Mayacamas

Mayacamas is a legendary winery located at the foot of Mount Veeder in the prestigious Napa Valley. This estate has earned a reputation as one of the leading producers of classic Cabernet Sauvignon in the region, while also gaining recognition for its superb Chardonnay white wines. The estate’s history began in 1889 when John Henry Fisher, a German immigrant and sword engraver, built the winery’s stone structure. Having moved from Philadelphia to the San Francisco Bay Area, he not only started a pickling business but also planted vineyards where he cultivated Zinfandel. The wine was produced in small batches and shipped to San Francisco via the Napa River. Fate dealt a cruel blow to the founder — after the devastating 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, his pickling business collapsed, forcing him to sell the winery and declare bankruptcy. During the Prohibition era, the new owners found a clever solution: they legally supplied wine for church services while simultaneously engaging in illegal liquor trade. A significant milestone came in 1941 when the property was acquired by Jack and Mary Taylor. They gave the winery its Mayacamas name and made a major varietal shift, replacing Zinfandel with the promising Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The latest chapter in the estate’s history opened in 2013 when the property came under the ownership of the Shottenstein family. From that point on, the winery embraced organic viticulture while continuing its tradition of producing premium wines