MEMBERS: John and Diane Livingston LOCATION: St. Helena FOUNDED: 1984 VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay THE ESTATE: Tucked in the Mayacamas Mountains on the western edge of the Rutherford Bench, Napa’s prized Cabernet growing district, sits Livingston-Moffett Winery. This is a place shaped not only by geology – the soil’s volcanic rock gives Livingston-Moffett’s wines a complex minerality and the nutrients held in by silt and clay particles enhance fruit flavors – but a geologist as well. HERITAGE: That geologist is John Livingston, who along with his wife Diane, was lured to St. Helena by its lovely setting. Unlike many others who have arrived in the past 25 years, they didn’t expect to join the wine business – just raise a combined family of six children in a small-town setting. They hired a farming company to care for the vineyard on the land
they purchased, selling the grapes to various wineries. Without even trying, notable wineries always pursued their grapes, which intrigued the Livingstons about the possibilities of winemaking. They took a leap of faith and launched a small family-operated winery. Livingston-Moffett remains a true family operation. Sons Trent and Mark handle sales and winemaking. Diane manages the winery from her barn headquarters near the family home. With geology degrees from Yale and Rice universities, John focuses his love of the land on overseeing the vineyards. UNCORKED: The site has a long winemaking heritage – it originally housed a winery that dates back to 1883. PHILOSOPHY: Dedicated to personal relationships with its customers, while making the highest quality, limited production wines. ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast, 94 points (2004 Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon). TOURS: By appointment only. 707.963.2120
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