Naggiar Vineyards & Winery
Harvest Festival at Naggiar Vineyards
About
All our wines are estate grown, produced and bottled. We offer traditional Rhone, Bordeaux and Italian wines whose quality comes from selecting varietals that flourish. Our primary focus is the wines. All our wines are hand crafted in small lots from the finest fruit in our vineyards. We strive to make wines that are exciting and delicious; wines that will exceed the expectations.
Location Description
Located in the heart of Grass Valley, California.
Features
- Growing and producing the best Barbara, Sangiovese, Syrah, Grenache & Mourvedre in Northern California.
Additional Information
- Meeting / Conference Facilities:
- Caves:
- Wedding Facilities:
- Picnic Facilities:
- Dog Friendly:
- Winery Tours:
- Wine Tasting:
- Art or Architecture:
- Organic / Biodynamic:
- Awards:
- Wine Club:
- Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:
Winemaker
In 2001, his talent was further recognized and his hard work rewarded when he became the chief winemaker and vineyards manager at Viansa Winery. He was charged with creating a new direction for Viansa wines in addition to winemaking and vineyards management. A fateful phone call in 2003 while still working at Viansa would begin a relationship between Naggiar Vineyards and Derek. While looking to purchase grapes for Viansa, he was invited out to Naggiar vineyards by Mike Naggiar. Derek was surprised by the quality of the grapes Naggiar was growing; “He (Mike Naggiar) was doing everything right to grow top quality fruit.” Derek’s own distinctive winemaking style was a perfect match for Naggiar’s top quality fruit and winemaking aspirations. Founded Madura Consulting in 2004, where he is the principal and managing partner with customers in Napa, Sonoma and the Sierra Foothills.
Derek was born on an Air Force base in a small town outside Madrid, Spain and has a great love and affinity for the Spanish culture, food, and wine. To that end, he asked Mike Naggiar to plant Tempranillo grapes on the Naggiar estate in 2003 and now makes his own Tempranillo and other Spanish style wines under the Irwin Family label. Derek, his wife (and Naggiar Blogger) Danielle, and their four children live in Napa.
History
After a three year search, Mike and Diane “retired” with a vision to develop a sixty acre Sierra Foothills vineyard outside the small town of Grass Valley. In 1998, with the help of a vineyards expert, they planted vines and began to learn the grape growing business. They were soon selling premium quality wine grapes and gaining a superior reputation among discriminating winemakers in Napa, Sonoma, and their own Sierra Foothills.
The rural lifestyle and farming business grabbed the attention of family and friends who were soon visiting often and basking in the allure and serenity of the beautiful vineyard setting around the Naggiar homestead. Holidays found every room full and the dining table overflowing with the innate charm and welcoming warmth of a family brimming with members not only from the Northern California area, but from as far away as Canada, Europe, and Australia.
Practices & Techniques
Quality grapes come from quality vineyards. You can make a great wine from great quality wine grapes, but you cannot make a great wine from mediocre wine grapes. Simply speaking, exceptional wines start in the vineyards. From the very beginning, the Naggiar family spared no expense in establishing their vineyards and adhering to the most proven, yet traditional, farming practices available in the grape growing business. Varietals were chosen meticulously to match the soil and conditions on the one hundred thirty five acre estate that comprises not only Naggiar Vineyards but the Naggiar family homestead. Everything that takes place in the vineyards is designed to support the mission of Naggiar Vineyards. We strive to be the top quality grower of wine grapes in the Sierra Foothills and thereby produce the best wines for our customers.
Awards
Double Gold Medal - 2018 Lone Star Int'l Wine Competition
Double Gold Medal - 2019 San Francisco Chronicle
Double Gold Medal - 2018 San Francisco Int'l Wine Competition
Double Gold Medal, Best Sangiovese - 2018 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition
Gold Medal - 2019 Pacific Rim Wine Competition
Gold Medal - 2018 West Coast Wine Competition (East meets West)
Gold Medal - 2018 San Francisco Int'l Wine Competition
Cellar Selections, Editors Choice, 92 pts - 2018 Wine Enthusiast