Lokoya Winery

Lokoya Winery is a premium wine producer from Napa Valley concentrating on wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon. Total production is less than 2000 cases per vintage and noted American critic Robert Parker has regularly dished out 100-point scores for the wines. Both of these factors have cemented Lokoya's cult status and have led to some very high prices.

The winery was founded in 1995 by Jess Jackson of Jackson Family Wineries, and is named for the Native American tribe that inhabited what is now Mount Veeder in the Mayacamas Mountain range on the western side of Napa Valley. Lokoya makes four varietal Cabernet Sauvignon wines from distinct hillside sites on Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Spring Mountain and Diamond Mountain. Each of the four is vinified in the exact same way, the intention being to showcase the terroir of each site. Lokoya does not own any of these vineyards – instead, the fruit is purchased from growers on the four sites. The wines are fermented with native yeasts, aged in French oak for 18-22 months, and are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The Mount Veeder property sits at 1800 feet (550m) above sea level and has distinct volcanic soils, which contribute a strong mineral character in the wine. The Howell Mountain property at 1900ft (580m) above sea level is surrounded by redwood and pine trees, and has a mix of sandstone, red clay, and conifer biomatter soils. It creates a dense wine with a dark fruit and a herbaceous profile. Across the valley, the Spring Mountain property sits at 1600ft (490m) above sea level with sedimentary soils. The wines from this property tend to have a more floral quality. Finally, Diamond Mountain in the northern part of Napa Valley ranges in altitude from 1000-1800ft (300-550m), with a mix of volcanic and loam soils. The tannins found in this wine tend to be softer than some of Lokoya's other offerings.