Originally part of George Yount's property, Vine Cliff Winery traces its beginnings to 1871. Following Yount's death in 1865, the winery's mountainside property was purchased from his estate in 1870 and began production a year later. Using both grapes from the estate and fruit purchased from other growers, Vine Cliff quickly grew into one of the region's largest wineries, producing up to 19,000 gallons of wine at its peak in the late 1800's.

Following the death of the original owners, the property passed to Colonel Stephen Fry, a wealthy San Franciscan, whose goal was to use Vine Cliff Winery to set the standard of quality for wines from this part of California. During Vine Cliff's heydays in the 1890's, the winery and Fry ranch were model farms in the Napa Valley. In addition to the vineyards, the property also encompassed a water wheel functioning as a gristmill, and Yount Mill, home to a range of wild birds. Trees and formal gardens greeted guests arriving at the estate.

Amazingly, the early history of Vine Cliff is contained within a short thirty years. In 1900, the parasite phylloxera destroyed the vineyards. Colonel Fry died in 1901, and most of the winery structure disappeared in a matter of a few years, with the exception of the stone first floor and tunnels.

Those original winery tunnels and masonry foundation were all that remained when Charles and Nell Sweeney purchased the estate in 1985. Their oldest son, Rob Sweeney, joined the winery in 1990, taking on the job of vineyard manager, a post he still holds today, along with his role of General Manager and his close work with the winemaking team. He was responsible for planting 25 acres of Estate vines on the property's 102 hilly, rocky acres.

A new production facility was completed in 1995, followed in 1999 by the completion of 15,000 square feet of barrel aging caves.

Today, the Sweeney family continues the Vine Cliff Winery tradition of quality started by Colonel Fry over a century ago. Then as now, we are committed to producing exceptional hand-crafted, artisan wines.