Elaine St. Clair, who is Co-Winemaker at Domaine Carneros, makes her Syrah in the Burgundian style utilizing her knowledge of Pinot Noir winemaking practices and her contacts at the French barrel cooperages.

In 2001, Elaine began development of her family vineyard in the Coombsville region of Napa Valley. The vines are planted on a volcanic tuff bed (compressed volcanic ash) under alluvial loam top soil. Typical of soils of this unique area, the tuff, like the limestone in the Northern Rhone and in Burgundy, holds moisture from the winter rains releasing it back slowly to the vines during the growing season.

As it turns out the "tuff" soil combined with a cool growing climate produce a Syrah with exotic spice character and complex individuality.

Elaine makes her wine at a local winery set up for small lot Pinot Noir winemaking. The winery equipment is designed for gentle handling of the fruit which incidentally makes just the style of Syrah Elaine is looking for!