Aug
About Hall
Since first working in her family’s Mendocino vineyards, Kathryn Hall dreamed of a place to showcase fine wines alongside expressive art and masterful architecture. Now, Kathryn and Craig Hall are creating an unrivaled destination in the Napa Valley—where winemaking excellence meets contemporary design to celebrate life and inspire the senses.
In 2005, Craig and Kathryn Hall unveiled a state-of-the-art winery amid the legendary Sacrashe Vineyard in the hills of Rutherford that is dedicated to making single vineyard and limited-production wines. The Halls acquired the historic Bergfeld winery in St. Helena in 2003, and are merging history and innovation with the completion of California’s first winery to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold Certification. (Learn More about HALL Wines LEED Gold Certification).
HALL’s estate vineyards encompass more than 500 acres of classic Bordeaux varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. As winegrowers, the Halls have a strong respect for the environment and a commitment to cutting-edge vineyard technology to yield the highest quality grapes. Through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards, HALL wines are able to express the unique and diverse character of Napa Valley’s soils and climate.
Under the artisanship of winemaker Steve Leveque, HALL wines continue to set new heights in Napa Valley winemaking. We invite you to discover HALL!
The Team
Kathryn Walt Hall, Vintner
Kathryn Walt Hall is the proprietor of HALL Wines and has been involved in the California wine industry since her family first purchased a vineyard more than thirty years ago. She has had a distinguished career as a successful businesswoman, community activist, and most recently as the United States Ambassador to Austria. Read more…
Craig Hall, Vintner
Craig Hall is chairman and founder of Dallas-based Hall Financial Group and along with his wife Kathryn, is creating a premier vineyard and winery company in the Napa Valley area. A life-long entrepreneur and investor, in addition to the vineyard and winery business, his professional interests today include real estate, venture capital, technology, and hotels in the United States and Europe. Craig Hall is the author of five books, the most recent being Timing the Real Estate Market: The Secrets to Buying Low and Selling High. Read more..
Steve Leveque, Director of Winemaking
Born and raised in Napa Valley, Steve Leveque has earned a reputation for finely crafted wines that reflect the terroir and celebrate the varietal. His sixteen years of winemaking expertise started at Robert Mondavi Winery where he blossomed under the mentorship of Tim Mondavi and served as winemaker for most of his eleven-year tenure. Steve also served as executive vice president and winemaker of Chalk Hill Estate Winery in Sonoma where he hand-crafted a portfolio of small-lot Bordeaux varietals to critical acclaim. Read more…
Don Munk, Director of Vineyards
Don Munk, director of vineyard operations, provides a lifetime of knowledge and experience to HALL Winery. Having grown up in the wine industry, born and raised in the Napa Valley, Don began working in the vineyards of a family friend at the age of fifteen and has been farming ever since. Don holds a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business Farm Management from California State University, in which his studies strongly focused on viticulture. Don’s professional experience began at Buena Tierra Vineyards, where he worked as a harvest assistant and grafter for six years. Read more…
Our Responsibility to the Environment and Our Community
Environmental Responsibility in Our Vineyards
• HALL believes that the health of our environment is essential when crafting the finest wine possible. We will make every effort in our vineyard management to ensure the health of our ecosystems.
• HALL uses only natural products for weed and pest control with careful attention to the natural health and biodiversity in the soil.
• HALL vineyards are now certified organic.
• HALL implements fish-friendly farming practices in compliance with the rigorous standards of state and federal water quality laws (Clean Water Act), the federal Endangered Species Act, the state fish and game code as well as local regulations.
• HALL plants cover crops in all of our vineyards to minimize erosion and sedimentation of local waterways.
• HALL has incorporated the use of 50% bio-diesel fuel in our farming operations to reduce our overall carbon emissions.
The Vines
It starts with the vines and the land. HALL’s estate vineyards stretch from ancient riverbeds on the valley floor to sun-drenched hilltops, encompassing more than 500 acres of classic Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc.
In our pursuit to craft the finest Bordeaux varietals possible, each HALL estate vineyard was strategically chosen for its elevation, microclimates and soil types. Director of vineyards, Don Munk, and his viticulture team, employ small-vine farming to produce low-yield, highly concentrated fruit. Each vineyard block is managed uniquely – farming practices are adjusted according to varietal, terroir, clone, rootstock, and row orientation. We farm for the highest quality fruit and employ organic practices to ensure vineyard health and optimum fruit character.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HALL WINEMAKING
The Wines
2012 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Wine Spectrum 94: Dark garnet in color, the 2012 HALL Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon displays strong aromas of pure dark fruit with a floral lift of fresh rose. The palate is bright, concentrated and dense with plenty of structured tannins buttressed by French oak resulting in an integrated and complex whole. Dark fruit flavors with clove, pepper, hints of wet stone. Beautiful fruit/oak balance. Round and lush with a surprisingly long finish full of dark fruit feedback. Vibrant aromas of currants, dark chocolate, blackberry, five spice oak.
“I was deeply impressed with the wines I tasted from Hall this year. The Hall Cabernets are always intense and full-throttle, yet they retain a gorgeous sense of balance that places them head and shoulders among the overwhelming majority of wines made in Napa Valley. Readers who like ripe, full-bodied wines should check out Hall. These wines are fabulous.” ~ Antonio Galloni
2012 Walt Pinot Noir ‘Bluejay Vineyard’, Anderson Valley
Wine Spectrum 93: The Bluejay is a blend of fruit from the Savoy Vineyard and Anderson Creek. Concentrated blueberry, lavender, and wet stone on the nose. Full and rich on the palate, with broad and powerful tannins. Warm, spicy oak leads into flavors of blackberry jam, white pepper, and freshly turned earth.
Wine Enthusiast 93+: Flavors are ripe and fruity and laced with vanilla, maple and toasted bread nuances. Vibrant acidity pairs with firm tannins to keep it mouthwatering on the finish.
*All information gathered from the HALL website.
