OUR STORY
"At Whetstone we are acutely aware of the art of being present.
It is an art form we practice with each bottle, tune, and conversation shared with our guests."
Jamey Whetstone was born and raised in South Carolina, and lived in Charleston before moving out to Napa in 1996. “I bused tables and washed dishes at my grandmother Marguerite’s restaurant in Georgetown, SC during the summers beginning at age 10. She taught me the importance of Southern Hospitality and the art of being present”
Once in Napa, he found himself captivated by the community, lifestyle, and culture of wine country, and quickly began to grow roots. By 1998, he had begun his winemaking education at Turley Wine Cellars, where he would remain in his apprenticeship until 2005.
During that time, he spent a summer sabbatical working for the Seysses family at Domaine Dujac in Morey-Saint-Denis. “Christophe Morin & Jacques Seyssess gave me a crash course in farming Pinot Noir in Burgundy, and the importance of family. Jacques once said to me ‘If it comes down to making 1000 less cases of wine in exchange for being at all your kids' games – do that.’”
“My first job and lucky break in the wine industry was driving a tractor and pruning old vine zinfandel for Larry Turley. Under the direction of Ehren Jordan (Failla Wines), I garnered a ground level education in farming along with a few life lessons and the opportunity to launch Whetstone.”
Since its founding in 2002, the vision for Whetstone Wine Cellars has remained the same: to use vineyard-based winemaking to showcase beautiful California fruit in limited-production, single-vineyard, and single varietal wines. Jamey’s approach to farming aims to strike balance and simplicity in the vineyard and to cultivate an elegant yet approachable style in every bottle of Whetstone wine.
Michelle Whetstone was born and raised in the Napa Valley. Her career path has always aligned with her passions and hobbies: Travel, interior design, music, food, and of course, wine. After spending several years running her own interior design business and furniture stores in Texas and California, she found herself drawn back home to the beauty of food and wine culture.
Three years after marrying Jamey, Michelle joined Whetstone Wine Cellars and brought her magic touch to the overall guest experience. Starting in 2011, she oversaw the acquisition, restoration, and finally, the grand opening of the historic 19th century chateau that became the Whetstone Tasting Salon in 2013.
Michelle enjoys getting back to the basics when it comes to hospitality: great music, fresh food, and stunning wine sprinkled with sincere conversation around a thoughtful table. And she'll be the first to share with you that understated hospitality rules the day.
This rule has set them apart and still applies not only in the Whetstone Tasting Salon, but in their family home as well. A typical day in their world consists of a long vineyard walk, pouring Whetstone wine for friends from all over, and then settling in at home with a Martini (Jamey) and a Gin & Tonic (Michelle) while cooking a meal with one or more of their four (mostly grown) children, all while listening to their record of choice for the evening.
We look forward to sharing a glass with you!
Come experience the magic!
SCHEDULE A TASTING APPOINTMENT TODAY.