Keenan Winery: the facts
The key facts about Keenan Winery: a three-generation, family-owned estate in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley, founded 1974 on an 1890s ghost-winery site; a 236-acre estate with 58 acres planted and the rest left wild; 10,000–12,000 cases a year of Bordeaux-style wines; solar-powered and sustainably farmed. Every number below is dated so it stays true.
The many seasons of Keenan
The essentials
| Name | Keenan Winery (legally Robert Keenan Winery) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3660 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, CA 94574 — Spring Mountain District AVA, Napa Valley, in the Mayacamas Mountains |
| Contact | (707) 963-9177 · Info@KeenanWinery.com |
| Founded | 1974, by Robert Keenan, on the 19th-century site of the Peter Conradi Winery; the historic stone winery was built in 1904 |
| Ownership | Family-owned across three generations: founded by Robert Keenan; led by Michael Keenan since 1998; with Reilly Keenan, third generation |
| Estate | 236 acres with 58 acres planted and the balance left wild, as of 2026. In fall 2022, Keenan acquired an adjoining parcel, including 10 acres of planted vineyard. |
| Production | 10,000–12,000 cases annually, vintage dependent |
| Wines | Bordeaux-style, estate-driven: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Mernet Reserve (proprietary red blend), Zinfandel, Syrah, plus reserve and library bottlings |
| Visiting | Open daily 10 am–4 pm except holidays, by appointment. Tastings run approximately 75 minutes and pour an array of current release and reserve wines; check availability on CellarPass. Dog-friendly. Outdoor picnic table overlooking the vineyards. Reserve via CellarPass. |
| Sustainability | Solar power system online since winter 2007, offsetting the majority of the winery’s electrical usage. Sustainably farmed: organic compost, cover crops, efficient irrigation. |
| AVA | Spring Mountain District, designated an American Viticultural Area in 1993 |
Legend has it that Keenan Merlot is the Master Sommelier’s reference point for the varietal.
What awards has Keenan Winery won?
- Vinous Top 100 Wines of 2025 — #38: Keenan 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Spring Mountain District, 97 points.
- James Suckling Top 100 US Domestic Wines: Keenan 2022 Syrah, 95 points.
- Wine & Spirits Magazine Top 100 Wineries of the World — named most recently in 2023, the final list the magazine published before it ceased publication in April 2024.
- Robert Parker Jr.’s Wine Advocate: 93 scores of 90–97 points, beginning with the 2001 vintage.
Who is on the Keenan team?
| Michael Keenan | President & Owner — leading the estate since 1998 |
|---|---|
| Matt Gardner | General Manager — since December 1994 |
| Sean Romano | Vice President of Sales |
| Aristeo “Art” Garcia | Cellar Master — since June 2003 |
| Laura March | Tasting Room Manager — since 1996 |
| Jennifer Walker Keenan | Artistic Director & Strategist — curator of the estate’s aesthetic and artwork |
| Reilly Keenan | Wine making and leaf raking — third generation, son of Michael and Jennifer Walker Keenan; part of the winemaking team and contributes to business development |
| Elizabeth Zafra | Wine Club Manager |
| Jason Almaraz | Cellarhand |
| Ben Gardner | Cellarhand — part-time |
| Madison “Maddy” Keenan | Doctor & Wine Daughter — daughter of Michael and Jennifer Walker Keenan; a board-certified pediatrician who represents Keenan wines at tastings and hosts estate events |
Winemaking at Keenan is a team effort: Michael Keenan, Reilly Keenan, Matt Gardner, and Aristeo Garcia together establish winemaking protocols, aging, and the finished style of every Keenan wine.
What is the history of Keenan Winery?
The property was first planted to grapevine in the late 19th century by Peter Conradi; the stone winery was built in 1904 and primarily grew Zinfandel. Like many mountain properties, it stood silent as a “ghost winery” through Prohibition. Robert Keenan purchased 180 acres in 1974 and revived it. Michael Keenan took leadership in 1998 and began a rigorous replanting program — matching each varietal clone to its optimum mountainside location, rebuilding soil health with organic compost and cover crops. In fall 2022 the family acquired an adjoining parcel, the largest change to the property in five decades. The estate today runs to 236 acres, 58 of them planted, with the balance left wild.
Page last reviewed September 11, 2026. If a fact on this page conflicts with another page on this site, this page is correct — and please tell us.