The story of Veedercrest began back in the early 70’s when famed Andre Tchelistcheff encouraged promising amateur winemaker, Al Baxter, to start selling his wine commercially. The self-taught winemaker teamed up with Ron Fenolio and the Ring Family to produce wine from a pristine stretch of land on Mount Veeder. Their inaugural release was in 1972, and within four short years, they were selected by Steve Spurrier to be in the lineup for the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Part of living history, they skyrocketed to fame and were even a staple at the White House under President Jimmy Carter and was even served to Pope John Paul II. Veedercrest stopped producing wines commercially in the mid-1980’s. Then, in 2005, one of the original proprietors, Ron Fenolio, breathed new life into the estate and restored the winery to its former glory. Ron’s family has been crafting wine for over 130 years, and his lineage has influenced some of the most revered estates in California. With a focus on single-vineyard wines that highlight the unique terroir of Mount Veeder, Ron has returned Veedercrest into a name hailed once again by the critics.

 

Atop the majestic mountain slope where it all began, Mount Veeder is off the beaten path. Nevertheless, the appellation has a history of cultivation that reaches back to the civil war period. Of the five mountain appellations in the Napa Valley, Mount Veeder is the coolest in temperature. West of Napa and perched on the southern end of the Mayacamas mountain range, Mount Veeder benefits from the cooling influence of the San Pablo Bay. The incredibly steep terrain infuses new world mountain fruit with the savory complexity of left bank Bordeaux. Veedercrest’s Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon hails from a vineyard 1,600 feet in elevation with distinct volcanic soil. The wine is fermented in climate-controlled stainless steel then aged for a minimum of 36 months in a meticulous selection of French oak, which they’ve coined the “spice rack.” After bottling, the wine ages an additional 24 months before release. Among the best vintages of the 2000’s, 2007 is a near-perfect expression of Mount Veeder, which allures with a sophistication and elegance of the old world coupled with a pure expression of place.