Cairdean Estate Winery and Farmer & the Fox open to the public

Driving just north of St Helena on Highway 29, on your left come across a several large buildings almost appearing to be built into the side of the hillside, called Spring Mountain. The sign says Cairdean Estates and one wonders what this property is all about.

Cairdean essentially means friends, and can be stretched to mean for welcome friends and eat and drink well this evening? The property is the is the vision of husband and wife Edwin and Stacia Williams. Here is some of their story from their website, Cairdean Estate website:

After much searching for their home in Napa Valley, it was their elder son Kyle that led them to the quaint town of St. Helena. He was entering high school and very much wanted to attend the public high school there. In their searches for land that would allow a quintessential wine country lifestyle, they settled on a beautiful 50 acre parcel right on highway 29 in Saint Helena just north of downtown.

After relocating from Fresno to St. Helena in 2010, Edwin and Stacia embraced their vision and created Cairdean Vineyards. Cairdean is Scottish Gaelic for friends, which reflects their belief that wine is meant to be shared by those held close to your heart. The Cairdean symbol is a representation of that belief with the four hearts always present and brought together in the center by friendship.

This is actually their Estate with a winery currently making about 5,000 cases each year, there are 17,000 square feet of caves and a production facility atop a 50 acre vineyard at the base of Spring Mountain. Still under construction is additional 7-acre parcel that is soon to be a complete “village” of wine, food and enjoyment, This is the site of the former Cement Works, then renamed the St Helena Marketplace. Dinner is also served nightly at the new restaurant, the Farmer & the Fox, which opened June 6 and coming soon, the Butterscots Bakery and Deli.