Nestled along a quiet country lane and surrounded by gently sloping vineyards, Bouchaine Vineyards is the longest operating and most southern winery in Napa’s Carneros. Here, the morning offers a view of the fog hanging over the distant terrain. Visitors who arrive in the afternoon are often greeted by an endless blue sky and wind-blown clouds.
Regardless of the weather, visitors are always welcomed by a friendly team ready to offer the very best of what Bouchaine is famous for: Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from the renowned Carneros AVA (American Viticultural Area) terroir. They often make new friends in the tasting room, and wine club members enjoy tasting wines on a private terrace overlooking the vineyards. Those who want to commune with the vines can take a self-guided vineyard walk, or bring a bike and cruise along the gentle hills where, on a clear day, they can see San Francisco in the distance. For those wishing to delve deeper into the Bouchaine experience, small group tours like the Safari Tour and Taste on the Green are offered by appointment. No matter how they decide to spend their visit, guests can savor the wind, soil, sun, and everything that goes into the making and enjoyment of passionately crafted wine.
Bouchaine Vineyards has a total of 120 acres planted mostly to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. There are also several acres planted to Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris. Since Winemaker Michael Richmond, Assistant Winemaker Andrew Brooks, and everyone at Bouchaine regard sustainable practices as a way of life, the deficit and minimal irrigation associated with dry farming is used in the vineyard. This approach not only conserves water and encourages deep rooting of the vines, it concentrates and intensifies the flavor in the grape. The winemakers believe in shepherding wine, leading it to its ultimate expression in one’s glass.
The road to Bouchaine Vineyards leads to a beautiful experience—both in the surrounding beauty and the beauty found in the wines.
An Interview with Owner and Proprietor Gerret Copeland
T&T: In the three decades since you and your wife acquired Bouchaine has your vision been realized?
GC: No, I really don’t think it has. And I don’t think it ever will be because this is not a static business. Whether we’re in the vineyard, the winery, or the marketplace, we’re always trying to ratchet things up a notch or two.
T&T: What is the most important thing we should know about the Carneros region today?
GC: The first thing that springs to mind is the wind. It rushes in off San Pablo Bay straight through Carneros. There’s a distinct flavor to Carneros wines that is grapefruit and citrusy. You don’t get that in the up-valley wines. And why? As I like to say, “Ask five winemakers and you’ll get six answers.”
T&T: What do you strive to capture in your wines?
GC: We want to emphasize what comes out of the vineyard and not our winery. We harvest in very small lots. All of our lots are distinctive. We do each blend individually, focusing on the characteristics of our grapes. Recently, our winemaker, Mike Richmond, and I have been talking a lot about the tannic level of our wines. They age beautifully, but we’re looking at our wines and wondering if they’re too tannic for our consumers who may want to drink our wines right away. We’re a small winery and we make small lots, so maybe we’ll experiment and remove some tannins to make them more marketable earlier, or make our Bacchus collection more tannic and therefore more ageable. We can play with these things. One thing I can guarantee you is: we cannot make our wines by a recipe. Every vintage is different. This year, the vines have already been stressed for the past two years, so this is going to be a very, very interesting vintage. As Mike said and our vineyard managers say, “We really won’t know until we pick the grapes.”
What to Buy
’13 Rosé of Syrah – $23
Crisp, watermelon, grapefruit, strawberry
’11 Estate Chardonnay – $30
Faint butterscotch, creamy, hint of coconut
’10 Carneros Pinot Noir – $35
Tart, red fruit flavors
Special Notes
Vineyard tours by appointment, certified sustainable farming, wine club discounts, picnic baskets by reservation.
Contact
1075 Buchli Station Rd.
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: 707-252-9065
E-mail: info@bouchaine.com
Website: bouchaine.com
Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 10:30–5:30
Touring & Tasting
Touring & Tasting is a media company that produces a wine and travel magazine.
