Paloma (Spanish for “dove”) sits on a steep, tree-lined ridge at the very top of Spring Mountain. A short drive from San Francisco, it’s seemingly miles away from anywhere, with sweeping vistas of the vine-carpeted valley floor. The success of the wine is a result of the terroir, the various micro-climates, the Richards’ dedication to farming, and multi-generational winemaking. Paloma Vineyard is generally about 10 degrees cooler on hot summer days than the valley floor. The more moderate temperatures, our volcanic soils, and the unique sun exposures around the very top of Spring Mountain are what make Paloma wines so special, adding layers of complexity to the mid-palate and long finishes. We started making wine in 1994 and by 2000, Paloma Vineyard wines began to garner outstanding reviews. The 2001 vintage of the Paloma Merlot, named Wine Spectator’s “WINE OF THE YEAR” in 2003, sparked a loyal following for our elegant, mountain fruit wines. Paloma Merlot graced the Top 100 again in 2004 and 2009 at 54th and 65th, respectively. Our 2001 and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon also received honorable mentions from James Laube of Wine Spectator. Paloma continues to focus on producing world class Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for our long-time supporters, as well as explore new possibilities, like Cabernet Franc and exceptional blends.