Switchback Ridge

Switchback Ridge is a tiny Calistoga estate where Thomas Rivers Brown produces wines of extraordinary concentration from just 6 acres of vineyard, creating one of the valley's most intense tasting experiences from one of its smallest properties. Founded in 2000 by the Peterson family on a narrow ridge in the foothills above Calistoga, the estate's name describes the winding, switchback road that leads to the vineyard. The small scale and premium Calistoga fruit attracted Thomas Rivers Brown, whose consulting roster includes many of Napa's most prestigious estates but who clearly relishes the challenge of coaxing maximum expression from minimal acreage.

The 6-acre vineyard sits on a volcanic ridge at the northern end of the valley, where the warm Calistoga climate and rocky soils produce fruit of deep color and intense flavor. The ridge position provides excellent drainage and air circulation, reducing disease pressure and allowing the vines to concentrate their energy into a small number of highly flavored clusters. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Sirah, each variety occupying the soil type and exposure best suited to its needs.

Thomas Rivers Brown crafts three wines from the tiny estate, each showing the concentrated character that the site and the winemaker's style produce. The Peterson Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, powerful, and built for aging, with the firm tannins and volcanic minerality that mark it as mountain-influenced even at Calistoga's relatively modest elevation. The Merlot is plush and aromatic, and the Petite Sirah is a monster of color and concentration. All three wines demonstrate Brown's ability to amplify a site's natural character without distortion.

Tastings at Switchback Ridge are by appointment only, with visitors hosted on the small estate for an intimate experience. The scale of the operation means that the entire vineyard is visible from the tasting area, and the connection between the wine in the glass and the vines that produced it is immediate and tangible. The staff are passionate about the site and the wines, and the conversation often focuses on the challenges and rewards of farming a 6-acre vineyard to its maximum potential. The $75 fee includes the full portfolio.

Switchback Ridge demonstrates that great wine does not require hundreds of acres or millions of dollars. Six acres, carefully farmed and crafted by a world-class winemaker, can produce wines that compete with estates many times their size. The property's tiny footprint is its greatest asset, allowing the level of individual vine attention that larger operations cannot provide.