SO THE STORY GOES, IN 1875, a bedraggled gold miner visited the office of San Francisco surgeon, R. Beverly Cole. The miner's arm had been broken and set so poorly as to be useless. Dr. Cole found it a tricky piece of work to reset the bones. It must be assumed that he performed the operation out of pride in his profession, for the miner had not a penny to pay his fee. In gratitude, however, the doctor was offered what the miner insisted was inside information on some mining shares about to skyrocket on the market. Having little to lose, the shares being cheap, Dr. Cole followed the miner's advice and purchased a fair number. These shares, he was soon to discover, had bought him an interest in the legendary Comstock Lode, the greatest single silver strike in history.

Dr. Cole became a very wealthy surgeon indeed. He used part of his earnings to purchase 45 beautiful acres in the hills above Calistoga in the Napa Valley. In 1886, he built the ranch he called "La Perlita del Monte." Several generations of Cole's raised poultry and grew fruit crops here on "The Little Pearl of the Mountain". Then in 1958, the ranch passed into the hands of Dr. Graeser from Oakland who enjoyed the property as a weekend retreat. Dr Graeser's son, Richard, had been a produce farmer in southern California's Imperial Valley for 25 years when harder times and the changing face of agriculture forced him out of business in 1980.

In 1983 Richard's father passed away and he traveled back to Calistoga to assist his mother in settling her affairs. A short while later Richards mother passed away and he decided to stay on at the "little pearl" he had inherited.Today, "La Perlita del Monte" has world-class grapes growing on the hillsides and aromatic French oak barrels filling the barn.It has become Graeser Winery!

THE STORY CONTINUES'... As luck would have it, the old Cole property sits on soils that are strikingly rich. The surrounding hills provide a natural barrier against arid winds. The elevation and terrain give what is now Graeser Winery vineyards their own microclimate. We know now that steep hillside vineyards produce wines with great character, richness and complexity. Richard Graeser planted 10 acres of grapes on the 45 acre estate, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, a few acres of Cabernet Franc and a little Merlot. "I had taken some wine making classes, bought the equipment and just started making wine, "he says with a grin. Our first harvest was in 1987. Today, we make roughly 1200 cases of wine using state- of-the-art tools and years of experience, but we've also maintained the old world, hand crafted elements and the same adventurous spirit that we began with.

Leaning against a stack of barrels in the cellar, Richard Graeser is a man obviously in love with his surroundings and craft. "My second vintage was selected Wine of the Week by the LA Times. That was 13 years ago, but I knew even then that I was doing something right!" Since then, the Diamond Mountain District, where the vineyards sit, have gained recognition as one of the world's premier appellations for growing Bordeaux varietals and Graeser Winery has evolved into a world class winery. We take a very traditional approach to winemaking. We believe that winemaking happens largely in the vineyard and the least amount of manipulation allows the grapes from this unique place speak for themselves. Because we are small, we are able to make wine very gently; we use small open top fermentors and American/French oak barrels. Our wines are generally medium to full bodied wines with classic Bordeaux dimension and flavors. The fruit is lush, bright and detailed and the tannins are unusually refined for Diamond Mountain fruit. The style is elegant rather than overblown or extracted and because of this they make the perfect companion to wide range of foods. This hands on attention to detail in the vineyard and winery result in wines that gets better with each vintage.

TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME..TODAY Graeser Winery is open from 10:AM to 5:PM, daily. We're located a mile above the town of Calistoga at 255 Petrified Forest Road. Winding up the wooded drive, visitors are transported back in time, to a place where very little seems to have changed. The house, barns and out buildings are a Napa Valley Treasure, with the vineyards blending in so gracefully that, "You'd think they'd always been here". Steep hillside vineyards are another dimension in Napa Valley that has to be experienced.

When you visit, you are likely to be greeted by Richard Graeser himself, accompanied by his Great Dane and a German Shepard or two. "This winery is for people who really know how to appreciate the finer things in life". Come see for yourself, one of Napa Valley's most beautiful and historic properties, it is an experience you will not soon forget!

Dr.Cole