Amici

‘Amici’ means ‘friends’ in Italian, and this is the name given to the winery in Calistoga in Napa Valley. In 1991, a group of friends from the San Francisco Bay Area who were passionate about Napa Valley wines decided to make their own. The results were unexpectedly excellent, so much so that the wine was ready for market, and the project has grown steadily ever since.

History

The first harvest was in 1991. Today, the estate is owned by John Harris and Bob Shepard, with Melissa Devore serving as President. Shepard was one of the original co-founders. The winemaking team is led by Tony Biagi, Matt Cortini and Dante West.

The winery itself is situated at the foot of the Palisades with views of Mount St Helena.

Amici is certified Napa Green for its sustainable practices.

Vineyards

Amici does not own its own vineyards, it buys grapes from around ten vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Important suppliers include Beckstoffer’s Missouri Hopper Vineyard, Hyde Vineyard in Carneros, and Charles Heintz Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast.

Grape Varieties

The grapes used include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. The Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is the flagship wine, with single-vineyard wines priced higher than the ‘Napa Valley’ blends. The Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are primarily sourced from Sonoma, whilst the Pinot Noir comes from the Russian River Valley.

Wines

The range is divided into three tiers.

The ‘Appellation’ series encapsulates the characteristics of specific regions, such as Napa or Sonoma, in a single bottle.

The ‘Reserve’ series is blended from grapes sourced across multiple vineyards, lending the wines greater complexity.

The flagship ‘Collection’ series is crafted from single vineyards, with each label indicating its origin, ranging from Napa’s traditional Grand Cru vineyards to the cool-climate plots of the Sonoma Coast.

Tasting sessions require advance booking and take place at the winery in Calistoga.