About Fontanella Family Winery
Jeff and Karen Fontanella bought their first 26 acres on the southern end of Mt. Veeder in 2005, near the boundary between the Mt. Veeder and Carneros AVAs, and opened an appointment-only tasting room there in October 2008. Jeff studied enology at UC Davis and worked harvests at Opus One and Saddleback Cellars before starting the estate; Karen, a former real estate attorney, handled permitting and now co-runs the business.
The estate has weathered the 2014 South Napa earthquake, which destroyed a large share of its barrel inventory, and the October 2017 wildfires that burned close to the property. Fontanella farms about 18 of its original 80 acres (since expanded with an adjacent 55-acre parcel) and produces roughly 3,500 cases a year of estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel.
A Mt. Veeder estate founded in 2005 that survived the 2014 earthquake and 2017 wildfires to keep producing mountain Cabernet.
What Wino Notion Loved
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Family-run since 2005Founded by Jeff (UC Davis enology, ex-Opus One/Saddleback Cellars) and Karen Fontanella (former real estate attorney).
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Mt. Veeder estateAbout 750 feet elevation near the Mt. Veeder/Carneros AVA line; 18 of 80 original acres planted, later expanded with an adjacent 55 acres.
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Resilient propertySurvived the 2014 South Napa earthquake and the 2017 wildfires that burned close to the vineyard.
"Fontanella Family Winery is an active, family-run Mt. Veeder estate producing about 3,500 cases a year of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel."
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Featured Wines
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Mt. Veeder Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Current release · Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley
Fontanella's flagship mountain-grown estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
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CHARDONNAY
Estate Chardonnay (Clone 76)
Current release · Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley
Estate Chardonnay from clone 76 planted on the Fontanella property.
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ZINFANDEL
Estate Zinfandel
Current release · Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley
Estate-grown Zinfandel from the Fontanella Mt. Veeder vineyard.
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Varietals confirmed via napawineproject.com and napavalleylife.com; the winery's shop page (fontanellawinery.com/shop/) could not be accessed during this research session due to a persistent access limit, so specific current vintages and prices are marked Inquire rather than guessed — confirm directly with the winery.
Tasting Experiences
Visit Website →Estate Tasting
By-appointment tasting on the family's Mt. Veeder property, hosted personally by the Fontanellas.
By appointment
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