Mayacamas Vineyards

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Mayacamas Vineyards
Location	Napa, California, USA
Founded	1882
Key people	Robert and Elinor Travers, Owners
Cases/yr	5000
Varietals	Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot
Website	http://www.mayacamas.com
Tasting	by appointment

Mayacamas Vineyards is a located east of Napa, California on Mount Veeder in the Mayacamas Mountains between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California. The winery is small in scope compared to many other operations in the Napa Valley but it makes up in quality for what it lacks in size. The winery only produces approximately 5,000 cases of wine per year. The majority of which are Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, with smaller quantities of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir also produced.

1 The Early Years
2 Present Day Operation
3 Awards
4 See also
5 Sources
6 External links
7 External link

[edit] The Early Years

The winery was built in 1889 by John Henry Fisher a German immigrant who went bankrupt in the early 1900s. It then fell into disuse for several years although bootleggers are said to have made wine in the old stone cellar during the early years of Prohibition in the United States. During the late 1920s and 1930s the Henry Brandlin family, some of whom still live in the area, owned the property. British chemist Jack Taylor and his wife Mary, bought the property in 1941 and improved the land.

[edit] Present Day Operation

In 1968 the winery was bought by its present owners, Robert and Elinor Travers. Under their direction, aging facilities have been enlarged, neighboring land has been purchased, and vineyard clearing, planting and replanting are an ongoing process. In addition to Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, small blocks of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grown.

[edit] Awards

The winery received international recognition after its Cabernet Sauvignon was selected for competition in the Judgment of Paris. Interestingly, Robert Travers agreed to sell three bottles of the still unreleased 1971 vintage for the event, although he did not consider it ready to drink.

In the Wine Spectator Wine Tasting of 1986, blind tasters evaluated how the Cabernet Sauvignons had aged ten years after the Paris event. The 1971 Mayacamas Vineyards came second.

The Wine Rematch of the Century was conducted on the 30th anniversary of the Paris event. Two panels of expert wine tasters tasted all the original red entries to see how they had aged. Mayacamas Vineyards tied for third place (with Heitz Wine Cellars) in the field of ten.