Founded in 1980 Cain has 84 acres of grapes on a 542 acre ranch. The soil up here is weathered sandstone and shale, which makes it somewhat harder to grow grapes, but with the highest point at 2,100 feet the property sits above the fog line, which makes for ample sunlight.

Sunlight on the Terrace

Cooking it up in the Cain kitchen.

After having a picnic in the employee dining room (which looks more like a great salon with views that stretch miles-wide in every direction) and sampling some of the exquisite wines, we get a tour of the property. The grapes grow on an intense slope and it’s hard to keep my feet grounded. I challenge my fear of heights and climb up a big rock nestled on the hillside, the view is nothing short of incredible. Rolling hillsides all around, shadows cast by the hills down into the valleys, nothing but trees and sky, the air is crisp an clean and feels like it’s cleansing my lungs. It’s just nature and I.

Feeling like I am on top of the world (and I kinda am).

Visiting Napa in January means avoiding the crowds, which is definitely a perk knowing that the region is second only to Disneyworld in attracting tourists visiting California. Cain wines are available for sale on their site, although you have to sign up to get on the allocation list for their famous Cain Five (totally worth it).