History
George Vare and Mike MooneIn 1995, two seasoned wine veterans shared a vision for a boutique Napa Valley winery that would produce artisan wines with a unique character. George Vare and Mike Moone were major influencers in the industry when they decided to launch Luna Vineyards. Together, they selected a prime piece of property at the southernmost end of the Silverado Trail, and set about to transform it into a landmark winery. When acclaimed winemaker John Kongsgaard agreed to be Luna’s first winemaker, they were well on their way.
Their first task was to replant the estate vineyard with Pinot Grigio. Next, they worked with the top growers in the Valley to find sources for Sangiovese and Merlot grapes. With a focus on these three Italian varietals, they began making wine. The wines were enthusiastically received, reflecting a growing interest in alternatives to the most commonly known varietals.
Today, President Mary Ann Tsai and the rest of the Luna Vineyards team are still passionate about creating exceptional wines that are true to the terroir of the Napa Valley. Luna's winemaking team handcrafts wines by seeking outstanding vineyard sites for each varietal, using natural fermentation methods and a minimum of intervention in the cellar. The results speak for themselves: Luna's wines consistently receive high ratings by top wine critics.
Stephen Tanzer stated that Luna was Pinot Grigio's "finest practitioner," and Robert Parker said that "there is not a better Pinot Grigio being produced in the New World than Luna's." Its 1999 Merlot was listed in the coveted Top 100 Wines named by the Wine Spectator. In 2007, the 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve were honored with some of the highest scores that the winery has ever received.
While Luna Vineyards is constantly exploring and evolving, it will always stay true to the mission of crafting wines that are unique and represent the best in their class.
