Under the shade of giant oaks sits the ranch style building of Havens Wine Cellar. The pastoral 10-acre site is located on the Mayacamas benchland and includes a 7 ½ acre Syrah vineyard. The focus is on Bordeaux and Rhone varietal wines, hand made using grapes from the cooler southern end of Napa Valley.

The small cozy tasting room has two tasting bars and windows looking in to the production facility. There are some wine accessories and logo clothing for sale. The tasting room is scheduled for remodeling soon.

Owners Michael and Kathryn Havens strive for complexity and refined elegance in their wines. The goal is to produce artisan wines that enhance and compliment the dinning experience.

Closer to the moderating influence of San Francisco Bay, the growing season here starts earlier but extends longer than the more inland areas. Mid-afternoon temperatures in the southern Napa region can be as much as 15 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than St. Helena and Calistoga to the north. This combines to define what is called the “diurnal range,” or the daily swing of temperature and wind that many feel is one of the key determinants in a vineyards unique “terroir”.

Each vintage is created from the selection and complex blending of many diverse vineyard lots. This gives the winemaker the ability to craft unique wines including Haven’s, Albarino, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and their proprietary blends, “Black & Blue” (Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah) and “Bourriquot” (Cabernet Franc & Merlot).