The Paloma Vineyard experience
A tasting at Paloma feels less like a formal Napa wine experience and more like being invited up the mountain for a glass of something great with a good friend. Tastings are small, personal, and usually hosted by a member of the family or someone who actually works in the vineyard or winery—so questions are encouraged, wine talk can get as nerdy (or not) as you want, and there’s no tasting-room script to follow. Settle in, taste through estate-grown wines, hear a few family stories, and take in one seriously hard-to-beat view of Napa Valley.
About Paloma Vineyard
These Spring Mountain Merlot masters have been doing their thing for decades, and today Sheldon Richards and his son Caston are carrying the family legacy forward. From their hidden spot high above Napa Valley, the Richards family farms their estate vineyard and makes seriously good Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon: with views that basically erase reality. It’s small, hands-on, family-run, and refreshingly un-Napa in all the right ways.
Tasting Experiences
Home Sweet Home
60
Home Sweet Home is exactly what it sounds like—we’re inviting you into our home. Settle into owner and winemaker Sheldon Richards’ dining room or grab a seat on the deck overlooking Napa Valley for a private, one-on-one tasting. More often than not, Sheldon himself will pour four Paloma wines while sharing personal stories and Paloma’s 40+ year history. It’s about as far from a traditional tasting room as you can get: an hour of great wine, family stories, conversation, and one killer view.
Barrel Room Wine Aging
90
Ever wonder what a barrel actually does to wine? Head into Paloma’s working barrel room to find out. You’ll taste the same wine straight from different barrels, side by side, and see firsthand how oak type, age, and toast can change what ends up in your glass. Then taste the finished wine to bring it all together. It’s hands-on, a little nerdy, and a chance to experience a part of winemaking most people only hear about—right where the wines are actually made.
Vineyard Walking Tour & Tasting
75
Friday mornings from May through October, get out of the tasting room and into the vines. Walk Paloma’s steep Spring Mountain vineyard with someone who actually works it, learning how we farm, why mountain vineyards are different, and what’s happening in the vines that time of year. Then settle in for a tasting of our estate-grown wines and taste the connection for yourself. It’s part vineyard walk, part wine tasting, and a chance to see where every bottle of Paloma really begins.
Annual Vertical Tasting
185
Once a year, every May, Paloma digs deep into the cellar (sometimes Sheldon's personal cellar) for a tasting you don’t get every day. The Annual Vertical Tasting brings together multiple vintages of our estate-grown wines, giving guests the chance to taste how vintage and time in the bottle shape each wine. It’s a rare chance to drink older Paloma, compare vintages side by side, and nerd out with the family over how the wines have evolved. Add a little food, a killer view, and stories from the years behind each bottle, and you’ve got one of our favorite days on the mountain.
Grape Stomp
100
Ready to get your feet dirty? During harvest, head up to Paloma and stomp actual wine grapes the old-fashioned way. Because Mother Nature runs the schedule, grape stomps are only offered on select dates when we have freshly harvested fruit ready to go—visit our website for the details. After getting properly purple, settle in for a tasting of Paloma wines overlooking Napa Valley. It’s messy, seasonal, a little ridiculous, and one of the most fun ways to experience harvest on Spring Mountain.
Varietals
Wines
Merlot
2017 · 72
The 2017 Paloma Merlot fills the glass with luscious aromas of dark, ripe plum, blackberry, and hints of thyme. On the palate, the wine presents a rich, hearty mouthfeel, with consistent notes of ripe, black fruits and a pleasingly, lingering finish. Showing beautifully in its youth, this offering will evolve seamlessly, offering years of enjoyment. While an ideal candidate for pairing with a broad range of rich foods, the 2017 Merlot is a meal in itself.
Acquire
Merlot
2018 · 72
The 2018 is a luscious Merlot. In the glass, the color exhibits deep garnet tones. On the nose, you're greeted with notes of violet, dark fruit, black licorice, and pepper. On the palate, you'll note signs of hearty ripe plums, black olives, anise, and a finish of rich, dark chocolate. This would pair beautifully with grilled steak, portobello mushrooms, and strong-flavored cheese!
Acquire
Merlot
2019 · 72
92 Points, Wine Specator "Supple and generous, yet handsomely structured, with detailed red currant and cherry flavors highlighted by toasty spices and savory anise as this builds tension toward polished tannins."
Acquire
Merlot
2021 · 72
94 points, Wine Spectator “Rich and plush in texture, with generous, multilayered flavors of red currant and cherry laced with spicy cinnamon and mocha espresso. Finishes with polished tannins.”
Acquire
Merlot
2022 · 72
94 Points, Wine Spectator "Silky in texture and gracefully multilayered, offering detailed flavors of black cherry and red currant that take on hints of mocha, vanilla and toasty spices that linger on the supple finish."
Acquire
Cabernet Sauvignon
2019 · 84
The 2019 Paloma Cabernet Sauvignon bursts out of the glass with waves of rich black and red fruits and a distinct note of cocoa in the background. This is a lush wine with a big mouthfeel, displaying beautiful purity of fruit. Consistent notes of dark cherry and plum combine with hints of black pepper and olive. The finish is long and silky. This wine will beautifully complement a hearty beef dish. Likely to evolve slowly, enjoy this beauty over many years.
Acquire
Cabernet Sauvignon
2021 · 84
93 points, Wine Spectator “There’s a lovely, savory sparkle to this version, which relies on red currant and bitter plum fruit for its core, while sage, bay and wet conifer accents are sprinkled liberally throughout. The sleek finish shows a subtle twang of iron. A pretty Cabernet.”
Acquire
Cabernet Sauvignon
2022 · 84
Medium red color. Aromatics are dried red berry and dried prune with floral red plum notes. This wine is coy, it has a subtle bing cherry flavor when first sipped, it doesn't reveal its true flavor of summer strawberries and a cherry jolly rancher chewiness until the finish. A fatty meat sauce like hungarian meatball spaghetti or roasted duck would highlight this wine's features.
AcquireWhen to visit Paloma Vineyard
Good to know about Paloma Vineyard
Can you visit Paloma Vineyard? Is there a tasting room?
What is Paloma Vineyard known for?
What wines does Paloma Vineyard specialize in?
How much is a tasting at Paloma Vineyard?
Do you need a reservation to visit Paloma Vineyard?
Does Paloma Vineyard have a picnic area?
Is Paloma Vineyard dog-friendly?
Can you bring kids to Paloma Vineyard?
Does Paloma Vineyard offer vineyard tours?
Do I need to be a wine club member to visit Paloma Vineyard?
Where is Paloma Vineyard located?
When was Paloma Vineyard founded?
Who makes the wine at Paloma Vineyard?
What are Paloma Vineyard's tasting hours?
Does Paloma Vineyard waive the tasting fee with a wine purchase?
Does Paloma Vineyard have a wine club?
What sustainability practices does Paloma Vineyard follow?
Has Paloma Vineyard received notable recognition?
Where to find Paloma Vineyard
Paloma Vineyard is at 4013 Spring Mountain Rd, St Helena, CA, United States, in the Spring Mountain District wine region.