Merryvale Vineyards

Merryvale Vineyards occupies one of the most historically significant buildings in Napa Valley: the original Sunny St. Helena Winery, the first winery constructed in the valley after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The building, a handsome stone and wood structure on Main Street in downtown St. Helena, has been in continuous winemaking use for over 90 years, making it a living monument to the valley's post-Prohibition revival. Merryvale was established under its current name in 1983 by Bill Harlan (who later founded the legendary Harlan Estate) and has been producing benchmark Napa wines from this storied location ever since.

The estate includes 80 acres of vineyards in St. Helena, Carneros, and other Napa appellations. The winery's location on Main Street in downtown St. Helena gives it a walkable, accessible position that most estate wineries lack. While the vineyard sources are geographically diverse, the winemaking is firmly rooted in the St. Helena tradition of producing Cabernet of power and depth. The Starmont label, Merryvale's sister brand, extends the operation's reach with wines from Carneros vineyards.

Winemaker Jonathan Walden produces a portfolio led by the Profile Bordeaux blend, one of the first and most enduring proprietary red wines in Napa Valley. The Profile, first released in 1983, combines Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc in proportions that shift with each vintage. The estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay round out the core portfolio, while the Antigua label provides approachable, everyday wines at lower price points. The winemaking style emphasizes balance and structure, producing wines that age well and pair beautifully with food.

The tasting room on Main Street is one of the most atmospheric in the valley. The historic building's interior features a spectacular oval room with a stone fireplace, creating a setting that feels like a private wine library. Tastings range from a guided flight at the bar to a reserve experience in the historic cask room. The downtown location makes Merryvale an easy stop for visitors exploring St. Helena on foot, and the combination of history, architecture, and wine quality makes it one of the most rewarding walk-in experiences on Main Street.

Merryvale matters because it connects visitors to a pivotal moment in Napa Valley history. The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 could have been the end of California wine; instead, it was a new beginning, and the Sunny St. Helena building was where that new beginning took physical form. Tasting wine in a room that has been making wine continuously since 1933 provides a connection to Napa's resilience that no modern tasting room, however beautiful, can replicate.