Tucked at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains on the western edge of St. Helena, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery is one of Napa Valley’s most quietly revered addresses. The property dates to 1882, and when Mary and Jack Novak purchased it in 1972, they began a multi-generational commitment to farming the land with extraordinary care. Today their daughters Beth Novak Maguire and Lindy Novak carry that legacy forward, producing Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Estate Sauvignon Blanc from certified organic, biodynamic, and regeneratively farmed vineyards.

A Historic Estate with Deep Napa Roots

The land that became Spottswoode has been planted to wine grapes since the 1880s, making it one of the older continuously farmed vineyard sites in Napa Valley. The estate takes its name from Mrs. Albert Spotts, who christened the property in 1910 and whose Victorian farmhouse still stands at the heart of the estate.

When Mary and Jack Novak arrived in 1972, they set about restoring both the land and the house. The first Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was released in 1982 from the 1982 vintage, a hundred years after the estate was first planted. That inaugural wine announced the Novak approach: precise, restrained, deeply soil-driven Cabernet built for the long haul.

Spottswoode farms its historic estate organically and biodynamically, letting the soil and the Mayacamas mountain influence speak directly through every bottle.

Organic and Biodynamic Farming as a Foundation

Spottswoode holds certifications in organic, biodynamic, and regenerative organic farming, a combination that reflects a philosophy rooted in the health of the land rather than the convenience of conventional inputs. The estate vineyard sits on a mix of alluvial benchland soils at the base of the Mayacamas, with natural cooling from the mountain air moderating what would otherwise be a warmer valley-floor site.

Farming biodynamically means following a rhythm tied to lunar cycles, composting from on-site materials, and treating the vineyard as a living system rather than a production unit. The result is fruit with a complexity and site-specificity that the Novak family believes could not be achieved any other way. Spottswoode was among the earliest Napa estates to commit to certified organic farming and has only deepened that commitment over the decades.

The Wines: Estate Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc

The anchor of the Spottswoode portfolio is the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine known for its classic structure and elegance rather than extraction or obvious power. It typically offers dark fruit, cedar, and fine-grained tannins with a finish that rewards patience in the cellar. The wine reflects the cooler, mountain-influenced character of the western St. Helena benchlands.

Alongside the flagship, Spottswoode produces an Estate Sauvignon Blanc from the home vineyard, a wine that consistently ranks among Napa Valley’s finest examples of the variety. Additional wines include Lyndenhurst, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that offers approachability at an earlier stage, and Mary’s Block Sauvignon Blanc, named in honor of the family matriarch. The Field Book wines round out the range with estate-grown bottlings that showcase specific vineyard blocks.

Visiting Spottswoode: Tastings by Appointment

Spottswoode welcomes guests by appointment for two tasting experiences set on the historic estate grounds. The Estate Tour and Tasting walks visitors through the vineyard and property before sitting down to taste the Estate Sauvignon Blanc, the Lyndenhurst Cabernet, and the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It is an unhurried introduction to the land and the wines together.

The Library and Barrel Tasting adds a vertical library wine and a current barrel sample, giving guests a rare window into how Spottswoode ages over time and where the current vintage is heading. Both experiences are intimate and hosted by knowledgeable estate staff. Because visits are appointment-only and limited in number, the setting retains a quiet, personal quality that is increasingly rare in Napa Valley wine country.

Spottswoode pairs beautifully with a visit to other St. Helena estates and the broader Napa Valley wine region. Its wines complement rich, protein-forward dishes: braised short rib, aged cheddar, or roasted lamb play to the Cabernet’s tannin structure and fruit depth in a way that acidity balances fat and tannins soften protein, making every bite and sip more complete.

Spottswoode Estate Winery: frequently asked questions