The Porter Family Vineyards story starts five million years ago when a small sandpiper wandered along the shore. The tiny tracks the sandpiper left behind were covered with sediment and fossilized by the geological forces. It was during excavation to build a winery in the hillside that these fossils were discovered. Today this land is proudly known as Porter Family Vineyards. Within the walls of that hill, fifty feet underground, lays an excavated 17,000 square foot winery. Vines still stand on and around the hill, however, the only clues to the winery’s existence are two entrances that come up and out at two ends.
The vineyards lay amongst perfect conditions for grape growing in the idyllic southeastern hills of Napa above a quiet hamlet called Coombsville. As with Napa in general, Coombsville is blessed with generous amounts of warming sunshine, yet cooled by the breezes from San Pablo Bay. The soils are a mix of clay loam and volcanic derivatives. Grape vines are terraced to follow the contours of the gracefully arching hills 600 feet above the valley floor, and look out over the breathtaking terrain of Napa. The Syrah vines from the hillside vineyard estate create magnificently rich and round wines. It is from these hillside vineyards and underground winery the Porter Family makes small amounts of beautifully hand-crafted wines—each one carrying the unique signature of its terrior, (its place).
The Porter Family has retained the fossilized footprints of the sandpiper found on the property as a reminder of the incredible history of their winegrowing site. Yet, they simultaneously look to the future and the latest in winemaking arts to craft their special wines.
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