Couravant

CourAvant Wines, founded by Gary and Sharon Lessing in 2019, is located in St. Helena, Napa Valley. The Lessings, who first visited Napa in 1980, initially made wine at home from their small vineyard before establishing CourAvant. They purchased the former Jaffe Estate property in 2020, which spans 4 acres, with 2 acres planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The vineyard is situated near the Rutherford Appellation and has a history of grape production dating back to the early 1990s.

CourAvant's wine style emphasizes elegance and balance, with notable blends including the 2023 Proprietary Red Blend, which features a harmonious mix of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2023 Proprietary White Blend, combining Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The wines are characterized by fresh fruit flavors, floral notes, and a pleasing acidity. The Lessings also cultivate olive trees on the property and produced their first olive oil in 2023. While the winery does not currently offer public tastings, the wines reflect a sophisticated approach to winemaking, overseen by winemaker Sally Johnson Blum.