Cabell Coursey
Cabell's career started in Burgundy, France picking grapes during a semester abroad. After graduation, he returned to Burgundy to work in vineyards throughout Cote de Nuits. Cabell had the privilege to work with some of the very last vintages under Jacky Truchot and Henri Jayer. Cabell attended Lincoln University in New Zealand, earning graduate degrees in Enology and Viticulture. Cabell's passion for cool climate viticulture and methodical winemaking led to winemaking positions at Dumol, Alder Springs Vineyard, and Kosta Browne. Two decades of harvests have led Cabell to turn farming, science, and the elements of nature into one craft.
Cabell's winemaking philosophy is that of "Grower First." Under Cabell's guidance, the small, year-round vineyard team at Coursey Graves farms over 90% of the fruit harvested from the Sonoma and Napa vineyards. Cabell approaches winemaking with an intention to preserve freshness and a concept of purity and age-ability. The result is a wine deeply tied to both a moment in time and Cabell's culminating vision.
"I want to advance the perception of exceptional California wine. I want to be a leader in the new wave of winemakers focused on age ability and terroir. I want to show that great wines don't come from a zip code; they are born from remarkable soil, climate, viticulture, and winemaking."
John Graves
After three decades as the Founder/CEO of Convey Compliance Systems in Minnetonka, MN, John Graves refocused his efforts on his two passions: philanthropy and wine. As an avid collector of wines, John's interest eventually sparked a desire to create the kinds of wines he sought after. In 2015, John purchased 40 acres overlooking Bennett Valley. Partnering with Cabell Coursey, they revitalized the estate's small, south-southwest blocks of Bordeaux and Rhône varietals with a focus on soil quality and vine health by way of organic viticultural practices. Choosing vines and adapting practices to match the character of the site, they capture the quintessential structure and site-specificity that rocky, volcanic soils and marine-influenced vineyards are famous for.
After the sale of his business, John and his wife, Denise, established the Graves Foundation with a focus on closing the equity gaps of underprivileged youth in Minnesota. The foundation pledges to programs aimed at the prevention of youth homelessness, assisting young adults transitioning out of foster care, and addressing racial equity and access to education.
Graves Vineyard, Bennett Valley
High up the slopes of Bennett Mountain, the Graves Vineyard is nestled among coastal oak encinals, climbing 800 to 1500 feet above the hills and swales of Bennett and Sonoma Valleys. Steep grades and soil composition of 90% volcanic basalt, andesite, and rhyolite stone mixed with small amounts of clay loam allow for deep roots and perfect drainage. Elevation, south-southwest exposure, and coastal influences funneled through Crane Canyon allow for maturation and flavor development of the grapes grown here.
Graves Vineyard, Oakville
The Oakville name is synonymous with excellence. Located on the western foothills, the 1.75-acre Coursey Graves Oakville Vineyard is surrounded by Napa Valley royalty. Ideal soil, topography, and climate converge here, creating an environment that makes Oakville the treasure of Napa Valley.
Along the western margin of the valley just below the Mayacamas range, the soil is composed of ancient Pacific sea bedrock, greenstones, sandstone, limestone, and shales. Just far enough south to receive regular morning fog from the San Pablo Bay, the spring and summer days warm slowly, but the vines bask in the full afternoon sun. And when temperatures begin to peak, the bay blows cool breezes north to Oakville to begin again the cooling cycle of the night that preserves the color and acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon from the Coursey Graves Oakville Vineyard is classically rich and exotically beautiful with almost endless discovery.
Howell Mountain Vineyard
At an elevation of 2200 feet, the Coursey Graves Howell Mountain Vineyard is organically farmed by hand. A sunny yet cool site, the vineyard owes its distinctive climate to its altitude. Evenings are warm, but the days are a reprieve from the hot valley floor. Rocky, rhyolitic soils are porous and dry. Cooler springs cause buds to break late, and warm summer nights produce fruit that demonstrates a balance between acidity and sugar. All of which translates into wines with firm structure and depth, restraint and vibrancy, and incredible intensity and aging properties.
With every vintage, we aim to capture a moment in time and honor the purity of the Sonoma Coast. Farmed with an organic conscience, the WORKS & DAYS Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are harvested by hand in the cool & dark hours of the morning to preserve their vibrancy and striking nuances. Indigenous microflora fermentation and terracotta amphora aging amplify the concept of the terroir and maximize the character of the wine. They are alive, complex, and honest.
Spring Hill Vineyard
Spring Hill is a captivating place. All of your senses are immersed when stepping into our 20-acre Sonoma Coast vineyard. Located 10 miles from Tomales Bay, robust coastal winds and dense ocean air encapsulate the vineyard. Vines find their grounding in rich, sandy, gold soil that we farm organically; the delicate microbiome of our vineyard soil is key to vine health. Spring Hill's unique combination of sun, fog, and meticulous farming results in wines marked by purity, concentration, and focus.
Ireland Family Wines
Working with family grape growers, Ireland Family Wines are crafted by James MacPhail to represent the truth. The truth is found in the flavors of a place in time where the influences of mother nature impart distinct character balanced by minimalist winemaking techniques to develop a wine that only happens once for all time. We believe the truth in wine can spark wonder and inspire mankind.
Peake Ranch Vineyard
It is located on the eastern end of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA Peake Ranch Vineyard is 50 acres of seven different clones of Pinot Noir. The vineyard hugs the contours of the hill that covers most of the ranch, exposing the vines to the cool air that channels up the Santa Ynez River off the Pacific ocean. The soil is sandy loam with calcium silicate from the ancient marine fossils giving the wine minerality and texture. The combination of North, South, East, and West facing slopes coupled with the exposure to varying degrees of the cool wind give the vineyard a diversity of fruit flavor profiles adding to the complexity of the wine.
Tongue Dancer by James MacPhail
"… James is one of California's top winemakers, and Tongue Dancer is a relatively new project that reflects his interest in wines that have texture and mouthfeel. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir … are delicious wines and tell us that James MacPhail is on a roll.
~ International Wine Review
"Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired."
— Martha Graham
It is in great people's footsteps that we follow, and if we're lucky, we can trail our own paths using the sage advice of those before us. James is a winemaker who shares these same principles with Ms. Graham. He has been making wine for 20+ years. James is obsessive and passionate about Pinot Noir and is a disciple of the grape. And just happens to make extraordinary chardonnay as well. You may never master whatever it is you're doing, but always being curious and desiring results from that creative spark will give you experience and knowledge. Forever the student with Pinot Noir as the teacher, James is committed to exploring Pinot's depth and breadth.
The name Tongue Dancer represents our wine's taste and texture. These wines have a great "mouthfeel." In short – we make wine that dances on your tongue!