Celia Welch, Celebrated Napa Valley Winemaker
An Interview: Crafting Extraordinary Ultra-Premium Wines and a New Venture
Celia Welch – Her Winemaking Clients – Videographers, Linda Spina and Lynn Dugle
It was a pleasure interviewing my friend and extraordinary winemaker, Celia Welch, in Napa Valley this past October. Celia is a graduate of University of California, Davis in Fermentation Science, and has been celebrated in the media where her wines have gathered several 100 Point scores from various critics. I initially met Celia the year before I was commissioned to write a story for the SommJournal Magazine about the winner of the 2017 Premiere Napa Valley auction. Celia Welch, winemaker, and the Napa Valley cult wine, Scarecrow, was the winner of the top bottle at this auction with 60 bottles of the 2012 Scarecrow selling for $260,000, or $4,333 per bottle. See the synopsis in “Going, Going, Gone- Rare Lots Draw Repeat Buyers to Premiere Napa Valley.” The SommJournal Magazine, May 2017, by Tricia Conover. In 2008 Celia Welch earned Food and Wine Magazine’s, “2008 Winemaker of the Year Award.” In 2009 Celia was nominated for a James Beard award. Forbes.com honored her as one of “America’s Top Ten Tastemakers” in 2005. In 2015 Vivino named Scarecrow the “best wine in the world.”
“Scarecrow comes from the ‘old men’ Cabernet grapes. These vines were planted in 1945. We’ve got two acres of the oldest vines in California as far as we know.” - - Celia Welch, Winemaker, discussing the 2012 Scarecrow wine and the JJ Cohn Estate vineyards owned by Bret Lopez, SommJournal, May 2017.
Celia is an independent winemaker for several ultra-premium brands with their own estate fruit in Napa Valley such as Scarecrow in Rutherford, Barbour in St. Helena, Lindstrom in Stags Leap, REWA in Coombsville, J Davies (Schramsberg estate vineyards in Calistoga and other AVAs in Napa Valley), Keever Vineyards in Yountville, her own Corra label, and now the Sylvan Lake Vineyards -a new winery announcement. Celia has worked with vineyards from every AVA in Napa County, as well as in other regions of California, Oregon, and Argentina. Celia currently consults for a limited selection of Napa Valley clients, focusing primarily on ultra-premium, small-lot production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends.
“People know me well for Scarecrow in Rutherford, I also work with the J Davies (Schramsberg Vineyards), Keever Vineyards, and I have just partnered with Sylvan Lake Vineyards, in Howell Mountain. The owners are wonderful people.” - Celia Welch, Winemaker
Celia Welch –About the 2023 Napa Valley Harvest– Videographers, Linda Spina and Lynn Dugle
About the 2023 Napa Valley Harvest
“The flavor in the grapes is exceptional, great acidity, the color intensity, It’s hard to put it into words, but just extraordinary. We’re excited about it.” – Celia Welch, October 2023.
“[Celia Welch] has crafted some of Napa’s most touted, the most expensive Cabernets.” - Dave McIntyre, The Washington Post
Introducing the New Partnership, Sylvan Lake Vineyards
Sylvan Lake Vineyards was historically an agricultural site on the eastern slopes of Howell Mountain. The land is fortunate to have abundant natural springs, a temperate climate, and a mix of loam and volcanic soils. Originally part of the Yount Rancho land grant issued by General Vallejo in the early 1840s, the forest was cleared in order to plant extensive fruit orchards and vineyards.
After prohibition, the 1000-acre property was acquired by George von Garden, an immigrant who was purportedly connected to the Romanov family of Russia. George named the ranch Sylvan Lake after the magnificent coastal redwoods and small stock pond located at the center of the property. John and Luisa Fisher acquired this beautiful property in the early 1980s, tending to the fruit trees and adding a half-timber, stucco home and gardens. In 2014, John and his son Armin decided to remove a portion of the fruit orchard that was no longer bearing, in order to plant Cabernet Sauvignon vines.
Celia Welch, a longtime Napa winemaker and an avid outdoor enthusiast, stumbled upon Sylvan Lake just prior to the Covid pandemic. After enjoying many mountain adventures with Armin Fisher as her guide (he even talked her into learning how to rock climb!), they started discussing wine business concepts on the long hikes. The thought of combining Armin’s grapes from Sylvan Lake with Celia’s winemaking experience seemed an obvious choice. The resulting partnership has been a wonderful journey toward the first Sylvan Lake Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Sign up for the exclusive mailing list. The 2021 Vintage sold out quickly as only 50 cases of the estate Sylvan Lake, Howell Mountain Cabernet, were produced.
Recommended Wines Crafted by Celia Welch, Winemaker
Many of the wines crafted by Celia Welch are offered by mailing/allocation list or Wine Club only: See links to the mailing lists: Scarecrow, Sylvan Lake Vineyards, Barbour, Lindstrom, REWA Vineyards, J Davies.
2021 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley $900 - $1100
98 Points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
2018 Lindstrom, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap, Napa Valley $170
96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
2019 J Davies Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley $150
95 Points, Decanter Magazine
2021 Barbour Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa Valley $170
2018 Rewa Khanda Cabernet Sauvignon, Coombsville, Napa Valley $175
Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar
Stoller Wine Estate, Willamette Valley OR: An Interview with Winemaker, Ben Howe
The Fine Champagnes of Billecart-Salmon
Chateau Montelena, and the 1976 Judgement of Paris Revisited
Summer Wine Pairings from Our Favorite Winemakers
Konstantin Frank Wines, The Star of the NY Finger Lakes: An interview with Meaghan Fran,
The Martini – What’s New, What’s Old: Classic vs. Modern
Grower Champagnes – Why are They the Darlings of Champagne? (WH)
The Loire Valley: Touring Chateau Chenonceau
Two Surprising Wineries of the Loire Valley: Montdomaine and Ambacia, Ancient Sites with Modern, Organic Approaches
Understanding Right Bank Bordeaux: Pomerol and St. Emilion
Restaurants of Napa Valley
Texas Wine Country Revisited
Book Review: Big Macs and Burgundy
Linda, Thank you for your comment. Celia Welch is an incredible winemaker. Grower Champagnes are so interesting to try. Tricia
Great article. Really enjoyed Celia’s interviews. Looking forward to the article on growers’ champagne.