You can't travel much further off the beaten path then going to Pope Valley. As you drive on Chiles Valley Road pass Conn Damn and alongside Putah Creek, you may think you are no longer in Napa Valley. Dotted with cattle, vineyards, and the occasional house, Pope Valley is truly undiscovered and under utilized. Which was great news in 1998 for long time Pope Valley residents, the Eakles family and their business partners when they purchased an old "ghost" winery that dated back to the 1800's. Situated on 12 acres, the property boasts a 100 year old gravity flow three story winery,

The winery struggled with finding the perfect fit with a winemaker. They found the missing piece of the puzzle in 2006 with 5th generation Napian, Greg Gallagher. Folks, this is great news for us. The quality of the wines went up under Greg's winemaking, the price did not. We highly recommend you take advantage of the gap. Even if you can't make it to Pope Valley, you can always order their wines on line.
All of the wines have a very distinctive earthy quality. They are complex, smooth, and under $20 for the Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and whites! Their 2002 Zinfandel Port is to die for. It is left in oak and only bottled as needed. At $20, it will stand up against any of the more expensive ports in the valley. Not only is the wine great, but the tastings are usually conducted by a family member and very personal. Don't be surprised if David Eakles (the son) meets you at the tasting room in his work clothes. As a family business, everyone pitches in with everything. Since they are out in the boonies, the folks at Pope Valley Winery always greet their guests with big smiles. One of the nice things about going to wineries that are well off the beaten path is that the winery staff is usually very appreciative of the fact that you bothered to travel so far to see them.
Pope Valley winery is open to the public during the busy season on weekends, but a phone call or email is always recommended. In the fall they put on one of the best harvest parties in the valley.