2015 Freemark Abbey Gravel Selection

Freemark Abbey, in St. Helena, Napa Valley, California, was founded in 1886 by Josephine Tychson, one of the region’s first women winemakers. But the winery’s modern history started in 1939 when the three people who then owned the winery combined their last names to make up “Freemark Abbey.” The site has never had anything to do with a religious order. In 1967 the winery was purchased by seven business partners who made major innovations. Today the winery owns nearly 300 acres of vineyards and also sources grapes from some of the areas most acclaimed districts including the Rutherford Bench, Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain. Freemark Abbey is known for its Cabernet Sauvignons, though it also makes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petite Sirah and late harvest Riesling. Noted California wine writer James Laube has written that the estate makes wines of “finesse and polish.”

St. Helena AVA is at the northern end of Napa Valley just north of Rutherford and south of Calistoga. It is a relatively warm climate thanks to the Mayacamas Mountains on its western edge, which protect it from Pacific Ocean fog. Out of the 9,000 acres in the appellation, some 1,500 are under vine. The principal grapes grown in St. Helena are the Bordeaux grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. St. Helena is considered prime wine producing territory, and it was one of the first important wine producing regions in northern California. The legendary Charles Krug founded his winery just north of the town of St. Helena in 1873, and today the appellation is home to many prestigious producers, including Abreu, Grace Family and Spottswoode.