Located on the west side of the Vaca Mountains, this vineyard is planted with Sangiovese and Zinfandel. It has an elegant style. The wine has a deep ruby color, aromas of freshly ground black pepper and wild berries, and a spicy nuance that gives it a savory taste. With heavy rainfall in winter, cold spring, high summer temperatures, and forest fires in October, 2017 was one of the most memorable years of all time. This revived the groundwater and the vine roots, and led to a cool and mild spring.
However, the grape yield was not affected. Due to the high temperatures in the summer, 90% of the grapes in Napa Valley had been harvested before the wildfires began on October 8th. Although it was a terrible disaster that caused deaths and destroyed homes, the wine industry, wineries, and vineyards in Napa Valley were spared the worst of it. This wine gives a sense of the history of Zinfandel in California and the individuality of the vineyard. Zinfandel is said to have been first planted in California in the mid-1800s, and Zinfandel was planted at Soda Creek Ranch around the same time. Soda Creek Vineyard is hidden in the rugged hills east of the winery. Currently, the vineyard is planted with grafts from many of Napa Valley's historic Zinfandel vineyards, and is resistant to Napa's hot, dry climate. The poor soil and the location of this vineyard naturally suppress the harvest. Founded in 1981 by Walt Disney's daughter, the late Diane Disney Miller, and her husband, Ron Miller, the Mediterranean-style stone winery is located on a small hillside off the Silverado Trail in the heart of the Stags Leap District. Silverado is named after an abandoned silver mine near the current winery.
In the mid-1970s, Ron and Diane decided to buy land and move to Napa's Stags Leap District. They fell in love with the quality of the grapes they grew and began building a winery in 1981. They decided to bring to market the best wines that Silverado in Napa Valley could produce at the right price. Today, the name "Silverado Vineyards" represents the Miller family's long-standing commitment to Napa Valley wine. Stags Leap District is one of the smallest AVAs in Napa Valley and one of the most famous wine-producing regions. In 1976, California Cabernet Sauvignon won first place at the Paris tasting, beating out France's Grand Vin. The grapes used for that Cabernet Sauvignon were from Stags Leap District. Cabernet from a vineyard owned by Harry See (See's Candy) was used for this blend, and in 1968, See sold the vineyard to Ron and Diane. This land is Silverado's flagship vineyard. In a winery equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the harvested grapes are meticulously vinified in small lots, and the handcrafted wines reflect Silverado's land, philosophy, and wine style. In the relentless pursuit of quality, Silverado is constantly researching and developing its cultivation and winemaking, and is constantly striving to improve and improve vine spacing, training methods, rootstock selection, new yeasts, custom-made barrels, and the introduction of modern equipment to achieve a more gentle pressing process. Silverado currently owns seven vineyards and cultivates Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each vineyard uses different cultivation methods to suit the soil, climate, grape variety, etc. of the vineyard. Silvarado's winemaking philosophy is rooted in the vineyard.
Jack Stewart says, "A wine is only as good as the vineyard where its grapes are grown. Ultimately, it is the quality of the vineyard that determines our reputation."