Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, Priest Ranch is a family-owned estate where winemaker Cody Hurd brings the land’s unique story to life through exceptional wines.

Guided by Cody’s philosophy of low-intervention winemaking and innovative techniques, like optical sorting, the wines reflect both tradition and modern craftsmanship. Perfect for holidays and celebrations, Priest Ranch invites wine lovers to savor their collection and create lasting memories with every sip.

What inspired you to create this wine collection, and what sets it apart from others on the market?

The estate is the inspiration and the differentiation. Priest Ranch is such an incredible piece of land that we are obliged to showcase its unique terroir through the wines. We have 1,682 acres of land with about 220 acres planted to grapevines and the remaining land untouched, pristine oak woodlands. Our wines highlight the property’s many microclimates as individual block wines, as well as displaying a true representation of the entire estate through blends like Snake Oil, Peacemaker, and Remedy.

Can you share a bit about the winemaking process and any unique techniques or traditions you follow? 

I practice low intervention winemaking, while continuously exploring new technologies and techniques. I am a big believer in letting the fruit do the talking.  I gently guide the wines through their lifecycle with as little manipulation as possible. No additives, no fining, usually no filtration. We use a lot of state-of-the-art equipment that allows us to continue this hands-off approach.  An optical sorter on our crush pad rejects raisins, stems, and anything other than grapes, leaving us with only perfect grapes in the fermentation. All 112 of our individual vineyard blocks are fermented separately, giving us full control over the blending process. Once the fermentation and aging is complete, we’ll sit down to taste all 112 blocks individually, and begin assembling our blends.

How do you recommend pairing your wines? Do you have a personal favorite recipe to pair with your wines? 

Our wines all have the soul of what makes the Napa Valley great – nice structure with lengthy, elegant tannins. I always love to pair these types of Bordeaux-style reds with something containing a bit of fat. A pairing that I have recently loved is the 2021 James Joshua red wine with an Australian wagyu ribeye, cooked to medium to render some of the fat. With that, we made a hot, baby potato salad with guanciale, maitake mushroom, tossed in dill crème fraiche. This meal would be a winner, for sure.

If someone is new to your brand, which wine would you recommend they try first and why?

Easy, try it all. Start with the whites and end with the reds! I love taking people through our entire portfolio. I believe there is something there for every type of wine lover. If you are someone that is into nice crisp whites, our Block 71 Sauvignon Blanc is great. Tropical and citrus notes. Nice minerality. If you could taste only one wine, I would recommend going to the James Joshua Red Wine. This is the pinnacle of the Priest Ranch lineup. This wine is a red blend of only the very best blocks from the estate in any given year. A blend of red varietals that could change every year. James Joshua Red Wine highlights what the estate is all about.

What is one thing you want wine lovers to know about your brand as they explore it? 

Priest Ranch is a family owned and operated, magnificent estate. We are always pushing the boundaries on innovative, yet sustainable farming. We are true stewards of the land, and that is evident in the wines that Priest Ranch produces. We hope that you enjoy some of our wines with your loved ones around the table this year. And please come visit us!

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Cover photo courtesy Priest Ranch.

Madi Hise is a Public Relations student at the University of Texas, minoring in business. She currently serves as the Editorial Intern for Texas Lifestyle Magazine and is also a Publicity Intern for PR by the Book.