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Origins and Evolution

Raymond Vineyards, founded in 1971, is one of Napa Valley’s great estates.  The winery’s family tree is entwined with the earliest foundations of the Napa Valley: the Raymond family arrived in Napa in 1933 and became deeply connected to the valley’s winemaking origins after Roy Raymond, Sr. married Martha Jane Beringer in 1936, whose family had arrived in  Napa in 1869.  Roy Raymond Sr. ultimately worked more than thirty-five years with the Beringers before finding a 90-acre estate straddling Rutherford and St Helena in the heart of the Napa Valley that remains today one of Napa’s pioneering original estates.

 

Raymond Vineyards & Cellar’s first crush in 1974 was emblematic of the early Napa Valley harvests:  the family worked side-by-side unloading grapes with pitchforks and shovels, while guests were greeted warmly in an early tasting room located in the family’s backyard pool house. 

 

The quality of the wines attracted immediate attention from wine journalists,competitions and wine connoisseurs, and Raymond began to build its enduring reputation for elegant wines with a beautiful balance of finesse, power and complexity.  Five generations of the Raymond family imbued the winery with a sense of its deep roots in the Napa Valley and a commitment to honor those roots, the estate and the family tradition through every wine produced.

Raymond Vineyards became a part of the Boisset Family Estates collection of wineries in August 2009. Each house within the Boisset collection boasts a unique history, identity, style, personality, and terroir focus, and many, like Raymond, were built on the strength of long family histories.

An evolution began in the harvest of 2009 with a commitment to enhancing Raymond’s reputation as a one of Napa’s premier producers: select new Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards were added, and several exceptional lots were identified for careful micro-management to further elevate the winery’s focus on producing the highest quality Napa Cabernet. In February 2010, the winery began implementing organic farming methods in pursuit of eventually achieving organic certification for the estate vineyards, a hallmark of Boisset properties worldwide.

A dynamic new team began to take shape: renowned winemaker Philippe Melka brought his well-known Cabernet expertise to complement the Raymond team during the 2009 harvest; Stephanie Putnam was named the new Director of Winemaking in February 2010; Eric Pooler began to lead in the vineyards, managing the evolution toward more organic & sustainable methods; and  Jim Nagel joined to oversee operations with an eye toward ever improving quality. The winery itself began a renovation that will cement Raymond’s status as one of Napa’s classic landmarks. These commitments to ensure Raymond remains an iconic Napa Valley estate were made in just the first six months of joining Boisset’s family-owned collection of wineries.

 “Raymond Vineyards has been a pioneer in Napa with a great history and fabulous commitment to the region.  The family’s passion, continuity through five generations, and blessing of our purchase of the winery truly excited us.  The Raymond family has been an integral part of crafting the phenomenal reputation of the Napa Valley.  As we embark on an exciting evolution for the winery, we will seek to always honor their legacy and ensure that they will remain proud of the winery that bears their name.”
Jean-Charles Boisset