Larkmead Vineyards

Larkmead Vineyards is one of Napa Valley's most important yet least recognized historic estates, a Calistoga property whose winemaking history dates to 1895 and whose modern wines, crafted by Dan Petroski, represent one of the most intellectually exciting portfolios in the valley. The estate was originally established by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, the eccentric San Francisco socialite who also funded the construction of Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. The property passed through several owners before the Solari family purchased it in 1948, and their descendants continue to own and operate the estate today.

The estate encompasses 110 acres of vineyard in Calistoga, planted to an unusually diverse range of varieties that reflects the property's long agricultural history. Alongside the expected Cabernet Sauvignon, the vineyard includes plantings of Sauvignon Blanc and the extremely rare Tocai Friulano, a northeastern Italian variety that Petroski has championed as both a winemaker and a marketer. The warm Calistoga climate produces fruit of generous ripeness, while the estate's diverse soil types, ranging from river gravel to volcanic ash, create complexity within the portfolio.

Dan Petroski, who also produces his own Massican (white-only) and Fortunate Son (red-only) labels, brings an unusually intellectual approach to the winemaking. His Larkmead Cabernets are structured and age-worthy, built with the patience that a historic estate deserves. The Tocai Friulano, a crisp, aromatic white that is unlike anything else produced in Napa Valley, has become the estate's most distinctive offering and a cult favorite among white wine enthusiasts. The Solari Family Cabernet, from the estate's oldest vines, is the flagship red.

The tasting room on Larkmead Lane is warm and welcoming, with the estate's 125+ year history providing a rich backdrop for the wines. Tastings are by appointment and include the full portfolio, with the Tocai Friulano providing a particularly memorable departure from the Cabernet-dominated flights that characterize most Napa visits. The staff are knowledgeable about both the estate's history and Petroski's winemaking philosophy, and the conversation often touches on the role of obscure varieties in diversifying Napa Valley's offerings.

Larkmead matters because it bridges Napa Valley's deepest past and its most forward-thinking present. The 1895 founding connects the estate to the pre-Prohibition era, while Dan Petroski's embrace of Tocai Friulano and other unconventional varieties points toward a future where Napa's diversity is celebrated rather than suppressed. The Solari family's multigenerational stewardship ensures that the estate's history and its future remain in the same hands.