Family-owned wineries are special. They are also increasingly rare in today’s wine landscape. Economic and industry pressures have led to market domination by larger corporations, making it a bit more difficult for smaller, family-run operations to compete. Yet many continue to rise to the challenge with a commitment to quality and tradition. Several such wineries have been passed down through generations, fostering a deep connection to the land and a passion for winemaking that often translates to meticulous attention to detail, unique wine styles, and a focus on sustainable practices.
To support family-owned wineries is to contribute to the preservation of artisanal winemaking traditions. Choosing family-owned wines to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner not only elevates the meal, but the stories and passion behind these wines can make your celebration even more meaningful. Consider trying these family-owned winery offerings this Thanksgiving. Each is perfect for pairing with a diverse range of holiday dishes:
2023 Clos du Val Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley ($55)
Owned by the Goelet family and run by Olav Goelet (3rd generation) in the Stags Leap District, Clos du Val specializes in Bordeaux varietals. Two of the winery’s newest releases from winemaker Carmel Greenberg are the 2023 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($55) and 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($60), either of which are ideal to pair with Thanksgiving fare. But if we had to pick one, it’s the Sauv Blanc with its fresh aromas of Meyer lemon, grapefruit, and pineapple. Bright acidity and crisp minerality frame the palate with lingering flavors of white nectarine, apricot, and tangerine. Yum! This past spring, the winery also released its new halo wine called Yettalil Stags Leap District ($200); Cabernet Sauvignon-based, it is fresh, complex and elegant. Greenberg—a true talent—started with the winery in 2021. Prior, she spent five years at Dominus. Clos du Val is a must-visit winery in Napa Valley; its tasting room features sweeping vineyard views and exclusive tasting experiences.
2023 Clif Family Unoaked Chardonnay, Napa Valley ($38)
Located in the heart of the Napa Valley, Clif Family is a veritable celebration of everything wine and food. With an adventurous spirit that is palpable, the B Corp Certified winery (a company that demonstrates high standards of social and environmental performance) invites visitors to engage the senses with wines by the glass or bottle, paired creatively with a number of culinary options. The winery’s limited-production wines come from their organically farmed estate vineyards in Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain (10 acres) and Oak Knoll District (80 acres) AVA’s. Their Unoaked Chardonnay bursts with tropical fruit and citrus flavors, making it ideal as a Thanksgiving aperitif. Clif owners Kit Crawford and her husband Gary Erickson stepped back from their Clif Bar & Company in 2022 to focus on their wines, and their 10-acre organic Napa Valley farm that yields fresh produce for a line of fruit preserves, hot sauces, and wine jellies, all handcrafted in their organic farm kitchen under the talented direction of Dulce Noonan. Farm Manager Tessa Henry ensures the farm’s bounty is of the highest quality. Executive Chef Magnus Young transforms the farm’s organic offerings into culinary creations that can be sampled at Bruschetteria, their very own food truck. The winery and farm embody Kit and Gary’s values, those that are steeped in agricultural heritage and a desire to give back to people, the planet, and the local community.
2021 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($45)
Family-owned Patz & Hall winery has been producing incredible single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Sonoma since 1988. Founder and owner James Hall bought back the winery in March of 2024 from a larger wine company—decidedly a win for the “little guy.” The winery makes a great Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($40) and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($45) that are available nationally in select fine wine restaurants and shops. The Sonoma Coast Pinot makes a perfect turkey pairing with its classic coastal traits of fresh red fruits, cherry, mulled strawberry, cranberry, and cassis. The winery’s Hyde Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay and Chenoweth Ranch Russian River Pinot are also customer favorites, year after year. They also make a handful of additional single vineyard Chardonnays and Pinots that are worth seeking out. And, if bubbles are your thing, theirs can’t be beat; a full flute is the perfect way to begin any Thanksgiving celebration.
2021 Dry Creek Vineyard Heritage Vines Zinfandel ($28)
Run by second generation owner and president Kim Stare Wallace, iconic Dry Creek Vineyard is one of the last, truly private, family-owned wineries of Sonoma County. It was the first winery to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Dry Creek Valley. Established in 1972, it consistently produces 90+ point wines. A pioneer of Bordeaux-style blending, the winery was also the first to use the term “Meritage” with the 1985 vintage and the first to coin the term “Old Vine” to describe pre-Prohibition-era Zinfandel vineyards. Dry Creek Vineyard proudly produces delicious Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Meritage blends, and this luscious and complex Heritage Vines Zin that allures with aromatics of black cherry, boysenberry, plum, warm spices, mocha, and white pepper. On the palate, its brambly flavors of dark berries come forward, making it a match for all of your Thanksgiving dishes.
2014 Schramsberg J. Schram Noirs ($150)
In 1965, Jack and Jamie Davies established Schramsberg as a sparkling wine estate on the property originally founded in 1862 by German immigrant Jacob Schram. At a time when there were only 21 wineries in Napa Valley and fewer than 300 acres of California vineyard planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they set out to make world-class sparkling wine in the true Méthode Traditionnelle style. Theirs was the first California winery to provide a Blanc de Blancs in 1965 followed by a Blanc de Noirs in 1967. Now, their son Hugh Davies, who was born the same year the Davies arrived at Schramsberg, leads the winery’s management and winemaking team. This 2014 J. Schram Noirs exhibits lively aromas of apricot, poached pear, and baked apple, along with hints of lemon curd, spun honey, and vanilla. Pinot Noir-based, it features a significant elevated level of complexity, richness and mouthfeel, making it an indulgent start to any Thanksgiving celebration.
Photos courtesy of each winery