Welcome to Howell Mountain!
Where Cabernet Is Built Uphill — and Craigheads Are Born
January 29th Guest Speaker: Elton Slone, Proprietor, Robert Craig Winery
We’re thrilled to partner with SommSchool this month as Kellie Martin welcomes Elton Slone, proprietor of Robert Craig Winery and our fearless leader, for an insider look at one of Napa Valley’s most distinctive mountain Cabernet producers. This exclusive session explores Howell Mountain terroir, elevation-driven structure, and why mountain-grown Cabernet continues to define age-worthy Napa wine.
When Robert “Bob” Craig planted his flag on Howell Mountain in 1992, he wasn’t chasing fashion. He was chasing truth. Steep slopes. Volcanic soils. Lower yields. Longer waits. A belief that great Cabernet is earned, not engineered.
Today, Elton Slone carries that conviction forward, stewarding one of Napa Valley’s defining mountain Cabernet producers with the same restraint, resolve, and respect for place that shaped the winery from the start. This is an invitation into the land, the lineage, and the mindset behind Robert Craig Winery, and into a community that believes the best wines come from the hardest places.
Welcome to Howell Mountain.
If this resonates, you’re already a Craighead.
Exclusive SommSchool Community Offers
2022 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
750ml
Retail: $118 + shipping
SommSchool Offer:
$88.50 per bottle
Collectors get $10 shipping on 6+
2024 Howell Mountain Chenin Blanc
750ml
Retail: $70 + shipping
SommSchool Offer:
$52.50 per bottle
Collectors get $10 shipping on 6+
2022 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum
Retail: $261 + shipping
SommSchool Offer:
$195.75 per bottle
Go big or go home!
Why Magnums Matter
During the session, Elton will also touch on why 1.5L magnums are the ideal format for mountain Cabernet—slower evolution, greater aromatic complexity, and unmatched longevity. (Limited-format opportunities may be discussed live.)
What You’ll Learn
- What truly defines Howell Mountain Cabernet
- How elevation, soils, and exposure drive structure and ageability
- Why restraint—not excess—defines great mountain wine
- How to position mountain Cabernet on a list or in a cellar
Order by January 20 to ensure arrival for the January 29 Seminar
This offer is limited and available exclusively to the SommSchool community. January 20th is the last day to order to receive your wine before January 29th.
Adult signature required upon delivery. Limited quantities available.
Become a Cabernet Club Member
Our membership community is intentionally small and deeply connected, an extended branch of the Craig Crew. These are friends, colleagues, somm-driven explorers and the kind of Cabernet drinkers who go out of their way to chase mountain-grown fruit.
They are curious Cabernet lovers with elevated taste, united by a passion for wines grown at the summit. From the highest point on Howell Mountain to our other peak vineyards, they seek wines with altitude in every sense. Craig fans, affectionately called Craigers or Craigheads, know that mountain-made Cabernet hits differently and they are always ready to share a glass of Craig and real conversation with Elton or the team whenever the moment calls.
Because every palate and collector’s journey is unique, we offer three Cabernet-focused membership levels, each crafted to bring you closer to the heart of our mountain grown wines.
For personal assistance choosing the right level, email us or call (707) 252-2250.