Our Story
Family | Winemakers
As a fifth-generation family-run company, we achieve our mission by crafting exceptional estate wines in the prized Oakville and Yountville appellations through three distinctive brands: Elizabeth Rose, Oakville Winery, and Ghost Block. Our expansive portfolio features a diverse array of single varietal and blended wines, each delivering a unique and delicious experience. Committed to sustainability, we proudly farm all 650 acres of our grapes using 100% certified organic practices. Simply put, our mandate is to provide world-class wines at competitive prices.
In recognizing the possibility of shifts in the Napa Valley landscape, Ghost Block Estate Wines is resolute in maintaining its legacy through transparency and consistency. Our determination stems from deep roots, ensuring that we continue to offer exceptional wines grounded in the values that have defined us for generations.
After all, It’s in our roots.
Family
Family
Today, the Pelissa grape-growing operation continues to be family-owned and run, overseen by 4th and 5th generation family members who live on and farm the land.
Andrew Hoxsey
Managing Partner
As a fourth-generation grape grower, he dedicated his youth to summers immersed in the Napa Valley winegrowing business, learning the intricacies from the ground up.
Morgaen Hoxsey Pickett
Director of Sales & Marketing, 5th Generation
As a member of the fifth generation, she was raised in the heart of Napa Valley. The genuine uniqueness of her surroundings unfolded when she ventured beyond the familiar confines of her hometown.
Kendall Hoxsey Onysko
Business Manager, 5th Generation
A reorganization at Napa Wine Company created an opportunity for Kendall, and she assumed the role of Business Manager as a proud member of the fifth generation.”
Our family
Three Brands, Three Winemakers, One Family.
With access to 650 acres of premier vineyards, Napa Valley serves as a playground for our winemakers. With over 120 years of experience, we possess a profound understanding of our terroir, allowing us to meticulously plant varietals suited to each unique site. In Yountville, our four distinctive vineyards cover a total of 400 acres. The Morgan Lee Vineyard (31 acres) specializes in crisp and racy Sauvignon Blanc, while the Ghost Block Estate Vineyard (18 acres) nurtures our elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. Mill Race Vineyard (47 acres) predominantly features Bordeaux grapes in our blends, and Block House Vineyard (292 acres) presents a rich palette of aromas with 12 different varieties.
On the opposite side of the valley, our 250 acres of Oakville vines span three key vineyards. The Rock Cairn Vineyard (30 acres) is primarily dedicated to old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, while both Pelissa Vineyard (55 acres) and Lincoln Creek Vineyard specialize in Zinfandel.
From these diverse vines, Ghost Block Estate Wines proudly produces three distinct wine brands: Elizabeth Rose, Oakville Winery, and Ghost Block Wines. Elizabeth Rose serves as the perfect entry point, offering affordable elegance. Oakville Winery pays homage to family history and heritage, crafting food-friendly, balanced wines. For those seeking something truly special, Ghost Block Wines are meticulously created from the highest quality fruit sourced from our family’s four finest organically-farmed vineyards. The latest exclusive addition is our BW9 brand, crafted in extremely limited quantities and reserved exclusively for our wine club members.
Winemakers
Winemakers
The family has supplied fruit to some of the most prestigious wineries in Napa Valley, and its entire 635 acres of grapes have been 100% certified organic since 1991.
KRISTI KOFORD
Winemaker, Ghost Block
As the esteemed winemaker of Ghost Block Wines, Kristi consistently surpasses expectations, showcasing a prowess that exceeds conventional boundaries in crafting exceptional wines. Her innovative approach and dedication to excellence contribute significantly to the craftsmanship behind Ghost Block Wines.
JEFF ONYSKO
Winemaker, Elizabeth Rose
Jeff pursued his Bachelor of Science in Wine & Viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, graduating in 2010. In his sophomore summer, he enriched his studies by attending the University of Valladolid in Spain. Notably, he is married to Kendall, a proud member of the fifth generation.
LYNN WATANABE
Winemaker, Oakville Winery
Lynn became a part of Napa Wine Company in 2002 and concluded her tenure as Laboratory Director in 2022. In her well-deserved retirement, she will continue to bring her expertise as our remarkable winemaker for Oakville Winery while enjoying the pleasures of life in the Napa Valley.
The legacy began in 1902 when Joseph Pelissa came to Napa Valley from Liguria, Italy, and purchased his first 35 acres of land with a single gold coin in 1903. Later his son, Andrew Pelissa, took over, eventually acquiring 650 acres in Oakville and Yountville, where he planted wine grapes and other crops. Andrew was an early champion of keeping Napa Valley in agriculture. As a Napa County Planning Commissioner for fourteen years, he was instrumental in creating the Agriculture Preserve Zone in 1968 and saved the valley from urbanization, ensuring it remained planted to vine. In his own words, “If the county hadn’t passed the Ag Preserve, there’d be houses all the way to the top of Mount St. Helena today.”
Today, Andrew Hoxsey (Andrew Pelissa’s grandson) is the 4th generation family grower. He is joined in the family business by his two daughters, Kendall and Morgaen. Andrew has continued to push the envelope for Ghost Block Estate Wines. In 1991, he purchased the custom crush facility Napa Wine Company and had all seven vineyards 100% organic-certified. In 2004, the Pelissa family decided to create their wines from their grapes. Ghost Block Estate Wines was established and consists of four distinct brands under one impressive portfolio.
The Ghost Block Estate Wines’ winemaking philosophy is centered on the truth that no one owns the land – we are merely stewards of it. Generation after generation, the ambition is to pass the soil on in better condition than it was passed to us. After all, it’s in our roots.
