2016 Behrens Family Winery Lisa's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Behrens Family Winery is an artisanal winery in St. Helena owned and operated by Les Behrens and Lisa Drinkward, a couple who have been the founders of several small wine in Napa Valley. The couple work with grape growers who farm low-yielding, high-quality vineyards and they produce small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends and Petite Sirah. Behrens and Drinkward have spent more than 20 years in the food and wine business. They opened an award-winning restaurant in Arcata in 1991, and began making wine with purchased grapes in 1993. With partners Bob and Lilly Hitchcock they later established Behrens & Hitchcock winery. When the Hitchcocks retired in 2005, Behrens and Drinkward bought them out, and now continue to make wine under the Behrens Family Winery and Behrens & Hitchcock labels.

Spring Mountain AVA is above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. There is no actual Spring Mountain, but the name has traditionally been used for the area, which includes many streams and springs. Spring Mountain was awarded appellation status in 1993 and it includes about 1,000 vineyard acres. Vineyard elevations are high, from 400 to 2,600 feet above sea level. Because of the altitude of most vineyards, which are above the fog line, mornings become warm earlier than vineyards on the valley floor, though the afternoons are cooled by maritime winds. The result is an exceptionally long growing season. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape by acreage, followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.