Pride Mountain

Pride Mountain sits on the ridge where Napa and Sonoma counties meet, and the county line runs straight through the property. The arch marking it is one of the more photographed spots in the region, and the split is more than a curiosity: it affects how the wines are labelled.

Founders Jim and Carolyn Pride set out to make big reds on the black-fruit side of the ripeness spectrum that still hold balance, nuance and complexity, drinkable young but built to age. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah and Viognier all come off the mountain. Michael scores it 9 for ambiance, 9 for wine and 8 for staff, which puts it in the top handful of this entire collection. Visits are by appointment inquiry, and the mountain drive needs planning into a Napa itinerary.