Swanson Winery Details

Swanson Vineyards

Founded in 1985, Swanson Vineyards consists of 140 acres of estate vineyards in the Oakville area of Napa Valley, California. The Swanson winery is committed to outstanding and sustainable vineyard practices that nurture Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, and other small lots of distinctive varietals.

Open, by appointment only, Wednesday through Sunday, Swanson Vineyards features a variety of formal wine tastings in their Salon ($30 to $55 per person.) Visitors can savor both prominent and less attainable California wines perfectly paired with artisanal cheeses and bonbons. A more casual wine tasting is held in their Shoppe focusing on their best known wines.

Origins: In the 1950s, long before the Swanson winery was founded, the family introduced the first lifestyle product, Swanson frozen dinners.

Inspiration: In 1985, at his 25th Stanford University reunion, W. Clarke Swanson, Jr. received a tip from a fraternity brother to buy a parcel of vineyard land in Napa Valley.

Merlot: Visionary winemaker André Tchelistcheff, acting as a consultant, chose to plant the then relatively unknown variety Merlot.

Winemakers: Chris Phelps, an expert in both Bordeaux and Napa styles, has been winemaker for five years. Marco Cappelli, Swanson’s founding winemaker, held the post for 17 years.

Salon: After 14 years of making their innovative wines, Swanson opened a private wine tasting salon, the first luxury wine tasting salon in the U.S.