A Story of Passion, Purpose and Potential at Ballentine Winery

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Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Bruce Devlin, the winemaker for Ballentine Vineyards for the past 25 years. The story of Ballentine Winery is one of passion, purpose, and potential. Founded in 1905 and rooted in Napa Valley, Ballentine Vineyards is a multigenerational, family-owned winery more than 100 years old.

 

The History of Ballentine Vineyards

 

 

Ballentine Winery: A Story of Passion, Purpose and Potential
The Pocai Vineyards was Purchased by the Family with Gold Coins, Photo Courtesy of Ballentine Vineyards

 

 

 

Ballentine Winery: A Story of Passion, Purpose and Potential
Photos from the Old Way of Transportation, Photo Courtesy of Ballentine Vineyards

 

 

Bruce told me how Frank Ballentine purchased the Pocai Vineyard, one of Napa’s oldest vineyards, with a pile of gold coins in 1906 and it was farmed by the family for more than 100 years. The family consisted of Italian and Irish immigrants who would sell and transport grapes with a horse and buggy. Think of the early days with the Gallo’s and Mondavi’s.

 

 

Ballentine Winery: A Story of Passion, Purpose and Potential
Ballentine’s Deer Park Brand, Photo Courtesy of Ballentine Vineyards

 

 

His son, John Ballentine, played an important role by renaming the area Deer Park after his family’s farm in Ireland, symbolizing the connection between the old world and the new. Back then, St. Helena was mainly known for the sanitarium located there, so it wasn’t a great label to put on the back of a wine bottle (look closely, you’ll see it).

 

About Bruce

 

 

Ballentine Winery: A Story of Passion, Purpose and Potential
Photo of Bruce During our Tasting at 55 Seventy

 

 

Bruce originally thought he wanted to be a brewmaster and first studied forestry at Humboldt State. Eventually, he studied Fermentation Science at UC Davis. Bruce has been the head winemaker of the winery for 25 years. He worked at wineries in South Africa, Germany, and Australia. Interestingly enough, he met his wife at UC Davis, and she is currently the winemaker for Cade Winery.

 

The Evolution

 

 

Ballentine Winery: A Story of Passion, Purpose and Potential
Early Days Calistoga Wine Grower’s License, Photo Courtesy of Ballentine Vineyard

 

 

A significant shift occurred when the family transitioned from third to fourth generation. “We were an old school farming family,” he said. Bruce told me that there was a need to modernize, which resulted in the introduction of new farming, vineyard management, business practices and the evolution of the team. This transformation began with small steps but soon evolved into significant leaps forward,

 

“Thirteen years ago, we started investing in our vineyards, we brought a consultant in and looked at how we move our farming, company, and brand forward using best practices.  “We started implementing and at first it felt like baby steps and then all of a sudden we’ve found ourselves often ahead of what other people are doing.”

 

We talked about 80 percent of what happens starts in the vineyard and the goal is to take what is harvested in the vineyard and do very little to change it.

 

Bruce also told me about the collaboration the winery has with its vineyard management partners. “We look at any problem together, figure out how to fix it, and then we’ll move forward with that solution. And every year, we tweak things a little to improve what we’re doing in the vineyard.”

 

New Innovations

 

 

Ballentine Winery: A Story of Passion, Purpose and Potential
Today’s Tasting Room, Photo Courtesy of Ballentine Vineyards

 

 

We talked about what the future will bring for Ballentine Vineyards. And there’s a lot going on.  There is a major modification to the winery that beginning with rebuilding the tasting room.  This has been a work in process as it’s taken three years to get the permit as they have worked to solve some power and water issues. There is also a renewed focus on sales and marketing and on establishing Ballentine as a wholesale brand enabling the brand to expand into other states. It’s a lot of work and investment and the company has always made decisions with cash at hand.

 

Unlike most businesses that take on a renovation project of this scale, they have always been run as a cash-based business so there is no danger of the winery going into debt. Bruce talked about a family-owned winery approach allows.

 

Bruce also shared that one of the enjoyable aspects of running a small family-owned winery in Napa is the freedom from strict accounting conventions. Unlike larger operations, they don’t feel pressure to replace vineyards just to replant Cabernet. The winery’s Chenin Blanc is an example; another 10 acres have been allocated to plant more.

 

Bruce said, “At Ballentine Vineyards, we take an individualistic approach to producing quality estate wines from our sustainably farmed vineyards. We believe in an honest connection to the land, embracing our past to better our future and reflect the Ballentine family’s 119-year heritage and legacy in Napa Valley”.

 

The dinner was at Dea and the food pairing was a great match.  Showing a few photos of the wines and dishes.

 

 

https://www.55seventy.com/
Our Pairing Line Up

 

 

Dishes from the Ballentine Dinner

 

 

The Great Food and Wine Pairings at the Dinner

 

 

Ballentine Winery’s decade-long journey is a story of passion, purpose, and potential. Rooted in a rich history that blends old-world traditions with modern innovations, Ballentine Winery continues to thrive. The family’s dedication to maintaining the winery’s heritage while embracing change ensures that Ballentine Vineyards will remain a cherished and influential part of Napa Valley for future generations.

 

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