John’s first vineyard was the Crane Vineyard, a small four-acre property in the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley owned by the parents of John’s wife, Michele. John planted his first Crane Vineyard Merlot vines in 1996, followed by Syrah vines a few years later.

The Oak Knoll District American Viticultural Area is the ideal location for red varietals, combining valley floor sun with tempering breezes from the south. The soils here bring out noticeably different qualities in each varietal, giving each wine its own unique character.