Raymond Vineyards

"Five Generations of Family Winemaking in the Napa Valley."

"Raymond Vineyards: The Willa Wonka's of Wineries Jean-Charles Boisset, the playboy wine tycoon from one of the largest négociant , or wine merchant, families in France has turned a classic Napa Valley estate into a grown-up playground. From the “Theater of Nature” where Joe Papendick’s meticulous garden educates visitors about biodynamic farming to the Crystal Cellar where mostly naked mannequins swing freely from above the fermentation tanks to the Red Room, which you kind of have to see to believe. In the "blending room," you can play winemaker for a day with the help of Tyson, the Chief Blending Officer (you get to wear silver metallic lab coats!). There are also bocce courts, doves, peacocks, a “winery” for dogs and an entire house where everything is gold. Sound a bit like Willy Wonka’s? Yeah, it kind of is. But for wine, not candy, and lucky grown ups, not children."

"Jean-Charles Boisset, owner of Oakville Wine Merchant, also installed the automatic wine dispensers in his Raymond Vineyards tasting room and his Ink House luxury inn, both in St. Helena." - Maria C. Hunt