An Invitation from Morgaen & Andrew
We’re thrilled to announce that our 2019 BW9, meticulously crafted by our winemakers Kristi Koford, Jeff Onysko, and Lynn Watanabe, is now available.
This extraordinary blend showcases the pinnacle of our vineyards’ potential, with fruit carefully selected from our finest blocks. The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a unique 0.44-acre section of The Ghost Block Vineyard, renowned for its deep, complex flavors. The Malbec is sourced from our Block House Vineyard, which imparts rich, velvety texture, while the Petite Verdot, harvested from a select sub-block of The Mill Race Vineyard, adds structure and depth.
THE STORY OF BONDED WINERY NO. 9
Long before Napa Valley became a world stage for Cabernet, there was a small Oakville winery earning a simple but historic designation: Bonded Winery No. 9. Founded in 1877, it stood among the earliest licensed wineries in California, crafted under a federal system that assigned each working winery a number. Most of those single-digit bonded sites vanished with time, Prohibition, or changing ownership. No. 9, however, survived.
More than a century later, in 1993, the Pelissa family purchased the old stone facility and the vineyard surrounding it—bringing new life to a place that had witnessed the rise, fall, and renaissance of Napa winemaking. Today the property operates as Napa Wine Company, and that original bonded number still lives proudly on our permits. We are the only single-digit bonded winery in California still in operation.
For us, BW9 is more than a number. It’s a responsibility. It’s a thread tying together generations of farmers, cellar hands, dreamers, and risk-takers who worked this valley long before it became a global destination. Our family feels incredibly fortunate to be the current stewards of this history.
Our label, BW9, is our way of honoring that legacy. These wines showcase the most expressive, small-lot parcels from our estate vineyards in Yountville and Oakville—fruit that speaks with clarity, purity, and a sense of place. They represent the pinnacle of what our land can offer, crafted with the intention that every bottle carries forward the story of Bonded Winery No. 9.
This wine is designed to impress, whether enjoyed now for its youthful vibrancy or cellared to mature gracefully. Over time, expect even more nuanced flavors and aromas to emerge, enhancing its complexity.