I’ve known Beth Novak, President and CEO of Spottwoode Winery in Napa Valley for years, but actually never had a chance to visit the historic winery (first built in 1884) until this harvest. By the time I completed my visit, I was completely captivated by how natural, authentic, and inspirational Beth and all her employees are. In fact, when I arrived, I found a group of employees dancing and singing in the cellar as they worked!
“The original old stone winery was built in 1884,” stated Beth Nowak, after she greeted me. “However, my parents, Mary and Jack Novak, didn’t purchase the property until 1972.” The estate had been christened ‘Spottswoode’ by previous owner, Susan Spotts, and came with a historic house and acres of old vineyards.
“My parents replanted the old field blend vineyards to the more profitable grape varieties of cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc,” said Beth. “At the time, sauvignon blanc wasn’t actually that popular, but it was my mother’s favorite varietal, so we planted it anyway.”
Growing up, Beth and her brothers and sisters assisted their parents in the vineyards as part of their chores, but sadly their father, Jack Novak, passed away a few years after they purchased the property. “Neighbors helped my mother keep things going, and in 1982, she hired an excellent winemaker, Tony Soter, who encouraged her to farm the vineyards organically.”
Over the years, the Spottswoode sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon wines began to capture the attention of wine critics. Now, in addition to achieving top scores, the wines have been featured three different times in Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines of the world list.
Today the winery and its 46 acres of organically farmed estate vineyards have been compared to a ‘First Growth of Napa Valley,’ with the wines coveted by both collectors and wine enthusiasts alike. In 2016, Mary Novak passed away, and today Beth manages the estate with her sister, Lindy Novak.
Placeholder Advertisement…Insert Text Above
Spottswoode is One of Napa Valley’s ‘Greenest’ Wineries
But it isn’t just delicious wines that has put Spottswoode on the map, it is the fact that they are considered to be a leader in the U.S. wine industry for implementing green business practices.
Indeed, they are certified in almost everything green: Certified Organic Vineyards, Napa Green Sustainably Certified, Demeter Biodynamic Certified, Regenerative Organic Certified, and the first Napa Valley winery to achieve B Corp Certification.
“We believe deeply in caring for the earth, our employees, and community,” explained Beth, “and therefore we have pursued all of these certifications.”
But according to winemaker, Aron Weinkauf, the certifications serve not only to promote environmental and social responsibility, but also make good business sense and produce high-quality wine.
“We have noticed that these practices have helped our vines be more resilient to climate change,” he explained. “I think this is the joy and the benefit of organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farming – the vines are much more adaptable.”
Placeholder Advertisement…Insert Text Above
Aron cited an example of how Spottswoode was able to produce a high quality wine in 2020, because their vines were so resilient, whereas others in Napa Valley were not able to produce wine. To verify the quality, they had the grapes tested in an outside lab.
Walking through the vineyards Aron explained how they try to farm based on what each vintage brings to the vines. “Here at Spottswoode, our style is not to be overripe or over extracted. Instead we focus on elegance and the style that is dictated by the vines for that specific year.”
All the work is done by hand, and is low intervention. There is rarely a need to drop clusters and leaves, because the vine productivity is well balanced, due to green farming practices. They bring in sheep to eat the grass and fertilize each spring, and only irrigate the vines if necessary.
“The name of the game is resilience. We are trying to build a more dynamic ecosystem focused on resilience and quality,” stated Aron.
To support their local community, Spottswoode employees are also helping their neighbors and growers to switch to organic farming. The estate also donates wine and time for auctions and other events to support B Corp, sustainability, and community efforts.
Placeholder Advertisement…Insert Text Above
Tasting the Wines of Spottswoode
It turns out that 2024 is the 40th anniversary of Spottswoode wines. “The 2021 Cabernet is our 40th anniversary vintage of estate cab, and the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is our 40th anniversary vintage of that variety,” explained Beth.
I felt very honored to taste these special wines. Following are some tasting notes:
- Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – A glowing ruby red, this wine opens with an opulent nose of plum, raspberry and violet notes, followed by a concentrated and elegant palate of boysenberry, clove, toffee, and forest floor. It is well balanced with fine grained tannins and a long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon 87%, Cabernet Franc 9%, Petit Verdot 4%, aged 20 months in French oak. (99 points, $285)
- Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc 2023 – Extremely aromatic with fresh grass, starfruit, and white peach on the nose, which opens to a seductively soft, lemon meringue palate with notes of grapefruit, lime, and marshmallow, before ending in a long and juicy finish. Truly delightful! Sauvignon Blanc 93%, Semillon 7%; made with grapes sourced in Napa and Sonoma. (93 points, $48).
- Spottswoode Estate Sauvignon Blanc ‘Mary’s Block’ 2023 – Named after Beth’s mother, the organic grapes for this wine are a from a special 1.07 acre block on the property. With an inviting nose of pear, grapefruit, white peach and a hint of minerality, this wine is textured on the palate with complex notes of dried pineapple, wet stone, and a hint of toasty oak. Very well balanced with crisp acidity and a long finish, it is designed to age. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, fermented and aged for 5 months in barrel. (96 points, $85).
As I concluded my visit to Spottswoode, I felt inspired that there are still such authentic old Napa Valley wineries run by families who care so passionately about the land, the employees, community and the quality of the wines.
And as I walked to my car, I could still hear music and singing drifting from the open cellar doors as the employees finished up another day of harvest work.
NOTE: This article was originally published in Forbes.com. Republished here with permission.
