Larkmead Vineyards

Larkmead Vineyards traces its roots to 1895, when the Salmina family leased the land and began farming wine grapes in the northern Napa Valley near Calistoga. The family purchased the property outright in 1903 and erected a stone winery in 1906, establishing Larkmead as one of the four great Napa wineries of the pre-Prohibition era alongside Beaulieu Vineyard, Inglenook, and Beringer. The estate itself has an even more colorful backstory: the land was originally part of the estate belonging to Lillie "Firebelle" Hitchcock Coit, the eccentric San Francisco socialite and fire department patron who inspired the city's Coit Tower. Prohibition and its aftermath brought production to a halt, and it was not until 1997 that the modern chapter of winemaking at Larkmead truly began.

• Salmina family leased the vineyard in 1895 and purchased it in 1903
• Stone winery constructed in 1906; estate ranked alongside BV, Inglenook, and Beringer pre-Prohibition
• Land was originally part of the estate of Lillie 'Firebelle' Hitchcock Coit, namesake of San Francisco's Coit Tower
• Modern winemaking program resumed in 1997 after a roughly 50-year hiatus

The Solari family acquired Larkmead in 1948 and held the estate through decades of agricultural use before relaunching wine production in the late 1990s. Kate Solari Baker inherited the property from her parents, Larry and Polly Solari, and has served as proprietor alongside her husband Cam Baker, who was co-proprietor from 1961 until his death on March 18, 2023. Kate now leads the estate with the support of President Bill Vyenielo, appointed in 2024. The fourth generation is actively involved: Kate's three adult children, Cameron, John, and Ann, have joined the board of directors, and grandchildren Mac, Lucy, and Alma are also engaged with the property, signaling deliberate succession planning for long-term family stewardship. Avery Heelan, who came to Larkmead from Screaming Eagle where she served as cellar master, was promoted to head winemaker in July 2021 and is confirmed in the role through at least 2026 with full autonomy over both winemaking and vineyard operations.

• Solari family purchased the estate in 1948; Kate Solari Baker is current proprietor following Cam Baker's death in March 2023
• Bill Vyenielo appointed President of Larkmead in 2024 to support estate management
• Three adult children (Cameron, John, Ann) joined the board; grandchildren Mac, Lucy, and Alma also actively involved
• Winemaker Avery Heelan, formerly cellar master at Screaming Eagle, promoted July 2021 and confirmed through 2026

Larkmead farms 115 acres on the Calistoga floor of northern Napa Valley, a warm growing zone known for producing bold, structured red wines. The estate is divided into distinct blocks with meaningfully different soil profiles and mesoclimates. A Block features alluvial soils and older Cabernet Sauvignon vines, while C Block sits on fertile valley floor soils and experiences the coolest temperatures on the property. A newly developed hillside vineyard adds elevational diversity to the portfolio. Perhaps the most forward-looking project is the 3-acre Research Block, planted in 2019, which trials climate-resilient and lesser-planted varietals including Aglianico, Charbono, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Chenin Blanc, and Tocai Friulano. While the full 115 acres are estate-owned, approximately 50% of total fruit is sold to other producers, with all Larkmead-labeled wines sourced exclusively from estate vines.

• A Block: alluvial soils with older Cabernet Sauvignon vines; C Block: fertile valley floor soils, coolest temperatures on the estate
• Hillside vineyard recently completed development, adding elevational diversity
• 3-acre Research Block (planted 2019) trials Aglianico, Charbono, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Chenin Blanc, and Tocai Friulano
• Roughly 50% of estate fruit sold to other producers; 100% estate-grown requirement for all Larkmead-labeled wines

Larkmead's winemaking philosophy centers on small-lot, terroir-expressive production with an emphatic commitment to sustainable and organic farming. The estate farmed organically for seven years before earning California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) certification in 2023, and operates entirely without herbicides or neonicotinoids. Larkmead holds Napa Green Winery certification since 2011, Napa Green Land certification since 2017, and has achieved the highest GOLD level of the Napa Green program; the Slow Wine Guide awarded it an eco-friendly designation in 2024. The lineup is anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon, with The Lark and Solari representing the estate's two flagship single-vineyard expressions, joined by the Merlot-based Firebelle red blend, the Lillie Sauvignon Blanc, and the LMV Salon red blend. Production is intentionally modest at 6,000 to 7,000 cases per year, prioritizing quality over volume.

• CCOF organic certification achieved 2023; herbicide- and neonicotinoid-free farming across all 115 acres
• Napa Green Winery (2011) and Napa Green Land (2017) certifications; highest GOLD level achieved; Slow Wine Guide eco-friendly designation 2024
• Production capped at 6,000 to 7,000 cases annually; all Larkmead-labeled wines are 100% estate-grown
• 2023 vintage scores: The Lark 98+, Solari 97, Firebelle 94, Lillie Sauvignon Blanc 94 points

Larkmead occupies a rare position in Napa Valley: a genuine pre-Prohibition estate with documented 19th-century roots that has navigated the modern era without sacrificing either historical identity or quality ambition. Its peer group at the turn of the 20th century, Beaulieu Vineyard, Inglenook, and Beringer, are now all corporate-owned; Larkmead remains under family stewardship with a fourth generation actively engaged in succession planning. The estate's commitment to organic farming, achieved through a seven-year process culminating in CCOF certification in 2023, reflects a long-term land stewardship mindset rather than marketing positioning. With a winemaker pedigreed at Screaming Eagle and scores reaching 98+ for its flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, Larkmead operates at the quality frontier of Napa while maintaining an annual production of fewer than 7,000 cases. The Research Block's trials of climate-resilient varietals also position Larkmead as a thought leader in future-proofing Napa viticulture.

• One of the few Napa estates with continuous pre-Prohibition roots (1895) still under family ownership after 130 years
• CCOF-certified organic as of 2023, placing it among a small minority of certified-organic estates in Napa Valley
• Research Block testing Aglianico, Tempranillo, Chenin Blanc, and other varietals signals active response to climate change
• Winemaker Avery Heelan's Screaming Eagle background and 98+ point scores confirm elite-tier Cabernet production