Wine Time – Robert Keenan Winery

Let’s venture to the Spring Mountain District, just west of St. Helena in the Napa Valley.  Here, on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains we find the home of Robert Keenan Winery. 

In 1974 Robert Keenan decided that Spring Mountain was the place to be, and promptly purchased 180 acres 1700 feet up the mountain.  Three years of hard labor produced the first grape harvest in 1977, and the Robert Keenan Winery was off and running.  In 1998 son Michael took over as owner and president of Keenan, after learning the winemaking craft from his father Robert and accomplished winemaker Joe Cafaro.  The years that followed saw vineyard replanting, sustainable farming, and even solar power.

Today we have a somewhat under-the-radar winery with consistently high-quality wines.  Of particular note are the estate wines:  a fine Chardonnay, the excellent Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, an exceptional Cab Franc and possibly my favorite, the Reserve Merlot from their Mailbox Vineyard. 

Hey, it really is OK to drink Merlot..!

Speaking of Merlot, these guys make a top shelf blend of 50% Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc cleverly named Mernet.  A delicious wine, the Mernet is another one of my favorites and highly recommended.

If you make the trek up Spring Mountain Road you will experience a decidedly unpretentious tasting.  Manager Laura March and her staff are friendly and informative, the new tasting room is warm and cozy, and the wines are sure to please.  Visits are by appointment only, so be sure to plan ahead.  They are open 7 days a week.

Cheers..!