Vineyards

The Altemus family planted Red Cap Vineyards on a beautiful site near the summit of Howell Mountain in the Napa Valley. The rocky, volcanic soils and the unique Howell Mountain microclimate produce fruit of exceptional character and quality.

Planted on virgin land in 2003 at an elevation of 1900 feet, the Aiken loam soil is deep, red, and peppered with fractured rock. The terrain is a rolling plateau at the top of the mountain. The vineyard yields about two tons of grapes per acre. Cabernet Clones 4, 7 and 169 were used on 101-14 rootstock and the vine spacing is five feet by seven feet. Our grapes are organically grown and hand farmed.

We source the fruit for our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc from the Alko Ranch vineyard, located on the eastern side of Howell Mountain. This location offers an ideal growing climate for Sauvignon Blanc grapes, providing warm daytime temperatures balanced with cool mornings and evenings. The complex minerality of the vineyard soils (Pleasanton loam and Bressa-Dibble-Sobrante) is beautifully reflected in our wine. The grapes are Clone 1 on 101-14 rootstock, planted in 2002.