Jon: “I never thought about Napa Valley, growing grapes or getting married again. However, while visiting some friends in the valley, I left having purchased 150 acres of undeveloped property with spectacular views and a plan to build a house and flip the real estate…”
Jan: “I loved Napa Valley’s food, wine and lifestyle and always dreamed I would live there. While visiting a friend who owned the property above Jon’s we decided to meet the “new neighbor’. We drove down the hill, and that was that. Jon and I were married on the property nine months later.”
Jon: “And that was the end of the flip.”
Zakin Wines has transformed our lives and given us the opportunity to meet and become friends with innumerable patrons. Helen Turley once referred to the property as “Cabernet Heaven”. She was right, but she did not have to say “Cabernet”!
Before we purchased the property in 1998, it had never been planted. It was the perfect blank canvas for us to build a home and create a wine representing the philosophy and values we believe in and want to share.
Philippe, originally from Bordeaux, is considered one of the greatest winemakers in the world. He honed his skill at Haut Brion, Petrus and Dominus. Philippe has been making Zakin wines since our first vintage in 2012.
For 20 years, Pete Richmond and Silverado Farming Company have provided vineyard management to Napa Valley’s best estate wineries. Pete began his farming career in the Santa Maria Valley at Bien Nacido Vineyards. He ultimately became Vineyard Manager for Kendall-Jackson Winery where his immersion in the world of high-end wine growing included collaborating with the winemakers on their Lokoya and Cardinale Brands. While at Kendall-Jackson, Pete initiated their first organic vineyard.
In 2001, Pete created Silverado Farming Company. The vision is to farm estate-grown luxury wines while caring about the community and employees. Pete is privileged to serve on a number of community nonprofits including the Ole Health Foundation Board, Ag for Youth Board and the Napa Valley Farm Worker Education Foundation.
With the Napa Valley Community Foundation, Pete created One Percent in 2006. Each year Silverado Farming Company donates one percent of its gross profit to fund Napa County Farm Worker issues and help at-risk children. To date, the fund has donated over one million dollars to local nonprofits. In recognition of his many accomplishments, Pete Richmond was selected by the Napa Valley Grape Growers Association as the 2019 Napa Valley Grower of the Year.
Brasswood Estate features a state-of-the-art winery with 17,000 sq. of caves, where we make our boutique wines. The property, located just north of downtown St. Helena, is home to multiple tasting rooms for premium wine experiences.
Our 150 acre, southwest facing estate on Howell Mountain benefits from rocky, volcanic soil, excellent sun exposure and drainage. These are perfect conditions for growing superb Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes with small berries and refined intensity.
The home, designed by Stanley Saitowitz, compliments and is an integral component of the natural environment in which it sits. Just as the house takes its inspiration from the land, so do our wines.
