Mira Winery

Miracles happen every day. Mira Winery—a name inspired by the Latin root of “miracle” and Greek for “destiny”—is a family owned, 16 acre estate in the heart of the Napa Valley. Guided by the perfect proportions of the “Golden Ratio” in every aspect from building to barrel, this innovative winery’s aim is to farm sustainably, use 100% Napa Valley fruit, make the wines in the gentlest, most natural way possible and then let the wine reveal itself as a pure voice of Napa. Winemaker Gustavo A. Gonzalez has both extensive global winegrowing experience and a 25 year, deep local knowledge of Napa terroir, having worked across every AVA of the Napa Valley. At Mira, he shapes small blocks of sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties, Pinot Noir, Syrah and even the rare Sauvignon Gris into limited allocations of single-vineyard, single-varietal Napa Valley wines.

A “Golden” opportunity. Gustavo and Bear’s dream sprang to life in 2009 with the serendipitous purchase of coveted fruit from Hyde Vineyard in Carneros, soon followed by Cabernet Sauvignon from the venerable, 100+ year-old Schweizer Vineyard in Stag’s Leap District. In 2016, the Dyke family purchased a 16-acre plot of land in Yountville that was first planted to wine grapes in 1885. There they built Mira Winery and Hospitality House, with the Golden Ratio’s perfect proportions incorporated into everything from the design of the buildings and landscaping to the size of barrels and tanks.

A particularly stunning example is embodied in the gleaming wooden egg-shaped fermenter called Ovum. Fibonacci’s principles not only create beauty on the outside but in this case also allow for the fermentation to mix itself inside the egg naturally, without the human intervention of punch downs. Tonnellerie Taransaud makes only two of these works of art per year and of the 12 in existence, Mira is the only winery in the Americas to receive one.

An approach of partnership and purity. “We believe that exceptional wine requires a partnership between soil and sun, grapes and process, and people working together toward a common goal,” says Gustavo. “By farming sustainably, using 100% Napa Valley fruit, and making sure the winemaking techniques we use elevate rather than overpower the fruit, we feel gives these wines a kind of purity, a clear voice of Napa.” Mira’s diverse barrel program also serves this goal: Rather than rely on manipulation, Gustavo takes a single grape variety from a single vineyard and puts the wine into 100% French oak barrels of different grain, shape, age and toast. This emphasizes different aspects of the wine, which will then be blended together before bottling, making a more interesting wine, naturally and without interventions. Made with the enthusiastic collector in mind, Mira wines are built to age from 15 to 30 years but are confidently drinkable upon release.