Coursey Graves is a small family estate perched at 1,500 feet on Bennett Mountain, founded by John and Denise Graves with founding winemaker Cabell Coursey. The Graves family acquired the 40-acre property, then a former winery and sheep farm, in 2015, and the estate's new winery and barn debuted in 2017. The estate farms 13 acres of Bordeaux and Rhône varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Syrah) on rich volcanic soil, with additional sourcing from carefully farmed sites on the Sonoma Coast and from Howell Mountain, Coombsville, and Oakville in Napa. Cool ocean breezes through the Petaluma Gap and the property's elevation produce wines of fine texture, freshness, and complexity. Bennett Valley AVA.
Bennett Mountain Estate Red Blend, Bennett Valley: the flagship Bordeaux-style blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec) from volcanic mountaintop vines.
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: a structured, age-worthy Cabernet drawing on high-elevation Bennett Mountain and Napa hillside fruit.
Estate Syrah, Bennett Valley: a highly aromatic, finesse-driven Syrah from steep, rocky estate slopes; only about 150 cases made.
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay: a precise, heritage-clone Chardonnay from the Durell and Charles Heintz vineyards, barrel-fermented then rested on lees.
Estate Malbec, Bennett Valley: a small-lot varietal bottling from the Bordeaux-planted estate, which also grows Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Beyond the vines, the estate's Monet-style gardens hold more than 50 species of flowering plants, and its modern stone-architecture winery opens into secluded wine caves, the setting for tastings of Bordeaux-style reds, Syrah and Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.
Owners John and Denise Graves built Coursey Graves as a vertical estate: the road climbs steadily from the valley floor to a mountain ridge planted with 13 acres of vineyards and framed by Monet-style water lily ponds built by the owners themselves. The signature Private Vista experience runs 90 minutes with a private host, a visit to the secluded wine caves and a curated charcuterie board alongside the Bordeaux-style wines; a 60-minute semi-private tasting is the shorter option. The estate sources Cabernet Sauvignon from additional vineyard sites in Napa's Oakville, Howell Mountain, and Coombsville, blended into the Coursey Graves portfolio alongside the estate Bennett Mountain fruit. Reservations are required, small groups preferred, and the drive up the private gated road rewards the commitment.
