Phoenix Ranch Wines | Our Story

Back in 1997, Richard, Brian and Janet Phoenix began a small project at the base of Atlas Peak in Napa Valley called Phoenix Ranch. With the help of several friends in the wine industry, the Phoenix Phamily planted 5 acres of Syrah in 1998 to three distinctive clones: Durrell, Syrah Noir and Estrella River. Each clone produces a unique wine on its own, but blended together they can produce a wine of depth and complexity. In 2003 we planted nearly an acre of Viognier to co-ferment with Syrah, a tradition that has been practiced in the Rhone Valley for ages.

The Original Plan

The original plan was to farm distinctive Syrah grapes to sell to small local artisanal wineries and to not produce our own wines. In line with our original plan, Ehren Jordan of Failla Wines produced the first vintage of Syrah from the Phoenix Ranch Vineyard in 2001 and has continued to craft outstanding wines from Phoenix Ranch ever since. But by 2003 we realized the potential of our vineyard site — and the desire to make our own wine overpowered our sense of reason!

We enlisted the help of a good friend and outstanding winemaker, Cathy Corison, to make our first Phoenix Ranch Syrah. The wines were crafted to pay homage to the old world Syrahs produced in the northern Rhone of France, displaying an elegance and connection to the soil. The minerality is balanced by the full bodied fruit that the California sun and fog provides.

Voignier Happens

2005 produced our first crop of Viognier fruit from the Phoenix Ranch. After blending some into the Syrah, we decided to make a small amount on its own. The Viognier turned out to be spectacular. Starting with the 2006 vintage, Phoenix Ranch will produce a small amount of Viognier each year.

The Phoenix Phamily Team

Brian & Janet Phoenix: Vineyard Owners

Brian and Janet Phoenix started traveling to the Napa Valley in the 1970’s in search of great wine. They were introduced to wine through a close family friend, “Grandma” Boswell. Her husband made hand crafted wines in their home garage. Brian’s desire to expand his wine knowledge led him and Janet on week long adventures to the Napa Valley twice a year.

Also during the 1970's, Brian took over his father's Los Angeles based vending business, and while running the vending business, Brian couldn't help himself from dreaming about one day living in the wine country he and Janet visited so regularly. He dreamed of owning a property big enough to have both a vineyard and a proper garage for restoring cars. Cars, specifically Ford Mustangs, are Brian and Janet’s second passion. When they weren’t wine tasting, Brian and Janet spent their extra time at the races and collecting old cars.

Together they raised two fabulous sons, Richard and Jarid, and in 1996, Richard found the perfect site for his parents to retire and create their dream. Brian and Janet purchased the Atlas Peak property in December of 1996 and Richard, already living in Napa, oversaw the installation of the vineyard.

In 2002 Brian sold the Phoenix Vending business and he and Janet moved to Napa to start the Phoenix Ranch Vineyard. Brian is not only the owner, but also the Vineyard Manager. He continued expanding his education in viticulture and additionally has learned a great deal from hands on vineyard work—hiring help only for pruning and harvesting. He also has many friends in the wine industry at his finger tips for viticulture and vineyard operation brainstorming.

The Mustang Corral

Not long after moving to Napa, Brian began building the garage of his dreams; Phoenix Barn. The 6,400 square foot, two story garage is home to many classic Ford models. Brian has stocked his garage with all the necessities for restoring classic cars and trucks. [ Visit Brian's Mustang Corral page for more info on his restoration projects]

For any great endeavor, public relations are an essential part of success. This is Janet’s forte. Not only does Janet promote the Phoenix Ranch wines, she also works for Mumm Napa Valley 5 days a week. Janet is a Tasting Room Captain at Mumm and loves her bubbly. If you find yourself on a vineyard tour at Phoenix Ranch, be sure that she will make you feel right at home.

Richard Phoenix

At the ripe old age of nine, Richard Phoenix had the fortunate experience of traveling to Napa Valley with his parents. It seems his fate was put in place during this trip as wine would become his passion and pursuit. Eleven years later he took a job working in a wine shop in Los Angeles educating himself about the wines of the world.

In 1990, Richard moved from Los Angeles to pursue his dream of living and working in one of the most highly regarded and beautiful wine regions of the world: Napa Valley. He began life in his new home working at Oakville Grocery and experiencing the industry from the retailer point of view. During this time he also helped out local wineries with harvest and learned about the side of the wine business that leaves you covered in grape juice.

He moved on to the restaurant business and soon became the Wine Director at Tra Vigne. The long hours and fast pace of the restaurant were not an ideal mix for him and Richard eventually became a fine wine sales representative for the Henry Wine Group. He spent the next seven years building one of the most successful sales territories in America.

In 1997 Richard started the development of the Phoenix Ranch project as a personal labor of love. He continued his work with the Henry Wine Group until 2001, when he decided to start a consulting business to help small family wineries with sales and marketing. His first clients were Cafaro Cellars, Corison Wines, Crauford, Round Pond and Joel Gott Wines. Joel Gott would eventually grow big enough to require Richard’s full time attention. In 2004, Richard discontinued his consulting business and became the National Sales Director for Joel Gott Wines.

Richard continued developing the Phoenix Ranch family vineyard as a personal labor of love. Richard oversaw the installation and vineyard managing until Brian and Janet moved to Napa in 2004.

In 2007 Richard left Joel Gott Wines and restarted his consulting business after meeting the woman of his dreams — a young and passionate winemaker, Jillian Johnson. He now runs his business out of their home in the Napa Valley.

Jillian (Johnson) Phoenix: Winemaker

Jillian found her passion for wine while studying neurobiology at UC Davis. Home brewing introduced her to the magic of fermentation, and after taking the "Introductory to Winemaking" class at UC Davis, she quickly switched her major to Viticulture and Enology. She graduated with her degree in 2001 and soon thereafter found herself as an intern at the infamous Bonny Doon Winery.

Her desire to learn more about winemaking has taken her around the globe. To gain essential winemaking experience in a short time, Jillian traveled to the southern hemisphere to work an additional harvest each year. For three years she traveled south to learn how to work with different varieties and observe different winemaking styles. She did internships in McLaren Vale (South Australia), Margaret River (Western Australia), and Stellenbosch (South Africa).

Syrah quickly became her deepest passion and she returned to Bonny Doon as Associate Winemaker in 2005, focusing her talents on the Rhone varieties that the Dooner is known for. She played a major role in the transition to biodynamic winemaking at Bonny Doon.

Now a truly seasoned winemaker, Jillian is working to transition the Phoenix Ranch vineyard to a biodynamically farmed vineyard. Jillian took over as winemaker for Phoenix Ranch beginning with the 2009 vintage.

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