2017 Realm Houyi Vineyard Red

Realm Cellars is one of the most exciting stories in Napa Valley today. Realm began in 2002 by sourcing fruit from top vineyards like Beckstoffer To Kalon and Dr. Crane. Like any entrepreneurial endeavor, the early years were full of ups and downs, but eventually the winery found its stride. Beginning with the 2012 vintage, wine quality significantly improved and they have since garnered 17 100-point scores from various wine critics. In 2015, Realm acquired a hillside estate in the Stags Leap District which transformed the brand from a virtual winery to a domaine. The first estate wine in the portfolio is called Moonracer and each bottle showcases a unique label. In 2018 Realm entered into a partnership with the Farella family which adds the Farella Vineyard in Coombsville as the second estate vineyard. The portfolio of wines includes both single vineyards as well as proprietary blends. The winery is led by owner Scott Becker and winemaker Benoit Touquette. This domaine is one to watch as Realm continues its ascent into the top echelon of the wine world.

St. Helena AVA is at the northern end of Napa Valley just north of Rutherford and south of Calistoga. It is a relatively warm climate thanks to the Mayacamas Mountains on its western edge, which protect it from Pacific Ocean fog. Out of the 9,000 acres in the appellation, some 1,500 are under vine. The principal grapes grown in St. Helena are the Bordeaux grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. St. Helena is considered prime wine producing territory, and it was one of the first important wine producing regions in northern California. The legendary Charles Krug founded his winery just north of the town of St. Helena in 1873, and today the appellation is home to many prestigious producers, including Abreu, Grace Family and Spottswoode.