3 Powerful Secrets: Gamble Family Vineyards
Gamble Family Winery is one of the most powerful wineries in the Napa Valley.
The reason is the high quality of Gamble Wine.
The Gamble Family has been farming here for many decades.
The family’s Gamble Vineyards are among the best in the valley.
Yet when you visit a winery, you are not really in the position to understand the “secrets” behind the glitzy label and the showy winery facade.
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Lunch with Tom Gamble of Gamble Family Vineyards
So during my lunch with Tom Gamble of Gamble Family Vineyards, I could understand the three secrets that really made Gamble Family Winery out.
First though, know that one of my favorite things about writing about wine is the opportunity to hear storytelling from passionate winemakers.
Tom Gamble is one of the best and most passionate storytellers in the wine world.
As Gamble Family Vineyards is such a successful company–and Napa Valley real estate is so valuable–it is easy to think he is “to the manor born.”
Gamble Family History in the Napa Valley
The Gamble family has a long history in the Napa Valley.
Early History
In 1916, Tom Gamble’s grandfather Launcelot Gamble came to the Napa Valley and bought several acres of the best land and devoted it to agriculture and livestock (cattle ranching).
The cattle ranching came in handy at the onset of WW II, when canned meat was essential to feed the troops overseas.
Launcelot Gamble gained a piece of land in Oakville in 1955.
This would become the Family Home Vineyard and foundation for the family’s entrance into the wine business.
Tom Gamble’s Boyhood Dream
“My longest memory of childhood was playing in the dirt,” says Tom Gamble, recalling his youth. (Secret #1)
During lunch, he says that when was a child he would look at the vineyards from the bus on the way to school and dream they would one day be his.
And then, when he was in 8th grade, he stopped taking the bus in favor of riding his bike the ten miles to and from school.And then, when he was in 8th grade, he stopped taking the bus in favor of riding his bike the ten miles to and from school.
The reason?
So he could get home faster and work in the vineyards!
“I loved working in the vineyard,” he says, adding that since he came from an agriculture-based family he had lots of other chores as well.
These included herding cattle, working irrigation lines and other activities.
An education at UC Davis followed.
Then Tom took over farming Family Home vineyards, which were planted by his mother and stepfather in 1997.
After many years of growing and selling his own grapes to other companies. Tom sold the wine made from their own grapes.
He also began acquiring other vineyards.
Today the Gamble Family Vineyards encompass:
– Gamble Vineyards
– Confluence Block
– Family Home Estate
– Winery Vineyards
– CC Ranch Vineyard
– Mt Veeder Vineyard
Gamble Family Vineyards
Today the Gambles own a sizable amount of vineyard acreage in the valley spanning some of Napa’s most well-known terroir.
This includes Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, Mt. Veeder and St. Helena.
They also farm significantly more land, selling grapes to a number of premium producers in the valley. Their first vintage was from 2005.
The Gamble Vineyard is bordered by both the Napa River and Conn Creek in the northern part of the Yountville appellation.
Creeks are important as they produce rich silted flood-plain deposited soils.
He farms the vineyards organically and harvest spans a two-week period.
The Heart Block
During the lunch, Tom seemed particularly proud of the Sauvignon Block called “The “Heart Block.”
This is an appropriate name because of its geographic position in the center of the vineyard.
They plant two clones originating from France, including one from Graves and other originating in the Loire Valley. (Secret #2)
The Gamble Family Vineyard micro manages these vines and thins the vines to only one cluster per shoot increasing the intensity of the fruit.
This allows them to harvest at maturity with lower sugar levels.
The wine is barrel fermented in 40% new French oak and spends 18 months on the lees.
Delicious.
I tasted this single vineyard 2016 Heart Block Sauvignon Blanc side by side with their 2017 Gamble Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has 13% new French and Hungarian oak. Both fabulous.
Jim Close, the winemaker, has done an exceptional job in delivering a complex yet easy to enjoy wine.
Both had finesse and a long length of finish.
And though both had a great deal of complexity, because of both the terroir and also tender loving care the Heart Block had even more complexity and length of finish.
The Red Wines
It is a rare opportunity to have the luxury of tasting a flight of top end Bordeaux blends.
Here at Gamble Family Vineyards these wines have the fantasy name “Paramount.”
They describe Paramount as a harmony of the most distinguished vineyards. The blend is “typically” a rough third of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, with a tiny percent of Petite Verdot for spice.
But this can change with the vintage.
2014 Paramount
The growing conditions in 2014 were favorable with a warm, dry, and steady season.
This was one of my favorites, as it had fresh red cherry fruit, black truffle, and also aromas and flavors of hazelnut and leather. It is great to drink now and can age at least another decade.
2012 Paramount
In 2012 the four varieties were all harvested, fermented, and aged separately. Different strains of yeast were employed to improve mouthfeel and complexity.
This wine has more aromas of thyme, black cherry, and plum. It can also age for another decade.
2009 Paramount
This is a delicious wine with silky tannins, bright acidity, and rich fruit. It has a long length of finish and a great deal of finesse.
For a wine ten years on, great to drink now.
Then the excellent 2015 Family Home, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville aged for 20 months in 45 % new French oak.
Conclusion
This was a magical introduction to the wines of Gamble Family Vineyards.
It is rare to meet a winemaker so knowledgeable about every aspect of his business, from farming to vilification to the wine selling platform.
Visiting Gamble Family Vineyards
So the last secret is this: even though Gamble Family Vineyards is a small family operation, it is possible to visit, taste the wine, and maybe if you are lucky tour the property.
Typically this is reserved for wine club members..
Yet you can call or email the winery via the contact information below, and see if you and your group can get an appointment.
To find out more visit the Gamble Family Vineyards website
707) 754-4825 or email [email protected].