Barlow Vineyards

Barlow Vineyards is a family estate at the very top of the Silverado Trail in Calistoga, producing structured Cabernets from 54 acres of vineyard that occupy some of the northernmost planted land in the Napa Valley appellation. Founded in 1994 by Warren Barlow, the estate benefits from the warm, sunbaked conditions of upper Calistoga while the hillside elevation provides enough cooling to maintain balance in the wines. The location, at the end of the Silverado Trail where the road begins to climb toward the Palisades, gives the estate a frontier character that reflects the boldness of its wines.

The 54-acre vineyard sits on the upper reaches of the Silverado Trail, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot on volcanic soils that provide excellent drainage and mineral nutrition. The warm Calistoga climate produces fruit of bold, concentrated character, and the hillside positioning provides air circulation that reduces disease pressure. The Cabernet Franc, which thrives in the warm conditions, provides aromatic complexity to the Bordeaux-style blends.

Winemaker Bill Ballentine produces a focused portfolio of estate wines that capture the warm Calistoga terroir. The Cabernet is bold and well-structured, with the generous fruit and firm tannins that the northern valley naturally provides. The Cabernet Franc is aromatic and herbal, and the Merlot adds softness and approachability. The estate's Bordeaux-style blend combines the best lots into a wine of genuine complexity.

Tastings are by appointment on the estate, where the upper-Silverado-Trail setting provides vineyard views and a sense of being at the valley's northern frontier. The $50 fee includes the estate portfolio.

Barlow represents the northern extreme of Napa Valley viticulture, a place where the warmest conditions in the valley produce wines of bold, unapologetic character. The upper Silverado Trail location gives the estate a pioneering spirit that matches the intensity of its wines.