Palmaz Vineyards

In 1852, young Henry Hagen arrives on a West Coast in the throes of continental expansion and the Gold Rush. He initially settles in San Francisco but in 1881 turns his attention slightly north, purchasing a parcel of land in the southern end of nearby Napa Valley, against the forested ridges of Mount George. There he founds Cedar Knoll Vineyard and Winery, where the Palmaz Vineyards and family reside today, just off what’s now known as Hagen Road. Hagen will become one of the true pioneers of the Napa Valley: His noteworthy wines are featured at the San Francisco Opera House and served to some of the finest people of the city, according to contemporary newspaper accounts. Hagen even wins a silver medal for his brandy at L’Exposition Universelle de Paris 1889 World’s Fair. Hagen dies in 1895, leaving behind 450 acres of “fine vineland.” While Cedar Knoll is lauded for its wines (and spirits), Hagen’s descendants don’t share his passion. With the arrival of Prohibition in 1919, the property’s winemaking endeavors are abandoned until the Palmaz family purchases the property in the late 1990s and sets about restoring its former glory. Julio and Amalia Palmaz have always believed that if given the proper attention and care, their land can produce excellent wine for generations. Along with their children, Florencia and Christian Gastón (and Christian’s wife, Jessica Louise), they set about creating a winery that leverages tradition and technology in the service of crafting great vintages. The result is a 600-acre estate with 64 acres of vineyards that produce truly modern vintages, thanks to the technology harnessed in support of the art of winemaking. At Palmaz, they believe in farming the individual vine, not the vineyard. Tradition and technology seamlessly come together to give them insights into the needs of each vine. While nothing replaces the knowledge gained from walking through the vineyard, personally touching each vine, technologies such as advanced Geographic Informational Systems give the winemaking team an understanding of what vines need both above- and below-ground. By combining farming techniques from the organic, biodynamic and erosion-control philosophies, the Palmaz family has created a truly sustainable farm that will produce great wine for generations to come. From diverse cover crops in the winter to a deficit-irrigation program in the summer, tending to the land is a year-round program. The vineyards are nestled at three different elevations, from the hills around the estate to the crest of Mount George, and feature 46 distinct vineyard blocks. The complexity of the terrain results in a variety of micro-climates, all of which influence grapes in unique ways. Each parcel features a distinct rootstock and clonal combination that contributes a special characteristic to the resulting wines.