Everything about the making of fine wines is long, long range. It will be future generations who learn the final outcome of wines put down in my lifetime. Wineries tend to have a life of their own, and yet at the same time they perpetuate the life of their founder and to fulfill his or her ambitions. Jarvis winery is built solid, in rock, in a cave with the protection of the earth over it; it is built to last. Jarvis vineyards are planted with 37 acres of vines that will support the making of some of the finest wines to be found anywhere in the world. www.jarviswines.com

As to the future, the winery’s new plantings will double its volume in the next seven years to about 10,000 cases a year. In 20 years someone may wish to plant more vineyards on our estate, and to construct a stone building on the hill above the cave entrance. This stone building was planned architecturally in 1990; its utilities are all in place and its construction is permitted in perpetuity by Napa County.

However, it is best not to expand too soon. Fine wine is best made on a small scale; the enjoyment of owning a winery decreases as it becomes big business. Often there is more profit from a small amount of truly fine wine than for larger quantities of wine which usually sells at a lower price. The market is not unlimited and will not automatically absorb all increased production. Look at the French wineries, Petrus and Cheval Blanc, both being in the same size range as Jarvis, neither of which has expanded production much in 20 years. Yet they have expanded ten-fold in the market value of their product.s.