Editor’s note: Gary Fisch, a familiar and respected figure in the wine industry, shares his Top 10 Napa Valley Wines of 2024. Although he closed his St. Helena store in 2023, his ties to Napa Valley’s wine community remain strong. His 2023 Top 10 list, featured here in Napa Valley Features, was a reader favorite. This year’s selection builds on that success, offering more than just a ranking — it reflects Gary’s deep knowledge of Napa Valley wines and his continued engagement with the region.
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — My company, Gary’s Wine & Marketplace, began as a small wine shop in Madison, New Jersey in 1987 and has grown to be one of the largest fine wine businesses in the New York metropolitan area, with three stores in Northern New Jersey. Our commitment to friendly, attentive service by knowledgeable employees and a myriad of wine and food events for the public sets us apart from other wine stores.
Each year, my team and I travel extensively to the wine-producing regions of the world, establishing relationships with winemakers and producers internationally to expand both our knowledge of wine and our ability to bring you exceptional wines at exceptional values.
Our own “Discoveries” are distinctive wines we’ve discovered in our travels; excellent wines that are unheralded by the wine critics and reviewers. Our volume of sales affords us the superior buying power to bring you popular selections at excellent prices as well.
As the internet wine business comes of age, we have kept pace, taking steps to ensure a high quality of service and to make our relationships with internet customers as personal as possible. You can always contact us for the kinds of recommendations and advice that customers in our stores have come to rely on.
Though our stores' roots are firmly set on the East Coast, the backbone of our wine selections is built upon the wines of California. Having worked in this industry for decades, I have built relationships with many Napa industry leaders, from winery owners to acclaimed winemakers. These fruitful relationships have not only allowed us to offer our guests some of the rarest Napa Valley wines, but also continue to grow our Napa-driven Fisch Family wine collection, most notably the Go Figure Lot Series.
This year I have selected 10 Napa Valley wines to highlight, which are listed below in alphabetical order. This diverse group of wines ranges from guest favorites to collectible treasures, and each is accompanied with notes from me detailing why it was selected.
All of these wines are available for purchase through our National Shipping Store on our website. Hyperlinks to each wine are also included below. Please note that some selections are offered in limited quantities and may sell out quickly.
I hope you enjoy these wines and invite you raise a glass with us to toast America's great Napa Valley!
To discover more of what Gary’s Wine & Marketplace has to offer, please visit our website.
2022 Duhig Estate Grenache - $44.99
While this is technically not a Napa Valley wine, this refreshing and easy-drinking grenache is made by a Napa Valley-rooted husband-and-wife winemaking team at the Duhig Ranch, which was settled in Napa Valley in 1853. For this wine, winemaker Harvest Duhig sources grapes from the Suisun Valley. The resulting wine bursts with red berry fruit with lots of freshness and excellent balance. As Harvest will tell you, this is the perfect wine to enjoy while sitting on your porch on a beautiful summer day.
2019 Go Figure Lot 84 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - $39.99
For the Go Figure series, I began sourcing wines crafted by industry-leading winemakers who had a little extra left over from their own bottling. The results are stellar wines, hand-selected by me and my team at significantly lower prices than at the winery itself. Because of this, we are not always able to disclose which wineries certain Lots come from.
Each series gets its own “Lot Number” depending on the vintage, the sites and the winemaker. The blend for Lot 84 is 79% cabernet sauvignon (Coombsville and Napa Valley AVAs) and 21% cabernet Franc (Coombsville).
Right away this wine shows its beauty with its deep, gorgeous color! The palate is lush and generous with ripe fruit of red and black currants, cassis, spices and a touch of leather. This wine is aged in 100% French oak barrels, with 20% of them being new. This is a big wine that can be aged for years to come. This one you can buy a few cases of and enjoy over the next several years!
2022 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc - $45.99
This sauvignon blanc has resonated with me for over 20 years, ever since I first tasted it when I visited this winery. When I had the opportunity to bring it into my stores this year, I jumped on it. It’s a beautiful, Bordeaux-style sauvignon blanc that is as timeless and enjoyable as I remember.
2018 Nemerever Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Complement - $125
Location, location, location. This is an under the radar gem that showcases the best Oakville has to offer – great wineries, great grapes. And, even better, this comes from the near-perfect 2018 vintage!
2021 Neotempo Kiatra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - $289.99
Good things come out of a great lunch. I met Neotempo’s founder, Kia Behnia, for lunch a couple of years ago and he showed me the prototype of the bottle for Neotempo. It’s light and uniquely shaped, and his use of technology piqued my interest. Tasting this exquisite cabernet sealed the deal, and I am proud to offer this distinctive wine at our stores.
2021 Patria Cabernet Franc Napa - $94.99
As soon as we heard Tony Biagi was involved at Patria, we had to taste this wine. And, of course, we loved it. Also, who doesn’t love world-class cabernet Franc? We love this collaboration between Tony and Kimberly Jones.
2022 RouteStock Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - $21.99
Finding a Napa cabernet under $50 is a challenge enough, let alone one under $25. The RouteStock cabernet sauvignon is a tremendous value and something to stock up on (no pun intended).
2020 Schramsberg Blanc De Noir - $35.99
Who doesn’t love a classic? This Calistoga-based winery uses grapes sourced from various North Coast counties, including Napa, to create outstanding traditional method sparkling wines perfect for celebrations or any-day drinking. Cheers to that!
2022 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc - $42.99
Anyone “in the know” calls this wine “mom’s wine” because this is what Mary Weber Novak, Beth and Lindy’s mother, used to drink. This is a gorgeous, classically made sauvignon blanc that never disappoints.
2017 World's End 'Good Times, Bad Times' Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon - $59.99
If you can get Beckstoffer To Kalon wine for this price, you grab all that you can. Which is what we did! Full-bodied, velvety and packed with dark fruit, cedar and spice notes, this wine truly overdelivers.
Great column. Where would Gary suggest finding these wines? Pat Dell
Fun to see local wines that are new to me.