Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery

The property dates to 1882, when George and Catherine Schonewald established the estate and planted the first vines under the name Esmeralda. After passing through additional names (Stonehurst in 1906, Lyndenhurst in 1908), the estate was acquired by Susan Spotts, who renamed it Spottswoode in 1910 in memory of her late husband Albert. The estate was occasionally referred to using her formal married style (Mrs. Albert Spotts) in period documents. Mary and Jack Novak purchased the property in 1972, and the first commercial Cabernet Sauvignon vintage followed in 1982, coinciding with the vineyard's centennial year. Sauvignon Blanc production began in 1984. Mary Weber Novak, who shaped the estate's modern identity, died on September 25, 2016; her daughters Beth Novak Milliken and Lindy Novak continue to manage the property as a family monopole.

• Founded 1882 by George and Catherine Schonewald under the original name Esmeralda
• Renamed Spottswoode in 1910 by Susan Spotts in memory of her late husband Albert
• Purchased by the Novak family in 1972; first Cabernet vintage 1982 (estate centennial)
• Sauvignon Blanc introduced 1984; family monopole now led by sisters Beth Novak Milliken and Lindy Novak

Spottswoode holds a foundational place in California viticulture as one of the first Napa Valley vineyards to farm organically, converting in 1985. The estate earned CCOF organic certification in 1992 and achieved Demeter Biodynamic Certification in 2020. That same year, it became the first winery in Napa Valley to earn B Corporation certification, recognizing its broader commitment to environmental and social standards. The winery operates entirely on solar power and carries Napa Green certification for both winery and vineyard operations.

• Among the first Napa Valley vineyards to farm organically, beginning 1985
• CCOF certified organic since 1992; Demeter Biodynamic Certified since 2020
• First Napa Valley Certified B Corporation winery (2020)
• 100 percent solar powered; Napa Green Winery and Vineyard certified

The estate sits on the northernmost stretch of the Napa Valley bench within the St. Helena AVA, covering 42 to 46 acres in total with 37 to 40 acres under cultivation. Soils derive from Sulphur Creek fan alluvial deposits and include alluvial clay loam, sandy clay loam, sandy soils, clay, gravel, and loam, providing excellent drainage and textural variation. The site benefits from a maritime temperate climate, with cooling breezes channeled between the Mayacamas Range and Spring Mountain moderating temperatures. The vineyard is hand-farmed as a mosaic of 24 distinct blocks, allowing precise management of this soil complexity.

• St. Helena AVA; northernmost bench position in Napa Valley
• Soils include alluvial clay loam, sandy clay loam, gravel, and loam from Sulphur Creek fan deposits
• Maritime temperate climate moderated by breezes from the Mayacamas Range and Spring Mountain
• 24 individual farming blocks across 37 to 40 acres under vine

Spottswoode grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc. The estate Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship wine, aged approximately 22 months in 65 percent new French oak to build structure while maintaining the property's signature refined elegance and age-worthiness. Total production is approximately 5,000 cases per year across all wines. The Sauvignon Blanc has earned recognition as one of the world's finest examples of its type, frequently cited alongside leading European counterparts in the Super Sauvignon category.

• Cabernet Sauvignon aged approximately 22 months in 65 percent new French oak
• Grapes grown: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc
• Production approximately 5,000 cases annually across all wines
• Sauvignon Blanc recognized as one of the world's finest examples of the variety

Spottswoode anchors the conversation about premium organic viticulture in Napa Valley. As one of the first Napa vineyards to farm organically (1985), an early adopter of Demeter Biodynamic Certification, and the first Napa winery to earn B Corporation certification, the estate has consistently led on environmental commitments while delivering Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc that compete at the highest level. The 24-block hand-farmed monopole on the St. Helena bench, the Novak family's continuous ownership since 1972, and the multi-generational leadership of sisters Beth Novak Milliken and Lindy Novak make Spottswoode one of the structural reference points for what a family-owned, sustainably farmed Napa estate can be at the top tier.

• Among the first Napa Valley vineyards to farm organically (1985), and the first Napa winery to earn B Corporation certification
• Continuous Novak family ownership since 1972; multi-generational leadership now under Beth Novak Milliken and Lindy Novak
• 24-block hand-farmed monopole on the St. Helena bench with Sulphur Creek fan soils
• Reference point for premium organic and biodynamic viticulture in Napa Valley alongside its long-standing critical recognition