Robinson Family Vineyards
Overview
Estate
Robinson Family Vineyards is a family-owned and operated estate winery in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, California. The family acquired 78 acres in 1967 and planted the first grapes in 1970 after encouragement from Napa pioneers Nathan Fay and Father Tom Turnbull. Today, seven acres of hillside vineyard are planted to Bordeaux varieties, with the winery built into the mountain slopes beneath the Stags Leap Palisades. Current production is approximately 1,150 cases, with individual wines made in very limited quantities.
Climate
The estate sits on the eastern edge of the Stags Leap District. The rocky Palisades reflect heat onto the vineyard during the day, while the same hills and cliffs help funnel cool marine air from San Pablo Bay into the area in the late afternoon. This creates a relatively long growing season and a balance between ripening and acidity that is particularly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties.
Soil
The Robinson estate lies beneath the rocky Stags Leap Palisades. The broader Stags Leap District is characterized by loam and clay sediments together with volcanic deposits.
Vineyards
The estate comprises 78 acres, of which approximately seven acres are planted to hillside vines. The vineyard is planted to the five classic Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Recent estate updates also note new Cabernet Sauvignon plantings and T-budding of some Malbec blocks to Petit Verdot.
Cultivation
The family follows a hands-on approach from vineyard to bottle. Fruit is harvested in small lots at the desired ripeness, with recent vintages receiving crop thinning to concentrate the remaining fruit. The estate also has honey bees and continues small-scale vineyard development.
Winery
The winery is built into the side of the mountain on the estate. Grapes are processed by small lot: fruit is crushed into small open-top fermenters and punched down by hand daily until dry. Only free-run juice or gently pressed juice is put into the barrel. Estate wines are aged for at least two years before a further period of bottle aging. Recent vintages use French oak from producers including Taransaud, Sylvain, Radoux, LeGrand, and Fleur de Quintessence.
Family
Robinson Family Vineyards was founded by Norman “Bud” Robinson and Helen “Dinky” Robinson. Their daughter, Susie Robinson Jinks, and her husband, Tom Jinks, took over the estate in 1998 and continue to run it with their daughters, Carrie Robinson Francoeur, Kim Jinks-Whipple, and Robin Jinks-Yates. The winery is a multi-generational family business, with grandchildren and great-grandchildren also involved during harvest and estate activities.
Winemaker
Jeff Owens is the current winemaker. He joined Robinson Family Vineyards as winemaker for the 2024 vintage period and works alongside Tom Jinks, who remains deeply involved in vineyard work, cellaring, and the family winery. Owens studied Wine and Viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and previously worked at Cakebread Cellars, PlumpJack, and CADE, before becoming the founding Head Winemaker at Odette Estate in Stags Leap District.
Focus Point
• Family ownership and hands-on estate management since 1970.
• Seven-acre hillside vineyard within a 78-acre Stags Leap District property.
• Mountain-side winery and long aging before release.
• Very limited production, generally a few dozen to a few hundred cases per wine.
• Multi-generational family involvement and a strong library-wine tradition.
Marketing materials
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