In 1977 Henry Vandendriesche revived the small White Rock winery which had been originally set up in 1870. It’s in a beautiful side valley below the Stags Leap outcrop off the Silverado Trail in the heart of cool-climate Napa Valley. Henry’s son Chris has been making the wine recently. Their amazing cellar, dug out of the white rock, a compacted layer of volcanic ash, has one section at the back which they rent out for “custom crush” – which basically means several of Chris’ mates make their own boutique wines there. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the cellar, Henry and Chris continue to make their beautifully-crafted Chardonnay and Bordeaux-style blends.
