Raymond

A look at Raymond Vineyards through the years is a historical journey of Napa Valley’s deep viticulture and winemaking roots.

The Raymond family arrived in Napa Valley in 1933 and became connected to the Beringer family via marriage in 1936. Roy worked as winemaker for Beringer from 1933-1970, when in 1970, he and his two sons set out on their own with the 90-acre estate property in Rutherford where the winery is located. They released their first commercial wine under the Raymond Vineyards label in 1974 and never looked back. Like all great American family stories, the Raymonds put hard work and a pioneering spirit into their winery. Their dedication has helped make Raymond Vineyards a classic Napa Valley icon.

Their first vintage crush in 1974 was emblematic of the early Napa Valley harvests: the family worked together side-by-side caring for every facet of the winery – hospitality to farming, fermentation, bottling and sales.

The family quickly earned acclaim for their elegant wines with a beautiful balance of finesse, power and complexity. Five generations of the Raymond family imbued the winery with a sense of its deep roots in the Napa Valley and a commitment to honor those roots, the estate and the family tradition through every wine produced.

Today that family tree is entwined with Burgundy’s esteemed Boisset Collection. Jean-Charles Boisset has a history of elevating wineries to new heights, and Raymond Vineyards is no exception.

The winery brought on Napa Valley veteran Winemaker Stephanie Putnam to oversee winemaking, while Vineyard Manager Sophie Drucker has transitioned the estate vineyards to organic and Biodynamic® farming practices, a hallmark of Boisset Collection properties worldwide. The winery has also renovated its tasting room and opened a number of new visitor offerings with a focus on educating consumers and providing a place for them to nurture a passion for wine.

These efforts promise a bright future that will define Raymond Vineyards as one of the signature landmarks of the Napa Valley for years to come.

Raymond Vineyards has over 300 acres of estate vineyards in the Napa Valley, in 3 locations. Each parcel is matched to varietals which perform well in that particular climate and soil type. In addition, the winery maintains long term growing contracts with over 15 Napa Valley growers, allowing the winery to take advantage of the micro-climates and sub-appellations within the Napa Valley.

St. Helena Vineyards

Stice Vineyard
The 10 acre estate Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard at the end of Stice Lane is located on the valley floor just north of the Rutherford estate vineyard and south of the city of St. Helena. The soil type is Pleasanton Loam, with a Region II to Region III climate and moderately warm temperatures.

Founder’s Ranch Vineyard
Planted in 1976, the Founder’s Ranch vineyard is a unique estate positioned at the southern edge of St. Helena on gravelly alluvial fan soils with excellent drainage. Producing rich, bold wines with fine-grained tannins, the vineyard is an expression of one of the most prestigious and high-quality terroirs within Napa Valley. Currently undergoing certification to become Certified Napa Green, Organic and Biodynamic, the vineyard is planted to 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rutherford Vineyard

The original estate vineyard is on the south side of Zinfandel Lane in the middle of Napa Valley. Located on the valley floor between St. Helena and Rutherford, the 106- acre parcel is planted to 82 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The soil type is Pleasanton Loam and has a Region II to Region III climate with moderately warm temperatures.

Jameson Canyon Vineyard

The 210 acre Jameson Canyon vineyard is located in southern Napa Valley and receives direct influence from the nearby San Pablo Bay. Comprised primarily of rolling hillsides and a cool Region I climate, this area is greatly influenced by fog and bay breezes. There are 130 acres planted with Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc, with additional vineyards to be planted over the next few years.

Raymond’s 90-acre estate vineyards in Rutherford and St. Helena are certified organic and Biodynamic®, holistic farming methods that are hallmarks of Boisset family properties worldwide, including DeLoach Vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. In addition to CCOF and Demeter Biodynamic, the Raymond vineyards are also certified by Napa Green, Fish Friendly Farming and the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

BIODIVERSITY – Our farming techniques use cover crops, the application of Biodynamic® specific preparations and composts, and the maintenance of biodiversity within the estate vineyard property. Sheep, goats and chickens now make their home in our Theater of Nature and provide some of the compost that nourishes our vineyards.

SUSTAINABLE VITICULTURE – Rooted in the concept of balance, sustainable viticulture aims to boost environmental quality, enhance grape quality, maintain economic viability and ensure quality of life for all actors within our world.

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT – Organic farming goes further, eliminating the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to foster a greater level of awareness while reducing viticulture’s environmental impact.

IN HARMONY WITH NATURE – Biodynamic farming expands on the principles of organic viticulture by embracing a view of the vineyard as single self-regulating, self-sustained entity in harmony with the forces of nature and the celestial rhythms.