If you’re a fan of minerally and complex Napa Valley Chardonnay, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Hudson Vineyard designation on a wine label. Along with making about 5,000 cases of wine under its own brand, Hudson Ranch and Vineyards sells its sought-after grapes to star producers like Kistler Vineyards, Patz & Hall and at least a couple-dozen more.
Lee Hudson’s path from deep in the heart of Texas to deep in the heart of Napa led him from his native Houston to the Arizona desert and through the vineyards of France. With a horticulture degree in hand from the University of Arizona, Hudson headed for Burgundy in the late ‘70s to learn about viticulture as an intern at Domaine Dujac. Working alongside founder Jacques Seysses, he came to understand the connection between exceptional vineyards and the world’s great wines.
Determined to grow grapes of his own, Hudson returned to the United States and earned a graduate degree in viticulture and enology at UC Davis. The next step was finding the right piece of land. His search led him across California, eventually landing him in the cool, windswept Carneros region. In 1981, he purchased a 2,000-acre ranch and founded Hudson Vineyards as a grape growing operation.
In 2004, he began producing his own wines under the Hudson label. The estate cultivates 200 acres of vines, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Grenache — most of which Hudson still sells to other wineries. A true agrarian at heart with a focus on holistic farming, he also grows an array of fruits and vegetables on the ranch, and raises heritage breed pigs, lambs and chickens.
The vibe
On first glance, Hudson Ranch looks a lot like other Napa Valley vineyard estates. But as you drive past the rows of grape vines toward the hospitality building, the scene begins to change. A collection of large agave and aloe plants line the picnic area overlooking a scenic pond, and human-sized cacti stretch their spiky heads skyward. You may find yourself wondering, Bugs Bunny style, if you somehow took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. This is Hudson’s horticulture background at play, and it’s like nothing else you’ll see in the Napa Valley.
The contemporary hospitality building, built in 2018 along with the winery, displays items found on the ranch: tiny birds’ nests, fossils, the skulls of small animals. On the tasting patio out back, with its distant view of the vineyard-cooling San Pablo Bay, natural materials and colors meld with the starkly beautiful desert-meets-Napa landscape. The aesthetic, designed by Hudson’s wife Cristina Salas-Porras Hudson, incorporates the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which highlights simplicity and the natural beauty of imperfection.
On the palate
Hudson Ranch and Vineyards takes a let-the-fruit-do-the-talking approach to winemaking — which is just what you’d expect from grape growers. Chardonnay is queen at Hudson (they make three single-vineyard versions, plus an estate blend) and I dare any Chard-hater to taste theirs without falling in love.
The 2022 Little Bit Carneros Chardonnay ($115) is a splurge-worthy stunner with notes of stone fruits and citrus. The wine is lush in texture but doesn’t bonk you on the head with oak. For summer-in-a-glass vibes, try the juicy 2024 Carneros Grenache Rosé ($45). It smells like garden strawberries yet is surprisingly crisp and dry. The 2019 Phoenix ($85) is a seamless Merlot-driven blend that might just make you forget that Carneros is Pinot Noir country.
Seated tastings range from the Collector Experience ($100) to the Hudson-Arietta Experience ($150), which showcases wines made by Arietta winery from Hudson grapes. In between sips, guests snack on popcorn popped in duck fat and dunked in the winery’s estate olive oil. During summer months, tastings include a walk to the garden to see what’s ready for picking.
Beyond the bottle
To sample more of the ranch’s bounty, take a 20-minute drive to Hudson Greens & Goods at Napa’s Oxbow Market. The family grocery store sells organic fruits and vegetables from the estate gardens, plus snacks and gourmet pantry items. If you’d rather spend more time on the ranch (and who wouldn’t?), add a self-guided hike to your tasting ($20) or reserve a picnic table ($50).
Hudson Ranch and Vineyards, 5398 Carneros Highway, Napa, 707-255-1345. Open daily with reservations. hudsonranch.com
Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED, and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.