the story

Missimer Winery was founded in 2021, but the story began decades earlier—on a humble piece of land in Napa Valley, and in the hearts of a family with a vision.

In 1976, Dale and Mary Sue Missimer were living in Marin when a cycling trip through France’s Loire Valley inspired a dream: to create a life more connected to the land, filled with nature, wine, and family. They began looking for a place to bring that dream to life.

As they searched for just the right place, they made an offer on a small parcel in Oakville—but it slipped through their fingers. (Family lore makes sure to note that very spot would later become home to one of Napa’s most celebrated cult wineries!) Undeterred, they soon found another piece of ground just a few miles south: a quiet, rundown walnut orchard and cow pasture in what would later become the world-renowned Stags Leap District, famous for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.

At the time, Yountville was still a sleepy town. But Dale and Mary Sue had vision. They planted vines, built a modest home, and watched their family grow. The land became the backdrop of their lives—and the lives of their children and grandchildren.

For one of those grandchildren, Sinead, the vineyard became something more. While studying wine at Cal Poly in 2006, she met Travis Bullard—a kindred spirit with a shared love of winemaking for its commitment to meaningful, hands-on work and the lifestyle it produces. They married in 2008, and in 2010, made the move to the family property in Stags Leap District to begin a life rooted in place, purpose, and family.

Today, Sinead and Travis still live on the land with their four sons, farming the vineyard by hand and producing small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon that reflects the distinct character of this rare site. It’s a deeply personal process—small-scale, family-run, and rooted in intention rather than ambition. Every bottle reflects a place and a legacy that can’t be replicated.

Now in her late 90s, Mary Sue still visits the vineyard. At family gatherings, she watches her great-grandsons run through the rows and smiles. “This makes me so happy,” she often says quietly. “It’s better than I ever imagined.”

Missimer wines are more than just a product of place—they’re the result of decades of quiet persistence, family roots, and hands-on craftsmanship. Every bottle carries a piece of the legacy we inherited and the one we hope to pass on. Our hope is that as you enjoy these wines, you feel inspired to nurture the dreams that matter most to you, too—whatever they may be, and wherever they may take root.