VARNER WINE - scmwine/Wineries GitHub Wiki

Varner Wine

Field Details
Owners/Winemakers Bob and Jim Varner (twin brothers)
Address 648 Menlo Avenue, Suite 5, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone (650) 321-4894
Website https://www.varnerwine.com
Email [email protected] (Jim), [email protected] (Bob)
Founded 1980 (planted Spring Ridge Vineyard)
Production ~2,000 cases
Former Estate Vineyard Spring Ridge Vineyard, Portola Valley (owned by Dr. Kirk Neely)
Current AVAs Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Central Coast

History

1980: Twin brothers Jim and Bob Varner planted Spring Ridge Vineyard in Portola Valley in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains on property owned by Dr. Kirk Neely. The vineyard is composed of several separate blocks, each with its own microclimate and soil differences.

1988: Vineyard converted to dry farming. Insecticides have never been used.

2005: Expanded production to include "Foxglove" label made with fruit from Edna Valley (San Luis Obispo) and Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.

2021: Wine & Spirits named Varner Chardonnay "Year's Best US Chardonnay."

Varner no longer produces wines from Santa Cruz Mountains, focusing on Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and Central Coast appellations. Spring Ridge Vineyard remains owned by Dr. Kirk Neely.

Winemaking Philosophy

Devoted to handmade, terroir-driven wines. Grapes are hand-harvested only in the morning into small lug boxes for natural cooling. Bob works in the rows during each harvest, sorting at the vine rather than at the winery.

Wine is treated as naturally as possible using indigenous yeast and malolactic bacteria from the vineyard. Barrels are hand-racked using a hand-cranked barrel lifting device, clarifying wine without fining or filtration.

Labels & Vineyard Designations

Varner Wine (premium label):

  • Santa Barbara Chardonnay (El Camino Vineyard)
  • Paso Robles wines

Former Santa Cruz Mountains Wines (no longer produced):

  • Home Block, Amphitheater Block, Bee Block Chardonnay
  • Hidden Block, Picnic Block, Upper Picnic Block, Three Blocks Pinot Noir
  • Neely label (named for vineyard owner Dr. Kirk Neely)

Foxglove (value-oriented label):

  • Chardonnay (Central Coast)
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles)
  • Zinfandel

Recognition

  • Wine & Spirits: "Year's Best US Chardonnay" (2021)
  • Antonio Galloni (Vinous): Consistently 90+ scores
  • Eric Asimov (NY Times): Multiple Foxglove wines in "20 Wines Under $20"
  • Food & Wine: Foxglove in "50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust"
  • Robert Parker: Frequently rated 90+, with 2004 Neely and Home Vineyard each receiving 95 points

Related Entries

Sources