Somnium means "dream" in Latin, making it a truly inspiring name for a vineyard and boutique wine brand owned by the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel car racing. That driver is well-known in the Indy region, especially due to making Indianapolis 500 history in 2005 by becoming the first woman to lead the race. Over her career, she competed in eight Indianapolis 500 races, achieving a career-best finish of third place in 2009, before concluding her professional racing career at the 2018 Indy 500. But, she enthusiastically toasted 'cheers' to new endeavors!
Now as a retired 'No. 10' racecar driver and entrepreneur, Danica Patrick says "wine is about connection, not just what’s in the glass." Her 22.46-acre Somnium estate, with 6 acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, sits within Napa Valley’s only all-hillside appellation. The Somnium Vineyard is located in the area of St Helena, California, within the Howell Mountain AVA, at elevations from 1,000 to 1,375 feet.
"Somnium sits right in the sweet spot. Plenty of sun, no frost, cool nights and well-drained volcanic soil on a steep hillside, which is what gives our fruit its color and character. We're part of Crystal Springs of Napa Valley, the newest AVA in the region, officially recognized in late 2024," she explains.
She says at the vineyard, she and Somnium’s winemaker Julien Fayard, have farmed organically since their very first vintage in 2013, and became CCOF-certified organic in 2019.
Their Cabernet Sauvignon went in the ground in 2011 and 2012, after about two years of developing the property. They added Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in 2014. "The Cab
Franc actually came from me falling in love with it as a drinker first, in other people's wines, before I ever thought to plant it myself," she recalls.
So far, their most demanding harvest or weather event occurred in 2020, without question. Danica says the wildfires that year took an acre of their vineyard and about 90% of that vintage. "There's nothing that prepares you for watching something you've spent years growing just disappear like that, but it also reminded me why I do this. You rebuild, you replant and you keep going."
While Danica says she trusts her team in their jobs, she always stays in communication and available. She adds that she loves being involved in the day-to-day winemaking operations because it is her palate and passion. "Before each bottling, Julien sends me samples and we go through everything before it’s bottled. Every year when I'm in Napa, I taste through all the wines in barrel. In 2024, I even got to participate in my first harvest at the estate — 4 a.m. and all."
Danica also owns her own athleisure collection, called "Warrior by Danica Patrick," which was created in partnership with G-III Apparel Group and named after the Native American mythology she had been exposed to in Arizona.
"Racing rewards split-second instinct; you're faster than everyone else that day, and it's over. Winemaking doesn't work that way; you don't find out if you got it right for years, sometimes not until it's in someone's glass. The vineyard humbles you like that. You can't control the grape, the weather or the timing. You just trust the process and wait," she reflects.
Somnium wines are primarily direct-to-consumer, as Danica says it just makes sense to have that direct relationship with the people drinking their wine because they currently produce less than 1,000 cases. However, she says Danica Rosé is a different story. "It's a bigger production out of Provence, and that one moves mainly through distribution. I always tell people, Danica Rosé is truly a rosé-all-day wine that's meant to be enjoyed year-round.”
Danica Rosé is organically farmed, vegan, gluten-free and fermented dry.
If convinced to reveal her most favorite Somnium vintage they've ever produced, Danica admits it's tough to narrow to one. "But if I'm honest, my favorite wine right now is our 100% Cabernet Franc. I love it across all the vintages. If I had to pick for our estate Cabernet, it would be 2019, 2015 and 2021."
When not drinking her own wine, which is "mostly what's in my glass, always," Danica branches to tequila in the form of margaritas.
Tastings are by appointment at Danica's Tasting Lounge located at 1307 Lincoln Ave., in Calistoga, California. Danica says she wants to enable guests to be on their own schedules, not rushed through a set slot. "If people want to stay and linger, they can. I even wrote my own set of conversation questions we provide at the table, to get people talking about something other than wine."
707.341.6373
SomniumWine.com
"Wine brings people together, open a bottle and you've got a reason to slow down.”
"At a wine tasting at a Napa hilltop vineyard during 2006, I had this magic moment that changed how I saw wine, and Napa; that led me to purchase the Somnium property in 2009."
"It's about what happens around glasses of wine. Put phones away, talk to each other, have connections, community. That's what I want Somnium to be part of."