Joan and Bob Ellis have been married for 56 years, and during that time, they have consumed a few bottles of wine! “Wine is meant to be shared with your neighbors and close friends,” says Bob, “and we do so frequently!”

Bob and Joan’s wine cellar features three EuroCaves that each hold 130 bottles. EuroCave wine cabinets are exclusively handcrafted in France by expert craftsmen. The technology employed is innovated by a team of engineers and designers with an intimate knowledge of wine. The cabinets have been developed in partnership with sommeliers to ensure the best protection and finest handling of bottles.

“We keep our very best wines in the EuroCaves as they control both the temperature and humidity,” explained Bob.  “We store our wine somewhere around 49 to 54 degrees, depending on whether it's red or white, and we keep the humidity around 65 percent.  All three EuroCaves are currently full!”

In addition to the three EuroCaves for storing the Ellis’s best wines, they also have seven other wine racks that can store an additional 500 bottles.  Most of them are located in their basement, which tends to be naturally cooler than the upper level of the house, so they store reasonably well.

Bob favors big, bold reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Zinfandel. Some of his favorite wineries are B Cellars, Venge, Amizetta, Barnett, Pride, and Montelena.  Joan favors some of these same reds but also enjoys a good Rombauer Chardonnay.

The Ellis’s visit Napa Valley every couple of years. In 2019, they visited Napa along with their neighbors and close friends, the Raks and the Sinclairs.  It was a memorable trip with many great tastings involved.

B Cellars:  The winery is an extraordinary property that features a state-of-the-art production facility, vineyards, caves for storage, tours, and tastings. Their vision embraces responsible use and protection of their natural environment through conservation and sustainable business practices.

Barnett Vineyards:  Located in Napa’s Spring Mountain District, Barnett strives to produce elegant wines that showcase integrity and uniqueness. The winery says that while the trek up the mountain is no easy feat, it is worth it. Once on the property, visitors can enjoy stunning views of the valley floor while tasting through the winery’s recent releases.

Amizetta Family Estate Wines:  Situated on the southern slopes of Howell Mountain overlooking Lake Hennessy, Amizetta is surrounded by its 40-acre estate vineyard. The soil consists of red and grey rock strata, which is the ideal location for growing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varieties.