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Estate Vineyards

Rooted in agriculture for more than four generations, the Ballentine family has proudly owned and farmed three estate vineyards totaling 75 acres in northern Napa Valley — St. Helena and Calistoga AVAs — dating back to 1905. Today these estate vineyards are still tended to by the Ballentine family and their trusted team, producing quality wines from popular Napa Valley varieties, as well as alternative and cult-favorite varieties.

Betty’s Vineyard

Born and raised in St. Helena, Frank Ballentine grew up in the old farmhouse on this vineyard. Purchased by his late father, Van, and named for his late mother, Betty’s Vineyard is the site of Ballentine Vineyard’s winery. It lies just north of St. Helena and is one of the narrowest parts of Napa Valley.

The St. Helena vineyard hides behind a row of redwood trees, producing delicate white wines and Merlot. This vineyard is the largest acreage of Chenin Blanc planted and one of only a few acres of Malvasia Bianca in Napa Valley. Current single-vineyard wines from Betty’s Vineyard include:

Chenin Blanc
Malvasia Bianca

Fig Tree Vineyard

Fig Tree Vineyard, purchased in 1949, is located in Napa Valley at the northeast edge of the St. Helena appellation. Two fig trees guard this prized property, which grows some of our rarest estate wines. One fig tree was a precious gift to Van Ballentine from dear friends Rex and Jean Urvani, who brought it from her hometown in Italy. The trees produce delicious figs we enjoy eating in late summer while anticipating the pending harvest.

Of the three Ballentine vineyards, Fig Tree is shaded from the early morning sun and is usually the last of our sites to ripen. Peak exposure happens late in the day when the sun hangs low over the Mayacamas and the ground has warmed up. The rocky and loamy soil helps de-vigorate the vines and improve the tannin structure of the grapes from this vineyard.

This historic vineyard has consistently produced elegant, complex red wines for over 70 years, richly textured expressions of its unique terroir. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc are grown in this special vineyard. Several of our most prized single vineyard estate-grown wines come from Fig Tree Vineyard and include:

Malbec
Cabernet Sauvignon

Pocai Vineyard

Purchased with $10 in gold coins, the Pocai Vineyard has been farmed by our family for over 100 years, ever since Frank Ballentine’s great-grandparents bought it in 1905. Located off the Silverado Trail in the Calistoga AVA, at the north end of Napa Valley, this was home to Libero and Maria Pocai and our family’s first winery, L Pocai & Sons. 

The soil is Bale gravelly loam, the rockiest of our three vineyards and historic in its own right. It was named “Bale” in tribute to Dr. Edward T. Bale, a Napa Valley pioneer and founder of the Bale Grist Mill in 1846. Composed of little rocks only found in Napa Valley, the soil is low-fertility, but the drainage is excellent and perfect for growing grapes. Pocai Vineyard produces big red wines with expressive, robust tannins.

Current estate-grown wines from various blocks in Pocai Vineyard include:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Zinfandel
Malbec
Petit Verdot

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