Family Owned and Operated Boutique Estate Winery

Diamond Mountain District

Organically Grown 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes

Walter and Joan Teachworth moved to the Napa Valley with their children, Chris and Laura, in 1991. The couple was looking for a slower, healthier way of living for their family. The Napa Valley was an obvious choice, with its clean air, beautiful landscapes, and a Northern California lifestyle based on healthy cuisine and fitness. Not intending to become vintners, they meant to drink the wines already being made in this world famous wine region.

Walter developed his taste for cabernet sauvignon by drinking aged Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Latour purchased directly from a Galveston importer in the 1970's for $6 a bottle. Joan started sharing Walter's fondness for fine cabs when they met in 1976, and by the early 1990's they knew it was time to move to the Napa Valley. After living in St. Helena a few years, they found the perfect spot to build their own home on Diamond Mountain, south of Calistoga.

While Walter designed and built the vintner's home and pool house, Joan designed over a dozen one-of-a-kind, art-glass windows, creating works equal to the views surrounding the property. As they were completing the landscaping with six waterfalls, a pond and an abundance of azaleas, rhododendrons and other flowering plants, Walter and Joan realized that this unique spot was perfectly suited for vineyards. With its diverse soils, elevation and steep sunny slopes, their property practically cried out to be planted with cabernet sauvignon vines, and Walter and Joan listened. They realized they could create wines like those they had been enjoying for years, and share them with others who would appreciate an estate wine made with great care and hand-tended fruit.

Walter credits his late good friend and neighbor, Al Brounstein, legendary owner of Diamond Creek Vineyards, for encouraging him to bottle his two individual vineyards under separate labels. Al and Walter both came to the Napa Valley to enjoy calmer, more peaceful lifestyles after early careers in the hectic business world. They both believed in the importance of terroir, shared a love of first-growth Bordeaux wines, and created tranquil gardens featuring waterfalls and ponds on their estates located on Diamond Mountain.

You are invited to call and make an appointment to visit the Teachworth family when you are in the Napa Valley. The view from the terrace affords panoramic views of Mt. St. Helena and the Palisades, as well as Calistoga's faithful geyser. It is the perfect place to taste Teachworth cabs while hearing about how they found this very special property and became "accidental vintners".