Welcome to our Sanctuary

Above the Fog

ShopVisit

Inspiring Scenery

Storied Heritage

Honest Wines

Paloma (Spanish for “dove”) sits on a steep, tree-lined ridge at the very top of Spring Mountain. A short drive from San Francisco, it’s seemingly miles away from anywhere, with sweeping vistas of the vine-carpeted valley floor. The success of the wine is a result of the terroir, the various micro-climates, the Richards’ dedication to farming, and multi-generational winemaking.

SHOP WINES
VISIT US
JOIN CLUB

2013 Paloma Merlot

“93 points. This wine exhibits plenty of plum, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, mocha, and coffee bean in a lush, delicious and opulently textured style. It is drinking beautifully already and will continue to evolve for another decade or more.”

Robert Parker

Wine Advocate

2014 Paloma Merlot

“…a big, world-class red wine capable of improving with bottle aging for 10 to 15 years. Complex aromas of blackberry fruits, black stone fruits, chocolate, tobacco, spice, and floral notes with a mineral overtone. On the palate, the wine has a big silky mouthfeel, well balanced, with flavors of berries, fruit cocoa, cassis, and spice, and a long spicy finish.”

Brix26

Vendor

2019 Paloma Merlot

“95 points. This is a very dense, compact wine with amazingly concentrated, complex fruit interwoven with firm tannins that will allow it to age for well over a decade. As great as this wine is now, it will only improve over the next several years. I’ve enjoyed this wine over the decades, and this is the best vintage I can ever remember tasting.”

Kevin M. Vogt

Master Sommelier

2019 Paloma Merlot

“92 points. Supple and generous, yet handsomely structured, with detailed red currant and cherry flavors highlighted by toasty spices and savory anise as this builds tension toward polished tannins.”

Tim Fish

Wine Spectator

“With its amazing aromatic depth and chiseled focus, this bottling joins 2001, 2007 and 2012 in the pantheon of truly freat Paloma Merlots… If five to twelve years from it’s full maturity, [the 2019] is a fascinating beauty already”.

Don Gillette

Napa Valley Winery Exchange

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon

“”Open and aromatic, with a plume of applewood, dried anise and sassafras notes leading the way for silky and fresh blackberry and boysenberry coulis flavors that carry through the fresh finish. Approachable now too. Drink now through 2032. 237 cases made.”

James Molesworth

Wine Spectator

Paloma Vineyard is generally about 10 degrees cooler on hot summer days than the valley floor. The more moderate temperatures, our volcanic soils, and the unique sun exposures around the very top of Spring Mountain are what make Paloma wines so special, adding layers of complexity to the mid-palate and long finishes.

We started making wine in 1994 and by 2000, Paloma Vineyard wines began to garner outstanding reviews. The 2001 vintage of the Paloma Merlot, named Wine Spectator’s “WINE OF THE YEAR” in 2003, sparked a loyal following for our elegant, mountain fruit wines. Paloma Merlot graced the Top 100 again in 2004 and 2009 at 54th and 65th, respectively. Our 2001 and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon also received honorable mentions from James Laube of Wine Spectator.

Paloma continues to focus on producing world class Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for our long-time supporters, as well as explore new possibilities, like Cabernet Franc and exceptional blends.

Our Story

Our Wines

Merlot

Merlot

About the Wine

Paloma Merlot is a blend of estate grapes: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon ranges from 14 to 16 percent depending on the vintage. The resulting wine is a big, world-class red capable of improving with bottle aging for at least 20 years in most vintages. Although the characteristics of the wine vary with each vintage, they have a consistent thread of complex aromas of blackberry fruits, black stone fruits, chocolate, tobacco, spice, and floral notes with a mineral overtone. On the palate, the wine has a silky mouthfeel, is well balanced with flavors of berries, fruit, cocoa, cassis, and spice, and enjoys a long spicy finish. The addition of the Cabernet Sauvignon adds structure, rich fruit, and a subtle increase in tannins.

BUY MERLOT
Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon

About the Wine

At Paloma, our Cabernet Sauvignon is pure. Aged in French oak barrels–a third new–our vintages exhibit a deep, intensely concentrated style red packed with layers of opulence. Our Cabernets deliver a complex mix of zesty, vibrant wild berry, raspberry, currant, and blackberry fruit in a firm, seamless way. Full-bodied and improving with every sip, they end with a complex mix of espresso and wild berry.

 

BUY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Ode to Barbara Cuvée

Ode to Barbara Cuvée

About the Wine

As the name states, this ‘plush and polished’ blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc is a tribute to the late co-founder of Paloma Vineyard, Barbara Richards. Her son, Sheldon Richards, now owner and winemaker, pays homage to his mother’s relentless work ethic, no-bullshit character, and humble roots in this remarkable offering. With ‘vibrant black cherry, mocha, and toasty spice flavors that sail on a long and lush finish’, this wine has impressed many. While currently sold out and originally planned to be a single vintage release, the exceptional feedback has enticed the winemaker; there may be more to come.

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc

About the Wine

As with all our wines, our Cabernet Franc is made with 100% estate-grown fruit. With the first vines being planted in 2017, our first release is planned for 2024. It will be a non-vintage comprising of our first two crops (2019 & 2021) as well as a 25% blend of 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. This opulent wine is showing incredibly well and we are very excited to release it later this year. First release will be in March to our Collectors Club and a full release to follow in August!

Shop All Wines

Recent Media

Wine and Food Mecca

Wine and Food Mecca

Venü Explores Napa and Sonoma 2.0 By Fred Bollaci READ THE ARTICLE HERE

Explore All Media