About
Pas de Cheval is a Napa Valley winery co-founded by Vanessa Conlin, a Master of Wine, and her partner Maayan Koschitzky. After moving to Napa in 2010, Vanessa gained experience in various wineries, including Robert Mondavi and Dana Estates, where she met Maayan. The two developed the idea for Pas de Cheval during their time in the industry, leading to the winery's inaugural vintage in 2019. The winery specializes in three distinct 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon wines sourced from premium vineyard sites in Oakville, St. Helena, and Howell Mountain.
The winery's name, meaning "step of the horse," reflects Vanessa's artistic background and the elegance they aim to achieve in their wines. Each wine is named after an operatic term, with unique packaging that features artistic imagery. The 2019 vintages include the "Prelude," "Intermezzo," and "Finale," each showcasing different terroirs and flavor profiles, aged in new French oak barrels. While the winery faced challenges in 2020 due to wildfires, it continues to focus on producing high-quality, age-worthy wines that balance power with elegance.