About us

Started in 1988 by two prominent Howell Mountain vineyard owners, Howell Mountain Vineyards and its wines have been an integral part of the emergence and development of this AVA in the wine industry. Today, led by Mike Beatty, grower of the famed Beatty Ranch, Howell Mountain Vineyards continues its focus on quality in the vineyards while embracing bio-harmonic principles. 

History

In 1983, Mike Beatty, along with other Howell Mountain wineries and farmers, helped to establish the Howell Mountain Appellation (AVA) and reestablish the mountain as a premiere Napa Valley grape growing region. Prohibition had affected the entire wine industry, but with an entrepreneurial spirit and nature on their side, it would not be long before the mountain wineries surpassed their pre-prohibition glory. In 1988, Mike and another prominent Howell Mountain vineyard owner started Howell Mountain Vineyards to produce their own wines and further showcase their grapes. Today, Mike Beatty continues to lead Howell Mountain Vineyards and its focus on producing quality in the field with minimal intervention wine-making in order to showcase the unique characteristics of this distinctive appellation.

Vineyard & Terroir

Perched at 1800 feet on the Vaca Mountain Range looking out towards Spring Mountain and Diamond Mountain in the Mayacamas Mountain Range, the property is home to some of the oldest Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the Howell Mountain Appellation. Thanks to Mike Beatty’s pioneering vision, he acquired the property in 1977 after two years of drought left others doubting the vineyard’s potential, and farmed it for quality, establishing it as one of Howell Mountain’s premium vineyards. This 34 acre vineyard, planted with equal parts of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot for blending, quickly became a favorite for Howell Mountain wine producers like Dunn Vineyards, Ridge Vineyards, and Duckhorn.

Howell Mountain Vineyards embraces a bioharmonic philosophy – a pursuit of balance and integrity. We take great care throughout the course of the operation to achieve harmony between our family of workers, vendors, and customers. We believe that, alongside personal attention, the vines respond to the agreeable nature of interactions. Many members of our team have been with us for decades, working alongside multiple generations of Beatty farmers. Ultimately, the belief that no technology can replace watching and listening to the vines allows us to produce the best grapes possible. Backed by a non-interventionist winemaking philosophy, achieving an unrivaled standard in the mountain vineyard enables us to offer exceptional wine in the bottle, year after year.

Winemaking & Aging

The Howell Mountain AVA’s unique soil and micro-climate combined with Mike Beatty’s boots-on-the-ground approach in the vineyard enables us to consistently produce some of the highest quality fruit in Napa Valley. Add to that the minimal interventionist wine-making philosophy of winemaker Bryan Kane, and it is no wonder that Howell Mountain Vineyards is able to craft wines that truly express the terroir of this incredible Howell Mountain AVA.

Being primarily focused on making wine in the field, the goal in the mountain winery is to let the unique terroir of Howell Mountain come through in every bottle of Howell Mountain winery wine. Ultimately striving for balance with regards to alcohol, pH, and oak treatments, winemaker Bryan Kane employs a minimal interventionist philosophy, taking full advantage of the terroir and the natural superiority of the land. We use only fine French oak barrels, opting against racy American oak, or heavy use of any one cooperage. Utilizing a barrel by barrel approach, we embrace proven, old-world wine-making methods, using native yeast, natural secondary fermentation, and minimal racking with no fining or filtering. 

A glass of Howell Mountain Vineyards wine is a true expression of this unique terroir. At first site the wine exhibits plush dark features with a hint of violet, which is often found in the high-elevation mountain fruit. In the nose, mountain wine characteristics come through most notably as hints of cherry cola with good definition and structure on the palate, supported by the firm mountain tannins and the underlying dark fruit. This unique mountain wine, coming from smaller berries and thick skins, naturally lends itself to having firm, natural tannins, allowing the wine to age longer. Although the fruit is from Napa, this is not a Napa Valley wine, but is uniquely and distinctively Howell Mountain Wine.

Over the last several decades, Howell Mountain Vineyards has been led by notable winemakers including James Hall (Patz & Hall), Ted Lemon (Littorai), and Dave Phinney, known for his wine The Prisoner (Orin Swift). Howell Mountain Vineyards is currently led by up and coming winemaker Bryan Kane who, over the last ten years, has worked out of several notable wineries like Copain and Nicholson Ranch, and is currently the winemaker for San Francisco’s largest urban winery, The Winery SF.

Ultimately striving for balance with regards to alcohol, pH, and oak treatments, Bryan employs a minimal interventionist philosophy, taking full advantage of the terroir and the natural superiority of the land. He uses only fine French oak barrels, opting against racy American oak, or heavy use of any one cooperage. Utilizing a barrel by barrel approach, Bryan embraces proven, old-world wine-making methods, using native yeast, natural secondary fermentation, and minimal racking with no fining or filtering. Recently recognized as one of the “Next Generation Cult Winemakers” by Sommelier Journal, Bryan’s non-interventionist technique has defined him as one of the pioneers in the “natural wine” movement. Bryan’s accomplishments were recognized by Wine Enthusiast where he was named one of the Top 100 Winemakers of the World and received the highest rating for any Zinfandel by having our 2015 Zinfandel named #40 of the Top 100 Wines of the Year.

Bryan is not a stranger to Howell Mountain fruit and the Beatty Ranch. Under another winery, Bryan has been making wine from Beatty Ranch for nearly a decade and currently assists at a couple of other Howell Mountain wineries. His passion for mountain fruit has even led him to develop his own estate vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains. With his dedication to mountain grapes and years of experience making wine with Howell Mountain Vineyards fruit, Bryan was a natural choice to lead our wine-making in the future.

At The Winery

When visiting Napa Valley, Howell Mountain Vineyards offers the following three wine tasting options at The Saint Wine Lounge in historic downtown Saint Helena. Experience Howell Mountain Vineyards through a guided tour of our wines at The Saint Wine Lounge in historic downtown Saint Helena. Join us at the tasting bar or find a table in the main bar area.

- Up to 6 guests per table

- Enjoy three large sampling of our wines

- Additional glasses of wine are available after tasting

- Bottles of wine are available for purchase or for shipping home to most states

To make a reservation to taste, go to: https://www.howellmountainvineyards.com/best-wine-tasting-room-in-napa-valley

Our Wine Club

The Howell Mountain Vineyards Wine Club provides its members with access to all wines released — even our highly rated and limited release wines! Receive 3 shipments yearly (spring, fall and mid-winter) of 4 bottles each shipment containing our newest releases. Benefits of our Wine Club include:

Save 15% off all wine purchases & 25% off all case purchases (12 bottles or more) of Howell Mountain Vineyards wines.

Free invitations for you and a guest to our new wine release parties

Access to purchase additional quantities of special limited release wines

Discount to Howell Mountain Vintner’s Events

Each shipment will be sent to you automatically, and you may cancel at any time prior to your shipment. To sign up for our wine club, go to: https://www.howellmountainvineyards.com/howell-mountain-wine-club

Press & Awards

Top 100 Wines of the Year - #40, 2015 Beatty Ranch Zinfandel, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

#2 US Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year, 2017 Beatty Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine & Spirits Magazine

#2 Zinfandel of the Year, 2018 Old Vine Zinfandel, Wine & Spirits Magazine

95 points, 2017 Beatty Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine & Spirits Magazine

95 points, 2015 Beatty Ranch Zinfandel, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

95 points, 2018 Old Vine Zinfandel, Wine & Spirits Magazine

94 points, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine Spectator Magazine