Groth: A Oakville Icon

Groth, the iconic Oakville Cabernet producer in Napa valley started with Pong and a dream!

The year was 1981. Dennis Groth, the CFO of Atari, had just ushered the world into the golden age of video games and was looking for a new venture. Both he and his wife were Bordeaux enthusiasts, wanted to buy some land in California's emerging Napa Valley to make Cabernet Sauvignon that they could be proud of. They were shown a 121- acre dilapidated farm, dotted with old growth oaks and a fallow, vineyard on the valley floor in a little-known region of Napa, called Oakville. At the time, only a few growers understood its potential, and thankfully so did their real estate agent. This was the place for their dream to begin.

The next year, they added on to their Napa land holdings and purchased 44 acres in the now named Oak Knoll District and found it was the perfect spot for Merlot and Chardonnay. Due to the success of Atari's world's first video console, he and Judy now could realize the ultimate dream of becoming full-time wine growers.

Initially selling fruit to their neighbors for a year, the Groth's decided they should try winemaking from their own vines. Nils Venge, the winemaker of the neighboring Villa Mt. Eden, came on as their first winemaker. Nils, a Napa veteran and savvy winemaker in his own right, recognized that this land had enormous potential. Along the western edge of the Oakville property along Conn Creek, there was a special plot he dubbed 'The Sweet Spot'. In 1983, Nils convinced Dennis and Judy to make a special bottling from 'The Sweet Spot' which is now known as the Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine was one of the best first vintages of any Napa winery and put Groth and Oakville on the world wine radar. In 1985, the Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was given its first 100 Point score!

Groth continues the quest for Cabernet Sauvignon perfection and has added some newer espressions to the line up with its newest offering of Sauvignon Blanc. Now in its 4th decade of winemaking, Groth continues to be one of the icons of Napa and a benchmark of Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon.