Padis Vineyards is located in the picturesque hillsides of the Oak Knoll District in the heart of Napa Valley. It was founded by jewelers Steve and Judy Padis with a single barrel in 2007 that was bottled in large format and donated to charity auctions. A year later, their first commercial vintage was released.
Both Steve and Judy hail from the East Bay. Steve’s journey into wine began in the 1970s, guided by Judy’s family, who appreciated both fine wine and cuisine. Their growing interest in wine took them from the Central Coast to the Napa Valley, where they witnessed the nascent wine industry firsthand. It was during these visits that Steve’s passion for wine deepened, eventually leading to the purchase of property in the Oak Knoll District.
Initially, the Padis’ sold their grapes to local wineries. However, today, Padis Vineyards produces approximately 2,000 cases of wine annually.
Steve Padis began his jewelry career during his senior year at UC Berkeley in the early 1974 as a street vendor, stringing together Puka shells and various beads into bracelets and other wearable items – selling these along Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley for a few dollars per item. Very hipster of him! By the time he graduated, in 1975, he had begun to deal in precious metals and diamonds. The business that evolved from those humble beginnings is a remarkable success story. Over the following fifty years, their jewelry business, Padis Gems, has grown to three stores in San Francisco and a store in downtown Napa that also doubles as the Padis tasting room.
Since the Padis’ are, shall we say, dilettantes, the real story behind their wine is their collaboration with renowned winemaker Robert Foley. Steve’s admiration for Foley’s wines led him to enlist Foley’s expertise in crafting Padis Vineyard’s signature selections.
Robert Foley began his career by honing his skills at several esteemed wineries, especially Pride Mountain Vineyards, where he served as the founding winemaker for a remarkable 15 years. It was during this time that he also ventured into creating his own acclaimed labels such as Switchback Ridge, Paloma, School House, and Engel Family wines.
Renowned for his ability to produce wines that captivate the senses and finish with elegance, Foley’s reputation continued to flourish as he established his own winery atop Napa County’s Howell Mountain. Here, within an extensive cave system completed in 2008, he oversees the production of Robert Foley wines, with over 1,000 barrels housed within. The wines he makes for Padis are produced here as well.
Padis Vineyards is situated on 15 acres of hillside with panoramic views of the valley and vineyards along the incline of the Oak Knoll district. Enjoying the sweet spot between Napa’s warmer upper-valley appellations and the cooler Los Carneros region to the south, the vines on property benefit from an ideal climate featuring consistent morning fog and cool nights
Beyond winemaking, Padis Vineyards is known for its stunning cave venue. Carved into the hillside beneath their vineyard, the cave serves as a picturesque backdrop for corporate events and private celebrations, and is used as the storage facility for the Padis’ personal collection of over 10,000 bottles.
In 2014, Padis Vineyard’s wines found their way to the White House, served during Greek Independence Day celebrations—an honor that speaks to the vineyard’s growing reputation and influence in the world of fine wine.
Padis Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
This Cabernet is a rich, dark opaque purple in the glass. The nose bursts with dark fruit, especially black cherry and blackberry. Abetted by cocoa and plum, these continue on the extra dry and pleasantly lean palate. The wine also features grippy, earthy tannins and a long finish. ABV is 15.2%.
Padis is one of the few Napa wineries to produce a kosher wine. For a wine to be kosher, only Sabbath-observant Jews may touch any part of the winemaking process – from picking the grapes to crushing until either the bottles are sealed or the wine is pasteurized. Brilliance is the name of Padis Vineyards’ Kosher Mevushal Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is made at Hagafen Cellars in Napa by winemaker Ernie Weir. There are only four wineries/producers based in the Napa Valley making Kosher and Mevushal wines from Napa grown grapes (Hagafen, One Hope, and Marciano Estate in addition to Padis).
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