harlan Estate, Pahlmeyer Winery was founded by a wealthy professional outside the winemaking world – Jayson Pahlmeyer. After a long, successful career as a lawyer, Jayson Pahlmeyer was determined to make “California’s Mouton.” Four decades after the opening of the estate, Pahlmeyer wines stand as one of Napa’s greatest wines, creating an enduring legacy with some of wine’s greatest names a part of its history.

Pahlmeyer Wines: Bordeaux Vines Travel to Napa Valley

 In 1981, Jayson Pahlmeyer took a trip to Bordeaux with close friend, John Caldwell, bringing home an unusual gift. The pair managed to steal and smuggle vines from some of Bordeaux’s famed vineyards, traveling to Canada, then back to the United States. Though the authorities caught the pair, they tricked officials by giving them stolen vines from UC Davis, keeping the smuggled Bordeaux vines in a small shoe box. It was with these vines that Pahlmeyer began his winery, planting them at Caldwell Vineyards in Coombsville in 1981. After five years of harvesting fruit and perfecting the final blend, Pahlmeyer was offered to sell grapes to none other than Randy Dunn of Dunn Vineyards. Jayson Pahlmeyer agreed with the premise that Dunn would make the winery’s first vintage, and, in 1986, the first Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Blend was released, gaining a 94-point score from Robert Parker.

By 1989, the estate hired Bob Levy to manage the white winemaking, as Pahlmeyer Chardonnay was officially in production. Four years later, another legendary winemaker was brought onto the team: Helen Turley. Rapidly gaining a reputation as a “superconsultant,” Turley helped optimize Pahlmeyer red blends into one of Napa’s most iconic wines. Other star names that passed through the winery include Kale Anderson, Jennifer Williams, and Bibiana Gonzales Rave, illustrating the estate’s status as an influential Napa icon.

Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Terroir and Vineyards

The Pahlmeyer estate holds multiple vineyards throughout Napa Valley, with prime locations in Oakville, Pritchard Hill, and Atlas Peak. Famous for mountain-grown fruit on the rugged foothills of the Vaca Mountains, Pahlmeyer’s vineyards allow the estate to produce a variety of grapes, all with unique qualities that create a distinct final blend.

• The Antica Estate Vineyard is located east of Stagecoach in Foss Valley, characterized by cool evenings ideal for Chardonnay. Its volcanic rock and loam soil produces fruit with beautiful acidity and tropical notes.
• Pahlmeyer’s most famous vineyard is Stagecoach Vineyard. Winemaking here is described as “mountain farming at its most extreme." Rugged, rocky soil captures heat during the day, forcing struggling vines to produce small clusters with intensity.
• Upper Range Vineyard sits on the ridgeline above Rutherford and is planted only with Cabernet Sauvignon. The row orientations were planted so the sun directly tracks over the top of the vines, leaving no room for morning and afternoon side exposure.
• The Vangone Vineyard is a classic mountain site filled with Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The vines overlook Rector Reservoir and produce fruit of ripe plum tastes and gravelly tannins.
• Waters Ranch Vineyard is located at the southernmost end of Atlas Peak, containing relatively deep soils for a mountain site with great water-holding capacity. As a result, the grapes bring complexity, depth, and firm tannins to the final bottle.

Pahlmeyer Winemaking

Since its inception, Pahlmeyer has been committed to following First Growth winemaking standards, merging “Old World” techniques with “New World” terroirs. The estate’s philosophy is that one must have their own vineyards to be a First Growth, hence their multiple sites across Napa. When first acquiring these plots of land, Jayson Pahlmeyer hired legendary winemaking figure, David Abreau, to develop the land. First starting in Atlas Peak, located on the eastern hills of Napa Valley, the Pahlmeyer estate has expanded its vineyards and winemaking techniques.

Katie Vogt is the current head winemaker, believing in unfined and unfiltered drinks to retain an honest expression of the vineyards. Each harvest is handpicked and then undergoes gentle extraction throughout the fermentation process. Once complete, the wine is aged in Taransaud and Francois Freres oak barrels to highlight the intensity and acidity of the mountain fruit and allow the wines to evolve beautifully long-term in cellars.

New Leadership, Same Pahlmeyer

In 2019, Gallo Wines bought the estate for $235 million, but it has not lost its bearing as one of Napa’s top wineries. There have only been three vintages released across the estate’s three labels during this time, but each continues to amaze critics and produce top scores. Among their older wines, the 2007 and 2013 bottles are some of the most beloved, with Robert Parker calling the latter a “30-year wine” in his review for the Wine Advocate. Furthermore, the '91 vintage was included in the 1994 blockbuster film, Disclosure, featuring Demi Moore and Michael Douglas, highlighting its appeal to broad audiences.

Add Pahlmeyer Red and White Wines to Your Cellar

Merlot, Chardonnay, or Cabernet mixes… Pahlmeyer wines are truly versatile and the perfect long-term wine for your cellar. With over 40 years of Napa excellence, these bottles will spice up your collection and mature for years to come.