Our Stories
What is the Keenan Winery story? Keenan Winery is a three-generation, family-owned estate in Napa Valley’s Spring Mountain District, founded by Robert Keenan in 1974 on the site of the 19th-century Peter Conradi Winery, whose stone winery was built in 1904. Michael Keenan has led it since 1998, with Reilly Keenan as the third generation. These stories cover the estate’s history and philosophy, press and critics, tasting notes back to 1993, the President’s Desk newsletter, videos, recipes and sustainability.
- Barrel Tasting: What to Expect — What a barrel tasting is really like: down the stairs into a cool cellar, a wine thief drawn from French and…
- 2027 Tennessee Music Cities Cruise — Join Michael and Jennifer Keenan in October 2027: three nights in Memphis, then a river cruise along the…
- Keenan 2022 Zinfandel & Vermont Wagyu Steak Tartare — Keenan's 2022 Zinfandel with hand-minced Wagyu steak tartare, steamed sugar beet and pomegranate reduction — the…
- Keenan 2021 Mailbox Reserve Merlot & Atlantic Cod — Why Keenan 2021 Mailbox Reserve Merlot pairs with Atlantic cod in beurre noisette — the story, the method, and the…
- The Working Person's Steak & Wine Dinner — Keenan 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon paired with a Vermont Wagyu chuck eye — a reverse-sear recipe from Van…
- Michael Keenan's Table: Wagyu Strip & 2021 Mernet Reserve — Michael Keenan cooks a Vermont Wagyu New York strip for the 2021 Mernet Reserve — the cut, the reverse-sear method,…
- Vermont Wagyu Rib Eye & 2021 Keenan Reserve Cabernet — Van Potts pairs a Vermont Wagyu rib eye with Keenan's Spring Mountain Reserve Cabernet — reverse sear, pan sauce,…
- Guide to Spring Mountain AVA Wines — Spring Mountain AVA makes structured, age-worthy Napa wines from high elevation and rocky soils. A guide to the…
- History of Keenan Winery in 3 Parts, by Michael Keenan — The history of Keenan Winery — a premium Napa Valley estate — as told by President & Owner Michael Keenan, on video.
- New tasting room — Keenan Winery's tasting room: a warm, casual space remodeled in 2014 by architect John C. 'Sandy' Walker, with…
- 2020 Keenan Capstone Wine — The 2020 Capstone: a one-off estate blend, two-thirds Cabernet and one-third Merlot, harvested days before the Glass…
- Our Signature Wine: a Look at 2019 Keenan Mernet — Michael Keenan talks about the 2019 Keenan Mernet Napa Valley reserve wine — the winery's signature proprietary red…
- What's the Mailbox About in Keenan Mailbox Merlot? — Michael Keenan on the back story of the Mailbox Merlot — the wine, its name, and the vineyards behind its dark…
- Keenan Cabernet Franc: the Subtleties of the 2019 Vintage — Michael Keenan explains what makes 2019 a unique vintage for Keenan Cabernet Franc and why the wine is so in demand.
- Dog-Friendly Wine Tastings — Looking for a dog-friendly wine tasting in Napa? Look no further! Family-run, Keenan Winery, has space for the whole…
- Keenan Winery History & Zinfandel — Michael Keenan talks about the history of Keenan Winery, Zinfandel, library wine, and food pairings for Zinfandel in…
- Keenan Winery Sustainability — Solar Power & Sustainable Farming — Keenan Winery has been solar-powered since 2007 and farms its estate vineyards sustainably. What sustainable farming…
- Michael Keenan on Winemaker Culture — Michael Keenan, President & Owner of Keenan Winery, talks about the changing landscape of winemaking in this short…
- Pioneer Days to Today — Michael Keenan on the Conradi pioneers who settled the property around 1890, and the Spring–Summer 2018 newsletter…
- News 2007-2016 — A decade of Michael Keenan's newsletters, 2007–2016: the secret wine, wine shortages, lucky #13, and the…
- News 2002-2006 — Michael Keenan's newsletters, 2002–2006: going solar, the hand-off from Robert Keenan, record rains, the Mailbox's…
- Bouncing Back from the 2017 Napa Fires — Michael Keenan and General Manager Matt Gardner on the October 2017 Napa fires, the harvest that was nearly finished…
- The Best Wine with Thai Food — Which wine goes with Thai food? Softer tannins, a light chill, moderate alcohol — and our picks: Summer Blend,…
- A Summary of 1999-2002 — Michael Keenan's newsletters, 1999–2002: Fridays at the winery, cosmology and wine, springtime in the vineyard,…
- About That Newsletter Title — A President's Desk video: How to Make Christmas Great Again for Keenan Winery owner Michael Keenan.
- Wine and Food Pairing with Merlot and Figs — Michael Keenan shares a fig and pork recipe that pairs perfectly with Keenan Merlot — plus the story of the winery…
- Keenan History — 1904 Ghost Winery to Three Generations — Keenan Winery's history and timeline: Peter Conradi's 1904 stone winery, Prohibition, Robert Keenan's 1974 revival,…
- Our Philosophy — A closer look at the Spring Mountain vineyard wine district, the Keenan Winery estate, and how its distinct taste…
- Michael Keenan on Zinfandel — What foods pair best with Zinfandel? Michael Keenan shares his favorite Zinfandel pairings in this short video from…
- Michael Keenan on Merlot — What foods pair best with Merlot? Michael Keenan — who calls Merlot his favorite varietal — shows his favorite…
- Michael Keenan on Cabernet Sauvignon — What foods pair best with Cabernet Sauvignon? Michael Keenan shares his favorite pairings in this short video from…
- Michael Keenan on Chardonnay — What pairs with a young Keenan Chardonnay? Cold food, says Michael Keenan: triple-cream cheeses, or cold salmon…
- Michael Keenan on Syrah — What foods pair best with Syrah? Michael Keenan shares his favorite Syrah pairings in this short video from Keenan…
- Michael Keenan on Winemaking — Michael Keenan on winemaking at Keenan Winery — a short film produced by DigiVino.
- Keenan Winery — Bordeaux-Style Wines from Spring Mountain — Family-owned Napa Valley winery on the Spring Mountain estate: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc,…
- Keenan Winery Press & Recognition — Vinous, Wine Advocate, Wine & Spirits — Keenan Winery in the press: #38 in the Vinous Top 100 Wines of 2025, Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries (most recently…
- Accessibility at Keenan Winery — Ramps & Tasting Bar Access — Accessibility at Keenan Winery: wheelchair ramps, an ADA-compliant tasting bar, accessible restroom and lounge, and…
- Aristeo “Art” Garcia — Cellar Master — Aristeo 'Art' Garcia is Keenan Winery's Cellar Master, a member of the Keenan team since 2003.
- Ben Gardner — Cellarhand — Ben Gardner is a part-time cellarhand at Keenan Winery who grew up on the Spring Mountain estate, son of General…
- Bentley — Bentley is Keenan Club Manager Elizabeth's dog, the official Keenan Tasting Room Doggy and the one and only Keenan…
- Contact Keenan Winery — Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena — Keenan Winery, 3660 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, CA 94574. (707) 963-9177, Info@KeenanWinery.com. Directions,…
- Della — Yelp Page Manager — Della is Artistic Director Jennifer Keenan's dog: tall, beautiful, shy and demure, and the manager of the Keenan…
- Elizabeth Zafra — Wine Club Manager — Elizabeth Zafra is Keenan Winery's Wine Club Manager, at the winery since 2017.
- Hashbrown — Official Keenan Mascot — Hashbrown is Reilly Keenan's furry friend and the official Keenan Vineyard Dog, known for his speed, strength and…
- Historic Ghost Winery in Napa Valley — Why Keenan is one of Napa Valley's most authentic ghost wineries: 1904 Conradi roots, historic stone architecture,…
- How to Choose a Napa Wine: A Buying Guide — How to choose a Napa wine: a complete buying guide by taste, occasion, and budget — from everyday bottles to…
- Jason Almaraz — Cellarhand — Jason Almaraz is a Cellarhand at Keenan Winery, working closely with Cellar Master Aristeo Garcia.
- Jennifer Walker Keenan — Artistic Director & Strategist — Jennifer Walker Keenan is Keenan Winery's Artistic Director & Strategist, responsible for the classic Keenan image,…
- Keenan Journal — Guides, Stories & News from Spring Mountain — Keenan Winery guides, stories and news: Spring Mountain and Napa tasting guides, Michael Keenan's varietal videos,…
- Keenan Library Wines — Aged Spring Mountain Vintages — Keenan library wines: a small allocation of each vintage, held in the estate cellar since bottling. Call, email or…
- Keenan Winery Facts & Accolades — Dated, Sourced, Current — The canonical facts about Keenan Winery: location, history, estate size, production, team, sustainability, and every…
- Keenan Winery FAQ — Tastings, Visits, Wines, Club — Answers to common questions about visiting Keenan Winery: reservations, tasting fees, dogs, picnics, accessibility,…
- Keenan Winery Photo Sets — High-Resolution Press Photography — High-resolution Keenan Winery photography for press and trade, zipped by subject: the winery, the vineyards, wine…
- Keenan Winery — Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley — Keenan Winery, a family-owned estate in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. Solar-powered and sustainably…
- Laura March — Tasting Room Manager — Laura March is Keenan Winery's Tasting Room Manager, at the winery since 1996 and the first contact for visitors to…
- Little Billy — Squealer in Charge — Little Billy is Jennifer Keenan's miniature pig, who prefers an oink to a bark and is in charge of the Keenan X…
- Madison “Maddy” Keenan — Doctor & Wine Daughter — Madison 'Maddy' Keenan, daughter of Michael and Jennifer Keenan and board-certified in pediatrics, represents Keenan…
- Matt Gardner — General Manager — Matt Gardner is Keenan Winery's General Manager, on the team since December 1994 and trained in enology and viticulture.
- Merlot vs. Cabernet on Spring Mountain — How Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon differ on Spring Mountain, and why Keenan makes both as complementary, age-worthy…
- MERNET & WINE TASTING BASICS — Wine tasting basics for the new wine lover — and the story of Keenan's proprietary Mernet blend, anchored to the…
- Michael Keenan — President & Owner — Michael Keenan, President & Owner of Keenan Winery, assumed leadership of the estate from his father, Robert Keenan,…
- Napa Wine Tasting Guide: Best Wineries & Tips — Plan your Napa trip with this expert guide to top wineries, itineraries, seasonal tips, and hidden gems like Keenan…
- Our Stories — Keenan Winery's history and philosophy, press and critics, tasting notes back to 1993, the President's Desk…
- PCI Compliance Policy — Robert Keenan Winery's Information Security Policy (PCI DSS), effective January 1, 2024: network security, data…
- Planning a Napa Wine Trip? Spring Mountain — Discover why Spring Mountain offers one of Napa Valley's most authentic wine experiences and explore the mountain…
- Policy — Shipping, Returns & Privacy — Keenan Winery policies: returns and cancellations, shipping and weather holds, health warnings, email privacy, GDPR…
- Press Kit — Logos, Labels & Bottle Shots — Downloadable Keenan Winery materials: logos, the brand book, team and winery photo sets, label artwork, and bottle…
- Recipes & Pairings — What to Eat with Keenan Wines — Recipes and pairings from Keenan Winery: Merlot with figs and pork, the best wine for Thai food, cheese boards, and…
- Reilly Keenan — Wine making and leaf raking — Reilly Keenan, son of Michael and Jennifer Keenan, is the third generation at Keenan Winery and part of the Keenan…
- Sean Romano — Vice President of Sales — Sean Romano is Keenan Winery's Vice President of Sales: distributor sales, direct-to-consumer management, and…
- Sign Up for Keenan Winery News — Join the Keenan Winery mailing list for new releases, vintage news and invitations from the Spring Mountain estate.
- The Futures & Bird Series — Keenan's Futures & Bird Series: seven consecutive years of once-only pre-release wines, each named for a bird…
- The Keenan Team — People & Dogs of Spring Mountain — Meet the Keenan Winery team: Michael and Jennifer Keenan, Matt Gardner, Sean Romano, Aristeo 'Art' Garcia, Reilly…
- The Vineyards — Keenan's Spring Mountain vineyards: low-vigor soils above 1,700 feet, steep contoured slopes, and named blocks like…
- The Wines We Make — Keenan Winery's wines, one by one: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mernet Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot,…
- Trade — Where to Find Keenan Wines — Where to find Keenan Winery wines: the retailers, restaurants, hotels and resorts that carry them, and how the trade…
- Videos — Michael Keenan on Wine, History & the Mountain — Keenan Winery videos in one place: Michael Keenan's varietal and pairing series, the winery history in three parts,…
- Visit Keenan Winery — Tasting on Spring Mountain, Napa — Taste ultra-premium Spring Mountain wines at Keenan Winery, St. Helena. By appointment, about 75 minutes, an array…
- Wine Clubs — Join Keenan Winery, Spring Mountain Napa — Eight Keenan wine clubs, from the classic six-bottle lineup to Reserve, Reds Only, Library, Secret, White, Magnum…
- Wine Notes by Vintage, 1993–2025 — Keenan Winery tasting notes back to 1993, searchable by varietal, vintage, and focus — Cabernet, Merlot, Mernet,…
- Winemaking Philosophy — Keenan Winery's philosophy: let the mountain speak. Sustainable farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, for…