Bouchaine

Bouchaine is the oldest continuously operating winery in Carneros, a region located on the southern tip of Napa Valley. In the late 1880s, a Missouri-born settler named Boon Fly planted grapes and fruit trees on the property. An Italian winemaker named Johnny Garetto bought the land in 1927 and farmed it until 1961, when he sold to Beringer. After 20 years as a storage facility, the dilapidated winery buildings were purchased by Gerret and Tatiana Copeland, along with 30 acres of the surrounding land. The Copelands set to work revitalizing the property with new vineyards, winery improvements, and a renewed sense of purpose. Redwood from early storage tanks was recycled and repurposed into the new facade for the winery and tasting room buildings. John Garetto’s original sign from the 1930’s was found patching a hole in the roof. It now holds a place of honor in Bouchaine’s Conference Room. Throughout the years, the Copelands continued to update the property, expanding the vineyards to 100 acres, and invested their time and passion into building a sustainable, family-owned estate. Under the Copelands’ leadership, Bouchaine has grown from a pair of ramshackle buildings into a thriving vineyard estate. With imagination and passion, Gerret and Tatiana have fashioned wines and a wine country experience for visitors that is a distillation of their remarkable lives, at home in Delaware and in Napa Valley. The shallow clay loam soils of Bouchaine are perfectly suited for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These soils force the vines to dig deep for water, promoting depth and concentration as the roots struggle to penetrate the ribbons of obsidian, quartz, clay and volcanic deposits. Of Bouchaine’s 87 planted acres, 31 are dedicated to Chardonnay, 46 to Pinot Noir, with the remaining 10 devoted to Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Syrah. Vineyard blocks are planted with different sun exposures and pruning techniques based on topography, to optimize air circulation and ripening. Bouchaine's high-touch, precision viticulture is managed by an all-female vineyard crew that performs every aspect of the growing process entirely by hand. That includes pruning, positioning shoots, thinning clusters and applying compost, which provides a natural source of rich nutrients for the soil. There is always something fun going on at Bouchaine. Our passion for discovery doesn’t end with wine. From falconry demonstrations to cooking classes, and even wine and music pairings with The Philadelphia Orchestra, we offer an experience for everyone.