In the early 1970s there were no tasting rooms in the Napa Valley and prunes were the dominant crop, but there was a history of wine grape cultivation in the area and a handful of families, including my own, saw the potential. Back then the idea was to prove that we could make great wines here, wines to rival those of weightier pedigrees. The Beckstoffer family established Vinifera Vineyards in 1973, and we've been growing grapes ever since.

Fast forward 40 years, and this sleepy farming Valley is now readily acknowledged as a leading wine growing region. I've had my hands in the dirt here for practically my whole life, and when the siren's song of winemaking hit me, I knew I had a rare advantage. Great wine is the product of great grapes, and I just happened to know where to find some. In 2005, I launched the Vinifera Vineyards label as a nod to my family roots, and as an homage to the many pioneers who set out to share their passion for Napa Valley wine with the world.