Entre Nous Winery

What you need to know about Entre Nous Winery.

In the oak-filled hills around Oakville, there is a 26-acre estate where the owners have been using organic farming methods and living on the property for generations. This is truly a family affair, with Kristine Ashe, the proprietor, and her family living on the estate in a lovely colonial house. Her brother-in-law is the general manager. Their name even suggests the family connection, as it means ‘between us,’ a reflection of the importance of relationships in this harried world of ours.

It also reflects the attachment to place that the company has. They use biodynamic practices to raise classic Bordeaux varietals, a type of grape that their winemakers, Julien Fayard and Philippe Melka is trained in. Yes, the famed Melka is their winemaker. He and Fayard firmly believe in letting the grapes reflect the ephemera of the land: they use barbed wire trellises that let the grapes breathe, they hand de-stem the grapes to remove even the tiniest bitterness that a stem could introduce and use old-fashioned hands-on techniques to bring out the grapes qualities in the wine. In farming, they cut their land into 1-acre blocks that each vine can be tracked and treated individually.

Entre Nous focuses solely on making their Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rose, so they don’t have set tasting room hours. Their wines are featured in the menu of Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley, the tasting room/ aesthetic experience at 6711 Washington St, Yountville, which you can call at (707) 944-0889. However, you can get into this beautiful winery simply by calling and making an appointment with the winery owners. The friendly owners will take you into their living room to sample their limited offerings. Entre Nous makes only small batches of wine, but once you meet the proprietor, you may just feel that this perfect, as it keeps this unique experience ‘between us.’

Address: 7688 St. Helena Hwy, Oakville

Phone: (707) 982-8000

Tasting Room Hours: At the estate, by appointment only.