John Anthony Vineyards

Discovering Oak Knoll District through Five Distinct Vineyards

At John Anthony Vineyards, the Oak Knoll District holds a special place in both our story and our cellar. Located just north of downtown Napa Valley, this cool-climate AVA is shaped by abundant valley-floor sunshine, daily fog from San Pablo Bay, and tempering southern breezes. The result is a long, steady growing season that allows grapes to ripen slowly, preserving acidity while building depth and complexity.

Oak Knoll’s diverse soils bring distinct character to each vineyard and varietal. Across our five vineyards—Twisted Oak, Crane, Epps, GnR, and R&D—these subtle differences in soil, exposure, and elevation translate into Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah that are refined, expressive, and unmistakably rooted in place.

Twisted Oak Vineyard

Perched upon a steep hillside at the foothills of Mount Veeder, Twisted Oak is truly unique within our Oak Knoll District portfolio due to its higher elevation and varied vine orientations. The interplay of soil drainage from gravelly soil, sun exposure, and shade fosters an unparalleled intensity of flavor in the fruit harvested from this plot. Twisted Oak Vineyard consistently yields high-quality fruit and is frequently a contender for inclusion in the prestigious John Anthony Reserve program and best-of-all-barrels selection, The ONE. Sourced from this block is the single-vineyard-designated John Anthony Vineyards Twisted Oak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

Crane Vineyard

Crane Vineyard holds deep significance in the John Anthony Vineyards portfolio as it was the first vineyard John leased and planted for the John Anthony portfolio. The four-acre estate, located in the foothills of Mount Veeder, was planted to Merlot in 1996, with Syrah vines added a few years later. Here, a small alluvial fan creates gravelly soils and a smooth, rolling terrain, ideal for producing elegant and understated red wines. Sourced from this estate includes single-vineyard designate John Anthony Vineyards Crane Vineyard Merlot and Crane Vineyard Syrah, as well as the Reserve Merlot and occasionally the Reserve Syrah.

R&D Vineyard

Nearly two decades ago, John encountered this family estate in its early, underdeveloped state and planted it exclusively with Cabernet Sauvignon. Situated on the valley floor with predominantly north-south rows, R&D benefits from ample exposure to the full summer sun. Over time, the vines have matured beautifully, earning their esteemed vineyard-designate status, producing the John Anthony R&D Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

GnR Vineyard

GnR Vineyard is a 2.5-acre microsite on the valley floor distinguished by its east-west vineyard orientation and gravelly alluvial soils. GnR Vineyard is meticulously barrel-selected for the single-vineyard-designate GnR Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, ensuring only the most expressive lots represent the site. GnR wines impart robustness and beautiful tannin structure that drink beautifully upon release and for many years after.

Epps Vineyard

Epps Vineyard is the smallest of the Oak Knoll District estates, just under 2 acres, and only produces about four barrels of wine. Divided into four north-south-oriented blocks, Epps is bathed in ample sunlight, providing an exceptional ripening environment for the single-vineyard-designate John Anthony Vineyards Epps Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

Each of our five Oak Knoll District sites tells its own story, shaped by subtle variations in soil, exposure, and vine orientation. Together, they showcase the versatility that characterizes Napa Valley and Oak Knoll District—producing elegant and understated wine grounded in a strong sense of place.

Visit the John Anthony Tasting Lounge in Downtown Napa to taste the intricacies of Oak Knoll District side by side, or acquire them directly here.