Our Story
The story of PlumpJack begins with a small boutique wine shop on the corner of Greenwich and Fillmore in San Francisco and the goal of making the experience of wine discovery more fun and approachable for all — from the connoisseur and the uninitiated alike.
eat, drink
& be merry
Sir John 'PlumpJack' Falstaff, Probably
PlumpJack, our history
1992
1995
1997
1999
2000
2005
2006
2009
2010
2012
2015
2016
2017
2019
2020
2022
1992
In 1992, Gavin Newsom founded San Francisco's PlumpJack Wines on Fillmore Street to make wine buying more approachable in a friendly, non-intimidating manner to transform the wine purchasing experience into one of fun and discovery.
Since then, the PlumpJack Group portfolio has expanded to include a diverse collection of hospitality and lifestyle businesses, including boutique hotels; award-winning wineries; restaurants and bars; and retail establishments, as well as the PlumpJack Development Company.
Since then, the PlumpJack Group portfolio has expanded to include a diverse collection of hospitality and lifestyle businesses, including boutique hotels; award-winning wineries; restaurants and bars; and retail establishments, as well as the PlumpJack Development Company.
1995
Gavin Newsom and Gordon Getty founded PlumpJack Estate Winery in Oakville, Napa Valley.
1997
The first vintage of PlumpJack Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested.
1999
John Conover joins PlumpJack Estate Winery as General Manager. The trio—Newsom, Getty, and Conover—bottle 50% of their first vintage of 1997 PlumpJack Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon under screwcap closures. This was the first time any Reserve wine had been bottled with a screwcap closure.
2000
PlumpJack Estate Winery releases the 1997 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at the Napa Valley Wine Auction with 50% of the production under screwcap enclosures.
2005
Gavin Newsom, Gordon Getty, and John Conover shared the vision of building a state-of-the-art winery that would pay tribute to the land, both aesthetically and ecologically. In 2005, that dream came to fruition as a 54-acre estate on Howell Mountain, now CADE Estate Winery.
Set against a backdrop of staggering Napa Valley vistas, the modern, contemporary design of the CADE Estate Winery blends right in with the impressive contrast of the land, where organically cultivated vineyard rows meet tall evergreens and native Manzanita trees.
Set against a backdrop of staggering Napa Valley vistas, the modern, contemporary design of the CADE Estate Winery blends right in with the impressive contrast of the land, where organically cultivated vineyard rows meet tall evergreens and native Manzanita trees.
2006
Architect Juan Carlos Fernandez starts designing what would soon become Napa Valley's first LEED Gold Certified Winery—CADE Estate.
Additionally, the first crop of Sauvignon Blanc was harvested in the Fall of 2006. The vineyards had been recently replanted by the previous owners in the Spring of 2004.
Additionally, the first crop of Sauvignon Blanc was harvested in the Fall of 2006. The vineyards had been recently replanted by the previous owners in the Spring of 2004.
2009
CADE Estate Winery opens to the public.
2010
CADE Estate Winery officially receives LEED Gold Certification.
The winemaking team also releases the first Estate Cabernet.
The winemaking team also releases the first Estate Cabernet.
2012
Newsom, Getty, and Conover partner to purchase the former Steltzner Vineyard Estates, laying the groundwork for Odette Estate Winery. Architect Juan Carlos Fernandez starts construction on Odette's modern, eco-friendly buildings, featuring renewable and energy-efficient materials.
Meanwhile, 2012 turns out to be a big year for the PlumpJack Collection of Wineries with Aaron Miller joining PlumpJack Estate Winery as Head Winemaker and Danielle Cyrot joining CADE Estate Winery.
Meanwhile, 2012 turns out to be a big year for the PlumpJack Collection of Wineries with Aaron Miller joining PlumpJack Estate Winery as Head Winemaker and Danielle Cyrot joining CADE Estate Winery.
2015
Odette Estate Winery's contemporary 3,500 square-foot Estate Lounge opens as a grand addition to the winery's tasting and event capabilities.
2016
Newsom, Getty, and Conover partnered to purchase the former Ladera Vineyards (soon to be 13th Vineyard) located on Howell Mountain. Winemaker Danielle Cyrot is promoted to oversee 13th Vineyard, in addition to CADE Estate Winery.
The property was the 13th bonded winery in California, founded by Jean Brun, a native of Bordeaux, and Jean V. Chaix in 1886. It was one of the Valley's earliest gravity-flow facilities.
In addition, following the installation of a combined 8,500 square-foot living roof and solar panels over its production facility, Odette becomes the first winery with a living roof in Napa Valley. Not long after, Odette Estate Winery earns LEED Gold Certification.
The property was the 13th bonded winery in California, founded by Jean Brun, a native of Bordeaux, and Jean V. Chaix in 1886. It was one of the Valley's earliest gravity-flow facilities.
In addition, following the installation of a combined 8,500 square-foot living roof and solar panels over its production facility, Odette becomes the first winery with a living roof in Napa Valley. Not long after, Odette Estate Winery earns LEED Gold Certification.
2017
Odette Estate Winery is selected by American Architecture Prize as an Industrial Building category winner.
2019
Danielle Cyrot's 2017 13th Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, was one of the highest-rated Napa Valley Cabernets by the Wine Advocate, an especially notable achievement following the extreme wildfires in 2017.
2020
The Easiest Most Difficult Decision
2020 was a challenging vintage in Napa Valley. It was born in a drought, matured through terrible heat spikes, and endured smoky conditions from the haze of numerous Northern California wildfires.
After the first round of wildfires in August, we were skeptical about whether we'd move forward with making red wines this vintage. Then, when we were faced with the catastrophic Glass Fire, we knew it would not be possible for us to create the 2020 vintage of reds.
After the first round of wildfires in August, we were skeptical about whether we'd move forward with making red wines this vintage. Then, when we were faced with the catastrophic Glass Fire, we knew it would not be possible for us to create the 2020 vintage of reds.
2022
In August 2022, we made the decision that we needed a permanent home—a source of grapes—for Adaptation and acquired Oso Vineyard.
Nestled on the northeastern edge of the Howell Mountain AVA, Oso Vineyard comprises 129 acres spread across a striking amphitheater and beautiful stone-lined terraces at an elevation of 1,250 feet. The property boasts three lakes, unique for dry Pope Valley, providing an abundant water source for vines while fostering the biodiversity from which its name originates. "Oso" is the Spanish word for bear, a reference to the black bears that frequent the vineyard and feast on ripe grapes during fall.
In addition, we celebrated "10 Years in the Making" with Winemakers Aaron Miller of PlumpJack and Danielle Cyrot of CADE and 13th Vineyard. This milestone anniversary marked an exciting time as we continue to build on the legacies and forward-thinking visions of our esteemed winemakers and venerated estates.
Nestled on the northeastern edge of the Howell Mountain AVA, Oso Vineyard comprises 129 acres spread across a striking amphitheater and beautiful stone-lined terraces at an elevation of 1,250 feet. The property boasts three lakes, unique for dry Pope Valley, providing an abundant water source for vines while fostering the biodiversity from which its name originates. "Oso" is the Spanish word for bear, a reference to the black bears that frequent the vineyard and feast on ripe grapes during fall.
In addition, we celebrated "10 Years in the Making" with Winemakers Aaron Miller of PlumpJack and Danielle Cyrot of CADE and 13th Vineyard. This milestone anniversary marked an exciting time as we continue to build on the legacies and forward-thinking visions of our esteemed winemakers and venerated estates.