Mike Beatty came to Napa Valley as a tourist while still in school, and was enticed to buy property over 30 years ago. He's been farming the grapes on that land ever since. At that time, Howell Mountain, on the eastern edge of Napa Valley, had fewer than 50 acres of vines planted, now there are over 700. Beatty Ranch Vineyard is right on top of Howell Mountain at an elevation of 1,800 feet.

Planted in the early twentieth century, these Zinfandel vines are the oldest vines on Howell Mountain. In addition to having all the advantages of a mountain-top vineyard location, the vines are dry farmed and have never been irrigated. The deep red clay soil holds the moisture from the winter rain to supply these ninety-year-old vines with all the water they will need to get through the entire summer.