Betty’s Vineyard (1944)
In 1953, Van Ballentine brought his bride, Betty Pocai, home to the estate he had purchased with his father in 1944. Since then, he has meticulously farmed the vineyard named for his wife. He devoted himself to keeping her view of Betty’s Vineyard, Mt. St. Helena, and Napa Valley, pristine. Betty’s Vineyard is on the site of Ballentine Vineyard’s Napa Valley winery, bordering Highway 29. It lies just north of St. Helena in the heart of the St. Helena appellation. It is the gateway to the warmer climate of the Calistoga appellation. The soil is Bale clay with moderate drainage, producing expressive wines with and soft textures.
The vineyard produces delicate white wines that refresh the palate as well as our popular Napa Valley Merlot. This vineyard is the largest acreage of Chenin Blanc planted and the only Malvasia Bianca in Napa Valley. Current single-vineyard wines from Betty’s Vineyard include: