Winemakers
Napa is coming back to New Roads, Louisiana! More than ten wineries will be represented at Wine Down False River Saturday night. Some will be featured at the Friday Winemaker Dinners, but all will be showcased in the Grand Tasting on Saturday.
Olet'te Vineyards
Tribe & Arrow
Napa, California
Inspired by our love for pinot noir and chardonnay, our family sought out to create wine that harnessed the spirit and subtle nuances of each vine and barrel. All of our small lot wines are sustainably farmed, handpicked, and basket pressed. Our determination to produce varietals from the most highly sought after vineyards and to capture their beauty is what makes Olet'te and Tribe and Arrow wines unlike any other.
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Hall Wines
St. Helena, California
Kathryn and Craig Hall are creating a remarkable Napa Valley destination that combines fine wines, contemporary design, and art. Since acquiring the historic St. Helena Bergfeld Winery in 2003, they transformed it into HALL St. Helena, California’s first LEED® Gold Certified winery. Along with HALL Rutherford, they oversee over 500 acres of classic Bordeaux varietals and emphasize sustainability and innovation in their winemaking. Under the guidance of winemaker Megan Gunderson, HALL Wines reflect the unique character of Napa Valley, offering visitors an unforgettable tasting experience amidst stunning art and views.
Blaire Payton Wines
St. Helena, California
After nearly 17 years in the Napa Valley wine industry, Brittany Blaire Payton Anderson embarked on her own winemaking adventure, inspired by her experiences as the Head of Winemaking for MTGA Wines. In 2022, she proudly introduced Blaire Payton Wines, beginning with an inaugural release of Grenache. This wine reflects her passion for vibrant and approachable varietals that seamlessly fit into a fun, lively lifestyle—perfect for poolside relaxation, porch gatherings, beach outings, or stylish dinner parties. Brittany invites everyone to savor these wines, which are crafted with love and dedication, emphasizing that her neon dream thrives on the support of her community. Enjoy the vibrant essence of Blaire Payton Wines!
MTGA Wines
St. Helena, California
Long before the establishment of MTGA Wines, the founder's family was deeply involved in the Napa wine industry, founding several vineyards, including Anderson’s Conn Valley, Trespass, Ghost Horse, and Eagles Trace, in the early 1980s. After a year back in Napa post-college, the founder realized he had yet to craft a wine entirely on his own. In 2010, he hand-harvested his first batch of Merlot grapes, which sparked the idea for MTGA Wines. In 2011, he met his future wife, Brittany, and by the following year, they bottled their first vintage of MTGA Merlot, which sold out within two weeks of its 2013 release, marking the official launch of MTGA Wines.
Intentus Wines
Napa, California
At the heart and soul of Intentus Fine Wines is our owner/winemaker. Originally from Argentina, Alan grew up in the small community of Deer Park working on his family's vineyard. Over the past 20 years, he has been fortunate enough to farm and make wines from some of the world's best winegrowing regions alongside some incredible winemakers. Alan started Intentus Wines with the intention of handcrafting great wines and with the purpose of giving back to first responders.
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Kornell Wine Company
Napa, California
Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is the namesake brand of one of Napa Valley's leading women in wine. With two sparkling wines that draw on California's past while attracting contemporary lovers of champagne and bubbles in general. Paula builds on the legacy of her family's winery Hann's Kornell Champagne Cellars, the first to use 'methode champenoise' in California.
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Lang & Reed
Napa, California
Located at 1244 Spring St in St Helena, CA, Lang & Reed is one of the few wineries in Napa Valley to specialize in 100% Cabernet Franc and explore the distinct charms of Chenin Blanc. They have long been inspired by and passionate about giving these varieties an opportunity to shine - true to type, pure in flavor. The wine producing Skupny family has been creating expressive wines that are enjoyable to drink since 1996. Winemaking is a form of storytelling for the Skupny family, and Lang & Reed wines tell a tale of a multi-generational family business and their wonderful wine-filled life together.
Frias Family Vineyard
Napa, California
In 1977, Our Family purchased 100 acres in the iconic Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. We planted just 5 acres in 1985 and launched FRIAS Family Vineyard with our first vintage in 1987. FRIAS now has 13 acres of hillside vineyards planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. We source premium fruit from Oakville & Yountville AVAs. Second generation brothers Fernando and Manny Frias Jr. are at the helm of this artisanal family winery. Todd Heth has been our winemaker since 2004.
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Farmstrong Vineyards
Napa, California
Farmstrong and Vintone are wines that are authentic, unique, and without pretense. Owner, Sean Foster, works directly with growers to produce these wines, and the grapes are sourced from Napa, Mendocino, Suisun and Contra Costa counties.
Sean has been making wine since 1992, living and working in Napa. Formerly he was the Senior Winemaker for Merryvale Vineyards and Starmont Winery, and Winemaker at Peju Winery.
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Red Thread Wines
Napa, California
One fateful night in San Francisco, two star crossed lovers (Gretchen and Brian) met at Slims, located in the Mission District. Unbeknownst to either of them they were destined for a life together. Who knew that a night out in San Francisco could change our lives so drastically. We are both forever grateful for the mythical red thread that is connected to Gretchen's finger and Brian's ankle.
With Brian's fastidious approach to winemaking & vineyards and being a Napa Valley native and Gretchen's ability to sell ice to Eskimos and manage 7 projects at once, it seemed like a great time to complete our thread. We love what we do and we think you will experience that through our wines. Enjoy!
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III Rows Wines
Napa, California
What began as a shared passion of three Louisiana friends for enjoying great wine has grown into a labor of love. Throughout our journey in winemaking the number ‘III’ has been our North Star. Three friends. Three cities. Three families. Three children. Three varietals. III Rows. Under the guidance and expertise of our winemaker, Kent Jarman, we harvest our fruit from select vineyard sources and begin the process of custom crush, fermentation, barrel aging, and finally, bottling at Somerston Vineyards. His hands-on approach is instrumental in producing these high quality wines.
Romeo Vinyards & Cellars
Napa, California
Alison Green Doran, raised in Palos Verdes, discovered her passion for winemaking in 1973 while working as a harvest intern at Simi Winery alongside renowned consultant André Tchelistcheff. Following her internship, she gained valuable experience in Alsace and later as an enologist at Hoffman Mountain Ranch before completing her Fermentation Science degree at UC Davis. In 1976, she joined Firestone Vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley, where she advanced from lab technician to winemaker by 1981, producing numerous award-winning wines with a focus on vineyard management and quality. After marrying Mark Doran in 1994 and returning to her family's ranch and vineyard in Alexander Valley in 2000, Alison now works with select clients in Napa and Sonoma, embodying the spirit of site-specific winemaking as a pioneer among women winemakers in California. She proudly serves as the winemaker for Romeo Vineyards & Cellars.
Peju Winery
Napa, California
Named "BEST WINERY IN NORTH AMERICA" by the Discoverer Blog, PEJU Winery began with Tony Peju daring to sell wines in an informal facility: the garage at their vineyard estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley. A lengthy legal battle ensued and Peju persisted: this became the catalyst for Napa County to create the legal definition of what a winery is which was adopted in 1991. It is no wonder that Tony is called "The Father of Custom Crush."
Hope & Grace Wines
Napa, California
Derived from a dream over a decade ago to a thriving artisan winery in Yountville, CA Napa Valley... hope & grace began its journey as a winery in 2001 with a small production of Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands.
Today we are a modest producer of 3,000 cases annually; focusing on limited production, single vineyard, 100% varietal Pinot Noirs, Cabernet Sauvignons, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & Dry Riesling.
Kevin Mills | Winemaker
Napa, California
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An Oklahoma boy, Kevin and his family have been growing grapes in the state’s Canadian River Valley since 1977. After time in the vineyards and four years in a US Army tank, Kevin attended Grayson County College’s Viticulture and Enology program in Denison, TX. At around this same time, Kevin founded Canadian River Winery making wines from his family’s grapes. Kevin’s journey to Napa Valley began when he met Tony Peju at a wine event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Tony offered him a job working harvest. Beginning in 2002, Kevin worked under winemaking mentors Sean Foster and Sara Fowler at Peju Province Winery. In 2007, Kevin was named winemaker at Trinitas Cellars where he produced an extensive portfolio of award winning wines ranging from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage Red Blends. In 2020, Kevin launched out on his own to create vibrant wines that express his love for adventure which includes sailing the San Francisco Bay and riding his motorcycle across the USA.
The 2021 Mills Pedregal de Paicinas Cabernet Sauvignon is making its debut at the Wine Down on False River.
Republic National
Distributing Company
Distributor
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With roots extending before Prohibition, RNDC is one of the nation’s leading wholesale beverage alcohol distributors, specializing in wine and spirits.
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As the preferred partner for alcohol producers who value the three-tier system, RNDC serves as a brand-building and product expert liaison between suppliers and those who sell or serve alcoholic beverages. Customer service, product expertise, and executional excellence are the hallmarks of our enduring success.
By closely monitoring evolving market trends, we understand the unique needs of our customers and consumers. Our knowledge in the process and craft of alcoholic beverage production fuels our passion for the art of selling lifestyle products.
International Wines & Spirits
Distributor
International Wine & Spirits, Inc., Louisiana is one of the largest, fastest growing, privately held wholesale, wine, food, liquor, beer and mixers distributors in the State of Louisiana. Our 51,000 square foot warehouse, including 5000 square feet of multi-level storage and 3 refrigerated or climate controlled areas, allows us to maintain adequate stock of inventory to adequately serve our territory. Our sales staff of over 30, with over 376 years of combined sales experience diligently attends to the needs of their clients as well as the company. Strategically located throughout the state, our sales staff is able to handle the needs of our diverse clients.