Napa’s Ultimate Throwback

In the heart of Napa Valley, ground zero for $300 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, spa resorts and world-class restaurants, lies El Molino’s 68-acre vineyard. Nearby, a modest combination of family home and winery sits a few miles north of St. Helena, just off Highway 29. It’s the site of one of the first wineries in Napa, dating to 1871. It’s a charming home, a multi-generational, family-owned winery—and it’s also a bit of a time capsule. El Molino wines—Pinot Noir and Chardonnay—have been made the exact same way, with the same equipment, since its resurrection with the 1987 vintage. Get the full story, plus a deep dive into the vineyard's history.