Charbay-"The Still on the Hill"

I had always wanted to go to Charbay, a unique winery distillery up on Spring Mountain because the owner and I share a common heritage. However, it wasn’t until Susan Karakasevic called me and invited me to the Still on the Hill did I finally make the drive up Spring Mountain. Once I was there I had one of the most unique tastings I have ever had in Napa Valley.

From day one Charbay has chosen not to put itself in a box, giving them room to make many types of wines, liquors, and spirits including tequila, a walnut liquor, green tea and pomegranate aperitifs, and our featured wine, the pomegranate dessert wine. Being from the old world, they aren't in a hurry either. In the tasting room you may taste a 2003 Cabernet, a 12 year old port, and a 26 year old late

An immigrant from the former Yugoslavia, Miles Karaksevic moved to Napa via Canada and Michigan and decided to carry on a family tradition…distilling spirits. Miles and Susan bought a piece of property on Spring Mountain in 1972. After working in several wineries and starting two distilleries in Mendocino, the Karakasevics decided that rather then plant vineyards on their little hill, he would plant a still! Miles is naturally curious, often spending hours on the internet researching subjects he finds of interest such as science, history, and philosophy. His family is his co-pilot on this wild ride with son Marko doing much of the winemaking and distilling and Marko’s wife, Jenni, doing national sales

Click here to learn more about Charbay in our Winery Directory

Click here to learn how Chef Binder paired Charby Pomegranate Dessert Wine.