Fall 2026 Update

Update from Coombsville

It’s a funny thing, to have harvested in early August; and now Fall has been full of vineyard projects not directly related to grapes. We have spent many hours refurbishing a corner of the property that used to be home to a couple of horses and The Minks’ beloved “Ms Piggy”. We reclaimed our old redwood decking and turned it into a picnic table, so we have a proper place to sit and enjoy some of our wines together. Once we get some rain to soak our property, we will be very excited to get some meals going on our fire pit. Please reach out if you are visiting Napa and want to come by the vineyard. We are always happy to show you the improvements we have made in vine health and the tasting experience.

I get a lot of questions about the wine business and what it’s like to be in the wine industry given the current market environment. There are so many parallels to the markets business, where I have been for over twenty years. Interestingly when I began my trading career it was 2006, two years before the Great Financial Crisis. I began my winemaking career in 2023, also two years before this thus far nameless downturn in wine. The key takeaway in both investing and wine is that: Demographics are Destiny. As the Baby Boomers are hitting peak retirement, they are downsizing in many ways, wine included. Cellars have been stocked for decades, and now those cellars are being sold and drawn down, hopefully in enjoyment with loved ones. There are other reasons for the downturn in wine, like the public rebuke of alcohol from the longevity community, more opportunities for legal alternatives like marijuana, and a sluggish response from the industry to adapt to the changing market (I’ll write on this topic soon). But in my opinion, demographics are the primary driver. There are reasons to be optimistic that the industry is close to a bottom and it certainly helps the supply/demand imbalance that vineyard yields were down 40-60% in our area of Napa. We are investing in our business and expanding incrementally in this market. We are so excited about making Chardonnay this year after sourcing some amazing fruit that was not accessible in prior years. All of our 2026 wines are in barrel as well as our 2025 Pinot Noir. We plan on releasing the Mink Vineyard 2025 Pinot Noir and the 2026 Mink Vineyard Rosè in the Spring of 2027.

We are also investing in our botanicals business, so please check that out on our website. We are in the midst of planting borage, chamomile, yarrow and calendula at the vineyard so that can continue offering handmade local botanicals for future shipments. Some great options are currently available on our website and make great gifts. We have a limited amount of Calendula Balm derived from Mink Vineyard, as well as a syrup from foraged elderberries here in Napa Valley.

Our current wine offering is our 2024 Mink Vineyard Pinot Noir that is really benefiting from time in bottle, where the flavors are integrating beautifully. The wine has a lovely freshness on the palate, the tannins are silky, and there is plenty of red fruit that is highly enjoyable. It’s a great wine to enjoy with an array of foods, so please share with loved ones at the table. The weather is moderating and so we are free to start ground shipping. Please order by November 1st. Thank you always for your support of our business.

-Austin