Geologist Wins Sweepstakes & Multiple Gold Medals with Debutante Brand - Ammon’s Horn
In the present days of conglomerates and holding companies buying up every winery in sight, it’s refreshing to discover a new, independent winery run by the couple who owns a single property. Getting to know such a nascent winery offers many possibilities; the opportunity to be charter wine club members, to engage with the winemakers through the ups and downs of a demanding business, and the potential to share “remember when” tales, as in, “Do you recall how junky this property was when you first started? Do you remember the toilet seat hanging on the dilapidated gate?” While many small businesses may have started in someone’s garage, a lot more technique, terroir, and sheer luck go into launching a successful estate winery, and in Napa, no less.
Forget about those poor early impressions, Ammon’s Horn debut has defied the odds. The Ammon’s Horn 2018 Pinot Noir, 667 just took home a Double Gold Medal, the 2018 Pinot Noir, 777 and 2019 Rosé both captured Gold Medals at the 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The 2018 Pinot Noir, Reserve rounded out the medals with a Silver, and was also judged the Sweepstakes Winner for Best Packaging Design. Talk about launching your label with a bang!
Given this astounding début, one might think Ammon’s Horn co-founders Linda McGlochlin Wolff and Roger Wolff strolled in and purchased a successful vineyard, then slapped their label on the bottle. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
“We started out with a cow pasture littered with junk including a toilet seat attached to the gate,” Linda says. “For six years we put everything in storage moving from trailer to trailer. We only moved into the house [an elegant chateau-style home] after establishing our vineyard.”
Linda moved to Napa from Southern California, where she was working as a hydrogeologist, a profession she’d zeroed in on in grade school. The Carmel River ran through her family’s property when she was a child in Carmel Valley. Though encouraged to try other hobbies, she spent hours most days on the riverbank looking at and collecting rocks. After becoming a hydrogeologist, Linda also began taking classes in viticulture at UC Davis, although no winery was even in the works.
2019 ROSÉ
of Pinot Noir
Gruet Winery
2012 Blanc de Blanc American
This classic Blanc de Blancs is refined and elegant, and is a reflection of the Gruet style perfected at Gruet et Fils, our original winery in Champagne. Our Blanc de Blancs vintages have consistently received accolades and awards from international wine competitions around the world. Aged for a minimum of 3 years en tirage, this world-class Blanc de Blancs achieves a quality unmatched by any other vintage Blanc de Blancs in its class.
Winemaker's notes:
Vintage: 2012
Varietal: Blanc de Blanc American
Appellation: New Mexico
Flavors of apple, pear, and candied lemon peel dominate the nose. Nicely balanced with nutty and complex bread dough aromas. Enjoy with mushrooms, seafood, and smoked salmon.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2015
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Monticello
Price: $55.00
Trump Winery
2015 Blanc de Noir Monticello
This Viognier is crisp, refreshing and slightly sweet with a beautiful mouthfeel. Balanced acidity and fresh fruit flavors of pear and guava complete the palate. Great accompaniment to any food or enjoy on its own!
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: 100% Viognier
Appellation: Catie's Corner, Russian River Valley
Price: $38.00
Darjean Jones
2019 Viognier EnVie
The color of this wine entices with its pale pink hues. On the nose, aromas of floral jasmine and Alpine Strawberry aboutnd. After the wine eases over the palate, flavors of ripe strawberries and Bartlett pears become readily apparent. The finish boasts notes of clover honey accented by a refreshing minerality. Much in the French style, this Rosé delivers just a suggestion of color, but follows with an abundance of complexity and flavor.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: 83% Syrah, 17% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Kelsey Bench AVA, Lake County CA
Price: $17.99
Dancing Crow Vineyards
2020 Rosé of Syrah Lake County
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Alexander Valley
Price: $30.00
Jeff Runquist
2018 Syrah Three Way Vineyards Paso Robles
Breathe in the aromatic ripeness of black cherry, cassis and
boysenberry. This full-bodied wine integrates (an ample/a vast)
amount of ripe black fruit with vanilla, cinnamon spice, sweet
tobacco and savory notes of leather with hints of cedar. The 2018
Cabernet Reserve is rich and complex wine supported by velvety soft smooth tannins, making this wine easy to drink upon release but will offer even more rewards after a few years in your cellar. Simply put – just a classic awesome Cabernet!
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Paso Robles
Price: $55.00
Lightpost Winery
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
2016
Solstice Blend
$47.00
2018
$20.00
Cabernet Sauvignon
2015
$85.00
Tribute Blend
2018 PINOT NOIR
Clone 667
2018 PINOT NOIR
Clone 777
2018 PINOT NOIR
Reserve
This Late Harvest Chardonnay expresses all the classic elegance and character of Sonoma-Cutrer in a rich and succulent wine. This wine is incredibly lush and viscous with sweet richness and buttercream feel that is balanced by Sonoma-Cutrer’s classic crisp acidity. Fruit flavors of bright peach, pear and apricot mingle with notes of brown sugar and pure honey.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Chardonnay
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Price: $36.00
Sonoma Cutrer Vineyards
2018 Late Harvest Chardonnay
Showcasing a deep cardinal red hue, our bold Reserve Pinot offers delightfully cool earthy scents at first swirl. Star anise and menthol tobacco present the cool side to start, while subtle under-tones of cola and clove warm it back up again. The palate does not disappoint, with sharp cherry, balanced baking spice, and a little horehound candy rolled in to round off the flavor profile. Slightly earthy tones of mushroom come forward as it opens. Full of surprises, this wine offers the best of both worlds, starting strongly and finishing with a lovely mildness lingering on the palate.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Carneros
Price: $62.00
Ammons Horn
2018 Pinot Noir
"Come home, you coward" was Antonia Bartholomew's message to her husband Frank, a war correspondent for the United Press during WWII. While he was under enemy fire in the Pacific, she was working to establish their first vineyards, and she had no doubt which of these was the most perilous. He probably had a different view. This wine is our tribute to him, an expression of the best that their historic property, now ours to nurture, has to offer. This inaugural vintage is richly textured. It has a complex nose, with of notes of vanilla and sandalwood. The palate is bursting with ripe blueberry and cassis flavors, leading to a long, elegant finish.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 70% Syrah + 30% Cabernet
Appellation: Carneros
Price: $62.00
Bartholomew Estate Winery
2018 Press Release
Learn More
Learn More
Aromas of white flowers such as gardenia and honeysuckle combine with fresh lemon scent. Upon first taste one is immediately pleased with the round, full texture that vibrantly displays the orange blossom and tangerine flavors found on the palate. A bright acidity and limestone minerality help to showcase all of the positive features of this Chardonnay while the clean finish is the bow that ties it all together.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Chardonnay
Appellation: Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
Price: $36.00
Materra - Cunat Family Vineyards
2019 Chardonnay
Learn More
"Come home, you coward" was Antonia Bartholomew's message to her husband Frank, a war correspondent for the United Press during WWII. While he was under enemy fire in the Pacific, she was working to establish their first vineyards, and she had no doubt which of these was the most perilous. He probably had a different view. This wine is our tribute to him, an expression of the best that their historic property, now ours to nurture, has to offer. This inaugural vintage is richly textured. It has a complex nose, with of notes of vanilla and sandalwood. The palate is bursting with ripe blueberry and cassis flavors, leading to a long, elegant finish.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 70% Syrah + 30% Cabernet
Appellation: Carneros
Price: $62.00
Bartholomew Estate Winery
2018 Press Release
Learn More
In the glass, 2018 Marianna shows densely layered aromas of ripe black cherry, concentrated blackberry, and black plum. In the mouth, the wine shows black cherry, freshly ground espresso, and the darkest dark chocolate, layered among supple, well-structured tannins. The length finish offers a touch of pipe tobacco and barrel char. Enjoy this stunning red blend with pan roasted filet served with whipped mashed potatoes and balsamic glazed asparagus.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) Merlot (15%) Malbec (3%) Petit Verdot (2%)
Appellation: Napa Valley
Price: $50.00
Michael Pozzan Winery
Marianna 2018 Red Wine
Learn More
"Come home, you coward" was Antonia Bartholomew's message to her husband Frank, a war correspondent for the United Press during WWII. While he was under enemy fire in the Pacific, she was working to establish their first vineyards, and she had no doubt which of these was the most perilous. He probably had a different view. This wine is our tribute to him, an expression of the best that their historic property, now ours to nurture, has to offer. This inaugural vintage is richly textured. It has a complex nose, with of notes of vanilla and sandalwood. The palate is bursting with ripe blueberry and cassis flavors, leading to a long, elegant finish.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 70% Syrah + 30% Cabernet
Appellation: Carneros
Price: $62.00
Bartholomew Estate Winery
2018 Press Release
Learn More
Grapes were picked by the Winemakers in Fallon, Nevada (Churchill Vineyards), Silver Springs, Nevada (Nevada Automotive Test Center Vineyard) and at the UNR Test Vineyard in Reno. Separately fermented at the Winery in Reno in Stainless Steel tanks then combined to create this bone dry Nevada Riesling. This wine is graceful, delicately balanced and classic with aromas of flowers and tropical fruit and flavors of citrus, peach, apricot and apple. Enjoy with fish and pork, as well as spicy Thai, Chinese and Indian cuisine.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Dry Riesling
Appellation: Nevada
Winemaker: Alynn Delisle and Mike Steedman
Nevada Sunset Winery
2019 Dry Riesling
Learn More
"Come home, you coward" was Antonia Bartholomew's message to her husband Frank, a war correspondent for the United Press during WWII. While he was under enemy fire in the Pacific, she was working to establish their first vineyards, and she had no doubt which of these was the most perilous. He probably had a different view. This wine is our tribute to him, an expression of the best that their historic property, now ours to nurture, has to offer. This inaugural vintage is richly textured. It has a complex nose, with of notes of vanilla and sandalwood. The palate is bursting with ripe blueberry and cassis flavors, leading to a long, elegant finish.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 70% Syrah + 30% Cabernet
Appellation: Carneros
Price: $62.00
Bartholomew Estate Winery
2018 Press Release
Learn More
"Come home, you coward" was Antonia Bartholomew's message to her husband Frank, a war correspondent for the United Press during WWII. While he was under enemy fire in the Pacific, she was working to establish their first vineyards, and she had no doubt which of these was the most perilous. He probably had a different view. This wine is our tribute to him, an expression of the best that their historic property, now ours to nurture, has to offer. This inaugural vintage is richly textured. It has a complex nose, with of notes of vanilla and sandalwood. The palate is bursting with ripe blueberry and cassis flavors, leading to a long, elegant finish.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 70% Syrah + 30% Cabernet
Appellation: Carneros
Price: $62.00
Bartholomew Estate Winery
2018 Press Release
Learn More
"Come home, you coward" was Antonia Bartholomew's message to her husband Frank, a war correspondent for the United Press during WWII. While he was under enemy fire in the Pacific, she was working to establish their first vineyards, and she had no doubt which of these was the most perilous. He probably had a different view. This wine is our tribute to him, an expression of the best that their historic property, now ours to nurture, has to offer. This inaugural vintage is richly textured. It has a complex nose, with of notes of vanilla and sandalwood. The palate is bursting with ripe blueberry and cassis flavors, leading to a long, elegant finish.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 70% Syrah + 30% Cabernet
Appellation: Carneros
Price: $62.00
Bartholomew Estate Winery
2018 Press Release
Learn More
"Come home, you coward" was Antonia Bartholomew's message to her husband Frank, a war correspondent for the United Press during WWII. While he was under enemy fire in the Pacific, she was working to establish their first vineyards, and she had no doubt which of these was the most perilous. He probably had a different view. This wine is our tribute to him, an expression of the best that their historic property, now ours to nurture, has to offer. This inaugural vintage is richly textured. It has a complex nose, with of notes of vanilla and sandalwood. The palate is bursting with ripe blueberry and cassis flavors, leading to a long, elegant finish.
Tasting notes:
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 70% Syrah + 30% Cabernet
Appellation: Carneros
Price: $62.00
Bartholomew Estate Winery
2018 Press Release
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Linda purchased the current 6.5-acre property in 1998 in yet another bold move of perseverance and pre-destiny. The "estate" was being sold as part of a disputed family trust and, because she had made an offer already, the presiding judge in the settlement ordered the sale to take place. One stipulation was that she would have to move on to the property immediately to assume ownership. After a legal dispute almost spoiled the sale, she moved a trailer and outhouse onto the location five hours before a tax deadline would have created a tax nightmare.
The land had no water, electricity, gas, or driveway, but the location on Cuttings Wharf Road, about 1,000 feet from the Napa River, was ideal for growing Pinot Noir grapes. With a 15-foot elevation difference, there are actually two microclimates leading to two different harvest times. “We harvest the grapes from the southern end about two weeks later due to the lower elevation and proximity to the river,” says Roger Wolff, an architect who, like Linda, possessed no agricultural experience before embarking on the Ammon’s Horn journey. Roger and Linda, who had met after Linda moved to Napa, knew they were on to something when their Pinot grapes became popular among some of the finest winemakers in the region. They were happily selling off their harvests when a glut in grapes left their harvest unsold in 2018. Undeterred, they saw it as a sign to start their own winery.
“Our grapes were the foundation for a wine that won “Best Red Wine” at the American Fine Wine Competition, so we knew they were good," Linda says. "We looked at it as a great opportunity to launch our brand."
This intimate winery, now 100% solar-powered and producing just 1,200 cases annually, has recently launched its wine club and a series of tour and tasting events starting in early May.
Like everything else here, the Ammon’s Horn name comes with a story. Linda studied geology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, the site of the largest annual gem and rock exhibition in the world. When at the exhibition, she was always drawn to the ammonites, a marine mollusk that, unlike the more familiar and similar-looking nautilus, did not survive the Great Dying, the earth’s most severe extinction event that killed 81% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrates, including the dinosaurs.
“You’d have to dig down over 1,000-feet to find an ammonite fossil on our property, but you can find them near the Marin Headlands and elsewhere in higher elevations,” Linda says. “Ammon’s Horn, which is also the name given to the foundation of the brain’s hippocampus, is in Egyptian mythology as the ‘ram’s horn.” Carneros, where our vineyards are located, is Spanish for ‘The Rams.’ In truth, the name chose the winery.”
Science and storytelling are two components that the Wolff’s hope charter Ammon’s Horn Wine Club members and other visitors will embrace. The couple is planning a series of special events that will feature scientific presentations and, given Roger’s architectural background, art topics. A series of Saturday and Sunday “Lunch with the Owners and Property Tour” run during the month of May. Summer lunch special event experiences may include Birds of Prey, Discover Ammonites, Geology Trivia, a Fossil Dig, and a Chess Tournament. Check on their website for updates to the special events schedule.
"We want to appeal to the science lover who also covets award-winning wines," says Linda. "We're excited that people are already ordering our wines, including our wildly popular rosé, on our newly constructed website. They can also make a reservation for the special events, and guests will enjoy an intimate experience we believe will be most memorable."
Wine clubs have long offered an opportunity to get up close and personal with a winery, yet rarely do we find a wine club that invites us to participate in a brand new enterprise, and watch it grow into an established label. As an exciting addition to their current release wines, Ammon’s Horn will add a few sparkling wines to its roster of award-winning vintages this summer. A much-anticipated rare white pinot noir will appear in 2022. Visit the Ammon’s Horn website to order these Medal-winning wines, reserve a visit, come to a special event, and add your name to the story.
SPONSORED BY:
STAY CONNECTED:
SPONSORED BY:
Geologist Wins Sweepstakes & Multiple Gold Medals with Debutante Brand - Ammon’s Horn
In the present days of conglomerates and holding companies buying up every winery in sight, it’s refreshing to discover a new, independent winery run by the couple who owns a single property. Getting to know such a nascent winery offers many possibilities; the opportunity to be charter wine club members, to engage with the winemakers through the ups and downs of a demanding business, and the potential to share “remember when” tales, as in, “Do you recall how junky this property was when you first started? Do you remember the toilet seat hanging on the dilapidated gate?” While many small businesses may have started in someone’s garage, a lot more technique, terroir, and sheer luck go into launching a successful estate winery, and in Napa, no less.
Forget about those poor early impressions, Ammon’s Horn debut has defied the odds. The Ammon’s Horn 2018 Pinot Noir, 667 just took home a Double Gold Medal, the 2018 Pinot Noir, 777 and 2019 Rosé both captured Gold Medals at the 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The 2018 Pinot Noir, Reserve rounded out the medals with a Silver, and was also judged the Sweepstakes Winner for Best Packaging Design. Talk about launching your label with a bang!
Given this astounding début, one might think Ammon’s Horn co-founders Linda McGlochlin Wolff and Roger Wolff strolled in and purchased a successful vineyard, then slapped their label on the bottle. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
“We started out with a cow pasture littered with junk including a toilet seat attached to the gate,” Linda says. “For six years we put everything in storage moving from trailer to trailer. We only moved into the house [an elegant chateau-style home] after establishing our vineyard.”
Linda moved to Napa from Southern California, where she was working as a hydrogeologist, a profession she’d zeroed in on in grade school. The Carmel River ran through her family’s property when she was a child in Carmel Valley. Though encouraged to try other hobbies, she spent hours most days on the riverbank looking at and collecting rocks. After becoming a hydrogeologist, Linda also began taking classes in viticulture at UC Davis, although no winery was even in the works.
Linda purchased the current 6.5-acre property in 1998 in yet another bold move of perseverance and pre-destiny. The "estate" was being sold as part of a disputed family trust and, because she had made an offer already, the presiding judge in the settlement ordered the sale to take place. One stipulation was that she would have to move on to the property immediately to assume ownership. After a legal dispute almost spoiled the sale, she moved a trailer and outhouse onto the location five hours before a tax deadline would have created a tax nightmare.
The land had no water, electricity, gas, or driveway, but the location on Cuttings Wharf Road, about 1,000 feet from the Napa River, was ideal for growing Pinot Noir grapes. With a 15-foot elevation difference, there are actually two microclimates leading to two different harvest times. “We harvest the grapes from the southern end about two weeks later due to the lower elevation and proximity to the river,” says Roger Wolff, an architect who, like Linda, possessed no agricultural experience before embarking on the Ammon’s Horn journey. Roger and Linda, who had met after Linda moved to Napa, knew they were on to something when their Pinot grapes became popular among some of the finest winemakers in the region. They were happily selling off their harvests when a glut in grapes left their harvest unsold in 2018. Undeterred, they saw it as a sign to start their own winery.
“Our grapes were the foundation for a wine that won “Best Red Wine” at the American Fine Wine Competition, so we knew they were good," Linda says. "We looked at it as a great opportunity to launch our brand."
This intimate winery, now 100% solar-powered and producing just 1,200 cases annually, has recently launched its wine club and a series of tour and tasting events starting in early May.
Like everything else here, the Ammon’s Horn name comes with a story. Linda studied geology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, the site of the largest annual gem and rock exhibition in the world. When at the exhibition, she was always drawn to the ammonites, a marine mollusk that, unlike the more familiar and similar-looking nautilus, did not survive the Great Dying, the earth’s most severe extinction event that killed 81% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrates, including the dinosaurs.
“You’d have to dig down over 1,000-feet to find an ammonite fossil on our property, but you can find them near the Marin Headlands and elsewhere in higher elevations,” Linda says. “Ammon’s Horn, which is also the name given to the foundation of the brain’s hippocampus, is in Egyptian mythology as the ‘ram’s horn.” Carneros, where our vineyards are located, is Spanish for ‘The Rams.’ In truth, the name chose the winery.”
Science and storytelling are two components that the Wolff’s hope charter Ammon’s Horn Wine Club members and other visitors will embrace. The couple is planning a series of special events that will feature scientific presentations and, given Roger’s architectural background, art topics. A series of Saturday and Sunday “Lunch with the Owners and Property Tour” run during the month of May. Summer lunch special event experiences may include Birds of Prey, Discover Ammonites, Geology Trivia, a Fossil Dig, and a Chess Tournament. Check on their website for updates to the special events schedule.
"We want to appeal to the science lover who also covets award-winning wines," says Linda. "We're excited that people are already ordering our wines, including our wildly popular rosé, on our newly constructed website. They can also make a reservation for the special events, and guests will enjoy an intimate experience we believe will be most memorable."
Wine clubs have long offered an opportunity to get up close and personal with a winery, yet rarely do we find a wine club that invites us to participate in a brand new enterprise, and watch it grow into an established label. As an exciting addition to their current release wines, Ammon’s Horn will add a few sparkling wines to its roster of award-winning vintages this summer. A much-anticipated rare white pinot noir will appear in 2022. Visit the Ammon’s Horn website to order these Medal-winning wines, reserve a visit, come to a special event, and add your name to the story.
2019 ROSÉ
of Pinot Noir
2018 PINOT NOIR
Clone 667
2018 PINOT NOIR
Clone 777
2018 PINOT NOIR
Reserve