Voss Vineyards Winery

Voss Vineyards was conceived and founded by Robert Hill Smith, a fifth-generation member of the Hill Smith family in Australia who also own the Nautilus Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand, and the famous Yalumba Winery in the Barossa region of South Australia. Robert was intrigued by the Napa Valley and saw quality and opportunity in the viticulture around Rutherford and Oakville, wondering whether he could apply some of the knowledge garnered over the 100+ years of family involvement in winemaking. Robert sought out the best fruit available for his new winery, buying Chardonnay from Carneros and Zinfandel from the Alexander Valley. In 1994 we changed the varietal mix to include Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot from Rutherford, as well as Shiraz. The Rutherford grapes came from the San Mateo Ranch, so named for a land grant when this area was owned by Mexico. In 1996 Voss Vineyards purchased the San Mateo Ranch and in so doing locked in this valuable resource. In addition to the Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot on the vineyard, Syrah (Shiraz) was planted in 1997 to give more control over the farming. We continue to purchase grapes from select key vineyards to complement our own fruit, but by managing our own vineyard we are able to control yields and farm for flavor. This intense vineyard management, combined with innovative winemaking skills, shows in the accolades the wines receive. Early on Voss Vineyards established itself as the leader in a new style of California Sauvignon Blanc. In 1998 the wine won "Best Sauvignon Blanc in the World" at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and "Best of Show" at the World Wine Championships. With a limited production currently at about 8,000 cases, using meticulous care in the vineyard, and having priced our wines fairly, Voss Vineyards is in a unique and advantageous position for a Napa Valley winery.

 



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