The Vines of St. Helena: Sheldon Richards of Paloma Vineyard

There are days in the vineyard when the work announces itself quietly. No fanfare. No audience. Just the sound of boots on gravel, the steady pull of wire, the scrape of a shovel against rocky soil. These are the days that don’t always make it into tasting notes—but they shape the wine just the same. Cabernet Franc has always been a favored grape of Paloma Owner & Winemaker Sheldon Richards. It reflects patience, restraint, and the willingness to do things the long way. It also reflects the people who farm it—their judgment, their persistence, and, quite literally, their hands. Calloused hands that tell stories long before a bottle is opened. This is one of those stories. Why We Replanted Replanting a vineyard is not something you do lightly. It’s a decision measured in decades, not seasons. For us, it began with careful observation and an uncomfortable truth: a portion of our vineyard was impacted by Red Blotch virus. Red Blotch affects a vine’s ability to fully ripen fruit. Sugars lag. Flavors don’t quite come together. You can farm thoughtfully, adjust canopy, and make winemaking choices to compensate—but at a certain point, honesty steps in. The wine tells you what the vineyard needs. So we made a choice rooted in humility and responsibility. Rather than asking compromised vines to give more than they could, we chose to start again—block by block, decision by decision. “I may or may not see the wine that comes from this block,” Sheldon said one afternoon, standing at the edge of the deck view-point. “But my kids and their kids will”.

A Legacy of Recognition

Ask almost anyone who visits Napa Valley and they will tell you that they have been there multiple times or are planning to go again sometime soon. There is simply too much to see and taste in one trip especially when you account for the fact that there are around 600 wineries here in Napa.  That’s the magic of Napa. But here’s the good news—your visit doesn’t have to end when your flight home departs. With a little planning and a few insider tips, a Napa trip can turn into a year-round ritual that shows up on your dinner table, at gatherings with friends, and on those quiet Tuesday nights when you open something special “just because.” This guide is about stretching the joy—practically, affordably, and intentionally—so the wines you fall in love with here, continue to make sense long after the vineyard glow fades.

Wine terroir shapes every sip at Paloma Vineyard. From soil and slope to sunlight and elevation, this article explains how place defines our wines.

The holidays are a time of warmth, laughter, and lingering conversations around a table that feels just a little bit magical. At Paloma Vineyard , we believe that the right wine can turn a good holiday gathering into a deeply memorable one. Whether you’re cozying up by the fire or welcoming friends through your front door, choosing a holiday red that resonates with the season adds richness to every moment. Red wines, with their deep hues and comforting aromatics, often feel like the unofficial wine of cool nights and festive gatherings. This year, elevate your celebrations with selections that embody structure, balance, and that touch of elegance holiday hosts crave.

Nestled on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains and overlooking the iconic Napa Valley, the Spring Mountain District AVA offers a truly elevated wine‑country experience. With vineyards planted on steep hillsides, above the valley floor, this mountain appellation is all about high altitude vineyards, dramatic terroir and a hospitality style grounded in family, craft and place.

Wine tasting is more than etiquette and ceremony. It’s an opportunity to listen to your palate — to discover what flavors resonate most with you, so that in later tastings or purchases, you can ask for “more of that. ” When you can name what you like, you unlock a more rewarding, deeper wine experience. Below is your refined guide to wine tasting etiquette — yes — but always in service of helping you tune in to your preferences.

At Paloma, Merlot is the soul of our story. It is the grape that founders Jim & Barbara fell in love with on their journey to Spring Mountain.  Picture this: it’s the late 1970s, and Barbara and Jim are visiting the Duckhorn vineyard, tasting their famed Three Palms Merlot. They lean into a sip and feel stirred—not just by the wine’s richness, but by its quiet elegance. That moment sparked something. They looked at each other and thought, “This is the wine we want to make. These are grapes we have to grow.” Before they even found the site, they had their hearts set on Merlot. By the time they found the raw land at the top of Spring Mountain, there was no changing their minds. Back then, planting Merlot at that elevation was almost unheard of—too cool, too risky. But they trusted their instincts and took the leap.

Wine tasting and aging go hand in hand. Learn how patience and ritual shape each bottle into a story and train your palate with every sip.