La Jota Vineyard
La Jota Vineyard Co. is a historic Napa Valley winery on Howell Mountain AVA, producing small-lot premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay from 28 estate acres and selling exclusively direct-to-consumer via e-commerce, a tasting room, and a wine club.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1898
- HeadquartersAngwin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What La Jota Vineyard does
La Jota Vineyard Co. is a historic Howell Mountain AVA winery in Napa Valley, California, founded in 1898 by Swiss immigrant Frederick Hess and owned since 2005 by Jackson Family Wines. The winery produces small-lot premium mountain wines from 28 planted estate acres across three vineyards (Hill, Meadow, and Winery Block), plus the W.S. Keyes Estate Vineyard at 1,825 feet elevation, focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and a 2024-launched Restricted White collection (Chenin Blanc, Marsanne-Roussanne, proprietary white blend). Winemaking is traditional mountain-style: small-lot fermentation and French oak barrel aging in on-site caves cut into volcanic terrain, leveraging the AVA's 1,400-2,500 foot elevation, volcanic rhyolitic tuff and iron-laden clay soils, and above-fog-line climate.
The business model is exclusively direct-to-consumer: sales flow through an owned e-commerce store (store.lajotavineyardco.com, powered by vinSUITE), an appointment-only tasting room in Calistoga at 3299 Bennett Lane, the Mountain Wine Club subscription program, and virtual guided tastings. Distribution is limited to approximately 40 US states where direct wine shipments are permitted, with state-specific volume caps ranging from 1 to 36 cases per individual or household per year. Pricing spans $55-$1,950 per bottle, with current releases clustered at $100-$225 and library/vintage bottlings and large formats commanding premiums; wines consistently score 95-98 points from Decanter, Jeb Dunnuck, and Robert Parker Wine Advocate, and the 2022 W.S. Keyes Vineyard Merlot was named Robb Report's 2026 Best of the Best Wine of the Year.
The company serves a single horizontal segment: premium wine consumers and collectors seeking terroir-driven, allocation-constrained Howell Mountain wines with aging potential and provenance. Winemaker Chris Carpenter, who has held the role since 2005 with prior experience at Cardinale and a UC Davis MS in viticulture and enology, anchors production. The firm employs 1-10 people, operates as a privately held California corporation under Jackson Family Wines, and is currently generating undisclosed revenue from a structurally small-lot, brand-led DTC operation.
La Jota Vineyard firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- La Jota Vineyard
- Legal name
- La Jota Vineyard Co.
- Website
- https://lajotavineyardco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1898
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- La Jota Vineyard Co. is a historic Napa Valley winery on Howell Mountain AVA, producing small-lot premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay from 28 estate acres and selling exclusively direct-to-consumer via e-commerce, a tasting room, and a wine club.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
La Jota Vineyard industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Napa Valley wines (Howell Mountain AVA)
- NAICS
- Wineries (31213), Grape Vineyards (111332), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vineyard Certification & Sustainability Programs (Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative, GAP) (AFAGAJAL), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)
Keywords
Where La Jota Vineyard is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Angwin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
La Jota Vineyard business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct Wine Sales: La Jota sells its wines directly to consumers through its owned e-commerce store. Wines are shipped directly to consumers in states where direct shipments are permitted. Purchases can also be made in-person at the Calistoga tasting room by appointment.
- Wine Club Memberships: The Mountain Wine Club provides recurring wine shipments to members, offering wine club discounts applied at checkout. This subscription model generates recurring revenue from enrolled members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Library/Vintage wines (e.g., 2004, 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 3L) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2016 Library Red Wines |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Current Release Red Wines |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Current Release White Wines |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Collector Sets and Verticals |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
La Jota Vineyard product offering
Product offeringCore offering
La Jota Vineyard Co. is a historic Howell Mountain winery producing small-lot, estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and restricted white wines from 28 acres on three estate vineyards at 1,400–2,500 ft elevation. Wines are bottled at a 19th-century stone winery and sold direct-to-consumer through an owned e-commerce store, an appointment-only Calistoga tasting room, and The Mountain Wine Club subscription, with library and vintage bottlings offered in parallel with current releases.
Product overview
La Jota Vineyard Co. is a historic Howell Mountain winery producing small-lot mountain wines from 28 acres across three estate vineyards. The portfolio centers on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay wines, with current releases (2022-2024 vintages) available alongside library wines dating back to 2004. The winery offers direct-to-consumer sales through its e-commerce platform, a Mountain Wine Club membership, and virtual tasting experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- W.S. Keyes Estate Vineyard: Historic estate vineyard located at 1,825 feet on Howell Mountain, featuring volcanic and clay soils. Produces Merlot and Chardonnay grapes.
- Mountain Wine Club
Products and services
- 2022 W.S. Keyes Vineyard Merlot 3-Bottle Collector Set Three-bottle collector set of the 2022 W.S. Keyes Vineyard Merlot (Howell Mountain AVA), produced for collectors and named Robb Report 2026 Best of the Best Wine of the Year and Best Merlot.
- 2022 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain showing ripe blackberry, toast, Asian spice, and crushed-rock minerality; 97 Points from Decanter (July 2025).
- 2022 Cabernet Franc Howell Mountain Cabernet Franc with dark fruit, Asian spice, coffee, dried flowers, and gravelly minerality; 98 Points from Decanter (July 2025).
- 2022 Merlot Howell Mountain Merlot from historic estate vineyards with layers of Luxardo cherries, black plum, toast, graphite, and espresso bean; 96 Points from Decanter (July 2025).
- 2023 W.S. Keyes Vineyard Chardonnay Chardonnay from the W.S. Keyes Estate Vineyard at 1,825 ft elevation, with notes of Macintosh apple, pear, apricot, vanilla, and freshly baked bread; 95 Points from Jeb Dunnuck (December 2025).
- 2024 Restricted White Wine Collection Six-bottle set including 2024 Restricted Chenin Blanc, 2024 Restricted Marsanne-Roussanne, and 2024 Restricted Proprietary White Wine, showcasing underappreciated white varieties.
- 2024 Restricted Marsanne-Roussanne White blend of 82% Marsanne and 18% Roussanne with Anjou pear, chamomile, beeswax, and straw notes.
- 2024 Restricted Chenin Blanc White wine with early apricot, green almond, lemon zest, and quince flavors.
- 2024 Restricted Proprietary White Wine Proprietary blend of 44% Pinot Blanc, 32% Albariño, 14% Marsanne, and 10% Chenin Blanc exploring underappreciated white varieties.
- Mountain Merlot Vertical Vertical set of 2012, 2013, and 2014 W.S. Keyes/Howell Mountain Merlot vintages, paired with a virtual tasting hosted by winemaker Chris Carpenter.
- Library Wines (2004–2016 vintages) Aged library bottlings including 2004 and 2005 Howell Mountain Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 3L, and 2016 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot; including the 97+ Point (Robert Parker) 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Mountain Wine Club Recurring wine club membership providing regular La Jota wine shipments, club-only pricing and discounts at checkout, and member access to exclusive releases.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97+ Points — Robert Parker Wine Advocate for 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use La Jota Vineyard
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
La Jota Vineyard technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
La Jota Vineyard partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
La Jota Vineyard competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Stag's Leap Wine Cellars: Established Napa Valley premium Cabernet producer with broader distribution and a multi-wine portfolio. Comparable as a heritage Napa Valley Cabernet brand, though significantly larger scale and broader channel reach than La Jota.
- Harlan Estate: Cult Oakville/Napa Valley producer with an allocation-only mailing list and DTC-only distribution. Comparable in DTC exclusivity and ultra-premium positioning, though significantly larger in scale and broader in portfolio ambition.
Direct peers
- Outpost Wines: Howell Mountain AVA producer of premium Cabernet Sauvignon from estate vineyards on the mountain's western slopes. Comparable in AVA specificity, small-lot estate production, and DTC/premium positioning.
- Robert Craig Winery: Howell Mountain winery producing estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay with a focus on mountain terroir and small-lot production. Operates a tasting room and DTC model similar to La Jota, with comparable vineyard size and pricing structure.
- Ovid Napa Valley: Pritchard Hill/Howell Mountain area estate producer of Cabernet-based blends from rocky volcanic soils. Comparable in mountain AVA, small-lot estate production, and ultra-premium DTC pricing.
- Dunn Vineyards: Boutique Howell Mountain winery producing small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon from hillside vineyards, with a direct-to-consumer focus and a similarly heritage-driven, low-volume model. Comparable in geography (Howell Mountain AVA), product (mountain Cabernet), and distribution philosophy (DTC emphasis).
- Switchback Ridge: Napa Valley producer of small-lot estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay from a single Calistoga estate. Comparable in scale, estate-only production model, and premium DTC distribution.
- Corison Winery: St. Helena-based premium Cabernet Sauvignon producer with a long-established DTC focus, tasting room, and mailing list-driven sales. Comparable as a heritage Napa boutique with a single-winemaker identity and DTC emphasis.
- David Arthur Vineyards: Long Ranch Vineyard on Pritchard Hill/Howell Mountain producing small-lot estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot. Comparable in mountain terroir, estate production scale, and DTC premium positioning.
- Mt. Brave: Sibling Jackson Family Wines brand focused on Howell Mountain Cabernet, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc from mountain vineyards. Highly comparable as a fellow JFW-owned Howell Mountain label producing small-lot mountain wines from volcanic soils.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
La Jota Vineyard social profiles
Digital presenceLa Jota Vineyard financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
La Jota Vineyard leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
La Jota Vineyard funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
La Jota Vineyard M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about La Jota Vineyard
What does La Jota Vineyard do?
La Jota Vineyard Co. is a historic Howell Mountain winery producing small-lot, estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and restricted white wines from 28 acres on three estate vineyards at 1,400–2,500 ft elevation. Wines are bottled at a 19th-century stone winery and sold direct-to-consumer through an owned e-commerce store, an appointment-only Calistoga tasting room, and The Mountain Wine Club subscription, with library and vintage bottlings offered in parallel with current releases.
Is La Jota Vineyard a public or private company?
La Jota Vineyard is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was La Jota Vineyard founded?
La Jota Vineyard was founded in 1898. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is La Jota Vineyard based?
La Jota Vineyard is headquartered in Angwin, United States, in the North America region.
How does La Jota Vineyard make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct Wine Sales are the primary driver. The others are wine Club Memberships.
Who are La Jota Vineyard's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Harlan Estate. Direct peers are Outpost Wines, Robert Craig Winery, Ovid Napa Valley, Dunn Vineyards, Switchback Ridge, Corison Winery, David Arthur Vineyards and Mt. Brave.
Does La Jota Vineyard have an API?
No public API is recorded for La Jota Vineyard.
What industry is La Jota Vineyard in?
La Jota Vineyard's product category is Premium Napa Valley wines (Howell Mountain AVA). Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAB, Wine Production & Winemaking, with a secondary code of AFAGAJAL, Vineyard Certification & Sustainability Programs (Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative, GAP). Its NAICS code is 31213 and its SIC code is 2080.