Power and femininity eminate from Howell Mountain.

Some of the most powerful, intense “boutique” red wines from California are being grown in the remote Howell Mountain area, situated in the north eastern hills of Napa Valley. Located near the middle of the Howell Mountain AVA is a vineyard of 10 acres with very little slope, nestled meadow-like on this otherwise rugged terrain.

It is from this vineyard, planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc that Ilona was born. The Ilona Vineyard sits at an altitude of 1800 feet and is comprised mostly of compacted volcanic ash called “tuff rock”, which provides an extremely stressed environment for the grapes. At that altitude, temperatures in the vineyard remain cool in the spring, retarding bud-break. However, in the summer the nights are actually warmer than the valley floor, so the growing time is recovered and the harvest is just a few weeks later than the valley below. This is a benefit, as the lengthened “hang time” adds greatly to the layers of flavors and aromas in the resulting wine.

Ilona has a deep garnet hue, a complex aroma of spice, black cherries and a balanced level of vanilla, due to its aging in French Oak barrels for 18 months. These intense flavors culminate in a lush finish, which is characteristic of the finest Howell Mountain wines.

Catherine Eddy, owner of Ilona Vineyards and in the Napa Valley wine business 23 years explains the name, “Ilona is an Eastern European name which over time had evolved into Elaine, my mothers name”. The woman’s profile on the label comes from an ancient Greek coin Ms. Eddy found in Paris. After reading many stories of Greece she got the impression that the women of that time were both very strong, yet feminine. The label and the name set the right tone for this powerful, but also soft and rounded wine.