O’Shaughnessy | Napa Valley, California

THE CONNECTION:
Connoisseurs of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon know O’Shaughnessy as one of the great benchmarks but they might not know Betty O’Shaughnessy Woolls hails from Minnesota, having spent her childhood growing up in a rural farming community. After college, she raised a family while building a career in real estate investment and development in Minneapolis. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for food and wine inspired her to venture from her cooking school in Minneapolis to creating a winery in Napa Valley. In Napa, Betty fell in love with the beauty of the land, the vineyards, and the climate. In 1990, she landed in Oakville with a parcel of land, including vine-yards and a home site. Betty reconnect-ed with her deep-rooted appreciation of the soil and the bounties it brings.

In addition to the winery, Betty remains an active volunteer and philanthropist in the community.

THE PRACTICE:
Over the next few years, additional vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder added to the source available for varieties of grapes. The new century brought a cave, grapes crushed into wine and a design for a winery structure. The project completed in time for the harvest of 2003. In addition to the winery, Betty remains an active volunteer and philanthropist in the community. In 2009, her community involvement expanded to include an exciting new role as Trustee for Napa’s Queen of the Valley Medical Center. Among the vines O’Shaughnessy has proven itself an estate winery unto itself, synonymous with its 120 acres of vineyards split between renowned terroir in Oakville, Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder.

THE WINES:
Over 18 years in the ground the vines on Howell Mountain have established deep roots. All the Bordeaux blending varieties are grown on several different root stocks and clones to optimize flavor: Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenère, Gros Verdot -even St. Macaire. Steep terraces on Mount Veeder cause those vines to struggle for nourishment and moisture producing clusters with small berries and intense flavors both powerful and elegant with the telltale lavender and violet tones that emanate from this property. Oakville spans 30 acres surrounding the home where they grow Old Wente Clone Char-donnay, 809 and 548 to provide the backbone of O’Shaugnessy’s complex, dramatic blend. These are American treasures worth treating yourself to when you encounter them because they are as rare as they are wonderful. O’Shaughnessy Napa Valley, California. In addition to the winery, Betty remains an active volunteer and philanthropist in the community.