Drive up the tree-lined path to Pope Valley Winery, and one will feel like they’ve stepped back in time. One of Napa Valley’s oldest wineries, Pope Valley offers an authentic winetasting experience where guests enjoy unique varietals within a relaxed setting. Varied tasting venues feature views of rolling vineyards, olive trees, and the property’s 400-year oak tree—a living testament to the winery’s longstanding history.
Originally built in 1897 as Burgundy Winery and hand-dug into the hillside, the three-story, gravity-flow structure featured hand-hewn redwood beams reclaimed from the Oat Hill quicksilver mine. Visitors can tour the original facility, an intact blacksmith shop, and the hand-dug cave, all of which provide a peek into the origins of Napa winemaking. Today, the Pope Valley team barrel ages all of its wines in the same cellar used for more than a hundred years, yet the facility has been transformed into a modern time capsule.
Family-owned, Pope Valley’s focus is on small, hand-crafted lots. Proprietors Diana Eakle Hawkins and her brother David Eakle work seamlessly as a team; David oversees winemaking and viticulture, while Diana handles the marketing and business side. Fourth-generation Napans (their grandmother was one of Napa’s first female tour guides, and their grandfather Lee Eakle ran mule teams, planting and harvesting hay in the woodland area), the two are passionate about regenerative and sustainable practices, from farming to packaging materials. “Being stewards of the land is a huge part of who we are and how we want to farm and make wine,” said Diana. “We strive to farm and preserve our natural resources for generations to come.”
With a goal of producing truly one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted wines, the duo hired the esteemed Jean Hoefliger as their consulting winemaker. Their annual 4,500 case portfolio includes a Sparkling Brut Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet, and a Red Blend. They also feature some very small production wines, such as a 20-year barrel Zinfandel Port, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Primarily selling directly to consumers, the majority of their wines are found only at the winery, where guests are treated to unique specialty tasting experiences such as the Burgundy Winery Indoor Tasting, which includes a tour of the hand-dug cave, followed by a seated tasting within the second story Fermentation Lounge or within the third story Pre-Prohibition Crush pad. Afterward, guests can enjoy the patio for bottle service and bring-your-own picnic. The Farmhouse Private Tasting and Cheese Pairing is a private experience where guests enjoy a Reserve flight of five single-vineyard boutique wines paired with cheeses.
“For David and me, viticulture is a way of life, not just a job,” said Diana. “I love Napa’s camaraderie, its roots, the sense of community, and the commitment to the land for which we strive to be protectors and stewards. In this business, you start early and end late, but there are so many rewards, and it’s never boring.”
