Guides, Stories & News
What’s in Guides, Stories & News? Spring Mountain and Napa tasting guides, Michael Keenan’s short varietal and food-pairing videos, the estate’s ghost-winery history, wine stories, and Michael’s newsletters from the President’s Desk — all in one place, grouped by topic below.
Food & pairing
Michael’s Table: Wagyu Strip & Mernet Reserve
The cut he reaches for when he opens this bottle.
Zinfandel & Wagyu Steak Tartare
A big red with raw beef — and why it works.
The Best Wine with Thai Food
Delicate, chillable, moderate alcohol. Here’s why.
Mailbox Merlot & Atlantic Cod
Red wine with fish — brown butter is the bridge.
The Working Person’s Steak & Wine Dinner
Wagyu chuck eye, reverse-seared, with the 2021 Napa Cabernet.
Merlot, Figs & Pork
A pairing to die for, from the winery garden.
The Best Wine with Thai Food
Delicate, chillable, moderate alcohol. Here's why.
Mernet & Wine Tasting Basics
Follow your tongue — plus the Mernet story.
What a Barrel Tasting Is Actually Like
Down into a cool cellar, a wine thief, and unfinished wine.
Wine stories
What's the Mailbox About?
The 2019 Mailbox Merlot back story (video).
A Look at the 2019 Mernet
Keenan's signature blend (video).
The 2020 Capstone
A one-off blend born of an infamous vintage.
Cabernet Franc & the 2019 Vintage
Why 2019 is so in demand (video).
The 2020 Mernet Reserve Back Story
Only 600 cases produced — Michael on why. (video)
2017 Last Chance
We’ve never done this before. (video)
See the winery
A Year in 10 Minutes
The whole estate year, bud break to bottling. (video)
A Beautiful Autumn Day
Harvest light on Spring Mountain. (video)
Keenan Winery from Above
The estate from the air. (video)
The Artwork at Keenan Winery
Jennifer Walker Keenan on the art throughout the winery. (video)
History & estate
Napa's Historic Ghost Wineries
How the 1904 Conradi winery survived Prohibition.
Keenan History & Zinfandel
Michael on the estate's oldest tradition (video).
The History in 3 Parts
As told by Michael Keenan (video).
The Vineyards
Blocks, clones and the mountain soils, by Matt Gardner.
The New Tasting Room
The 2014 remodel, by Sandy Walker & Jennifer Keenan.
News and From the President’s Desk
Bouncing Back
The estate after the 2017 fires.
2027 Tennessee Music Cities Cruise
Memphis, then the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland — October 2027. Join Michael and Jennifer.
Pioneer Days to Today
The Conradi pioneers, and the Spring–Summer 2018 newsletter.
News 2007–2016
The secret wine, wine shortages, lucky #13, the 30th-anniversary vintage.
News 2002–2006
Going solar, the hand-off from Robert Keenan, record rains.
A Summary of 1999–2002
Fridays at the winery, cosmology and wine, confessions of a dirt farmer.
About That Newsletter Title
How to make Christmas great again (video).
Michael Keenan on… (video series)
Merlot
His favorite varietal — and what to eat with it.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Pairing the king of Napa reds.
Chardonnay
Cold salmon salad + young Chardonnay. Transcript included.
Zinfandel
Foods for the estate's oldest varietal tradition.
Syrah
What to pour alongside a dark, savory Syrah.
Winemaking
A quick share on how Keenan makes wine.
Winemaker Culture
The changing landscape of winemaking.
Spring Mountain & Napa guides
The Definitive Guide to Spring Mountain AVA Wines
Terroir, varietals, and why mountain wines age.
Napa Wine Tasting Guide
Wineries, itineraries, seasons, and hidden gems.
How to Choose a Napa Wine
A complete buying guide for every taste & occasion.
Merlot vs. Cabernet
Why Spring Mountain tells a different story.
Planning a Napa Valley Wine Experience
Why Spring Mountain matters.
Dog-Friendly Wine Tasting in Napa
Meet the four-pawed connoisseurs.
Our Spring Mountain Philosophy
Stressed vines, concentrated wine: the estate, explained.