Two generations of the Palmaz family have sought to bring innovation and invention to the ancient art of making wine. Their background in the sciences, passion for living life to the fullest, and years of backbreaking work have resulted in a unique winery situated inside an 18-story cave that combines cutting-edge technology with a respect for winemaking tradition.
19th CENTURY: The Hagen Years
In 1852, young Henry Hagen arrives on a West Coast in the throes of continental expansion and the Gold Rush. He initially settles in San Francisco but in 1881 turns his attention slightly north, purchasing a parcel of land in the southern end of nearby Napa Valley, against the forested ridges of Mount George. There he founds Cedar Knoll Vineyard and Winery, where the Palmaz Vineyards and family reside today, just off what’s now known as Hagen Road.
Hagen will become one of the true pioneers of the Napa Valley: His noteworthy wines are featured at the San Francisco Opera House and served to some of the finest people of the city, according to contemporary newspaper accounts. Hagen even wins a silver medal for his brandy at L’Exposition Universelle de Paris 1889 World’s Fair.
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