Winemaking Services
at the Highest Caliber
A Highly tailored APPROACH
SJB Winemaking brings three decades of award-winning expertise to a select roster of fine wine producers. Founded by Sally Johnson Blum — a highly-acclaimed winemaker whose wines have earned multiple 100-point scores from critic Robert Parker, appeared on Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines in the World” list, and been served at numerous White House state dinners — SJB Winemaking delivers the kind of hands-on, site-specific winemaking that defines truly exceptional wine.
SJB Winemaking was built to offer something rare: winemaking consultation at the very highest level, delivered with a hands-on, guided approach ensuring client objectives and wine quality are executed at the highest possible level.
Sally Johnson Blum’s reputation was earned not through acclaim alone, but through over 28 years of daily, hands-on engagement in the relentless pursuit of quality.
Born into a family of scientists and trained in both the sciences and the humanities, Sally holds dual bachelor's degrees in French literature and biology from the University of Michigan, and a master's degree in enology from UC Davis. It is a foundation that informs the analytical rigor of her approach to winemaking and the refined sensibility she brings to every wine she touches.
She spent eight formative years at St. Francis Winery in Sonoma County, completed a harvest at St. Hallett Winery in Australia's Barossa Valley, and in 2007 joined Pride Mountain Vineyards — one of Napa Valley's most storied estate wineries — where she served as winemaker for fifteen years. In 2022, the San Francisco Chronicle described her as "one of Napa Valley's most well-respected winemakers" upon her appointment as Director of Winemaking at the historic Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville.
TAILORED WINEMAKING
and Consulting Services
SALLY's WINEMAKING philosophy
"Producing a luxury wine that genuinely reflects your vision requires more than technical skill — it requires someone who is as invested in the outcome as you are.
I work closely with vineyard owners, family producers, and private clients to shape every dimension of production — from site selection, soil analysis, and planting strategy through fermentation, blending, and bottling. Drawing on long-running relationships with some of Napa Valley and Washington State's most respected vineyard sites, I bring both the expertise and the access that serious producers need.
From bud break to final bottle, the goal is singular: a confident, distinctive wine that expresses what is most irreplaceable about your site, your fruit, and your vision.
A meaningful presence in the luxury market is built slowly and deliberately — I am here to help execute and refine the unique voice of your wine project. "
WINEMAKING
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Full production oversight
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Harvest planning and tonnage strategy
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Bending, and stylistic development
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Coordination of packaging resources and third-party suppliers
Vineyard & ViticulturE
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Site selection and vineyard evaluation
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Soil analysis and terroir assessment
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Planting recommendations — varieties, rootstocks, clones, and vine density
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Grape sourcing from top vineyard sites
Creative & BRANDING​
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Label and packaging design
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Brand identity development
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Marketing collateral
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Naming and Brand Development
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Positioning and Messaging
portfolio of clients
ABLOOM
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This single-vineyard Napa Valley Rosé, produced from old-vine, high-elevation Grenache grown at Paras Vineyard on Mt. Veeder, is a collaboration between winemakers Molly Hill, Ashley Hepworth and Sally Johnson Blum. Made with the same level of intention as the finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced by these winemakers, the wine has been praised as one of the most thoughtfully-produced wines currently being made in Napa.
BANSAL
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In partnership with multi-unicorn tech entrepreneur Jyoti Bansal, Sally produces a serious estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Jyoti’s vineyard in the eastern hills of the Oakville AVA — one of Napa Valley's most celebrated appellations.
SJB Winemaking also designed the bespoke packaging and manages mailing list allocations.
CourAvant​
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Sally produces luxurious proprietary blends for this family-owned estate vineyard in western St Helena.
The wines balance Napa Valley ripeness with Bordelais elegance — expressing structure, polish and a finely-woven tension between power and freshness. CourAvant’s philosophy is driven by a deep connection to the soil and to the stars - the property is also home to a research-grade observatory.
Highway 128 Wine Collection​
This quartet of wines is produced for the second-generation owners of Berryessa Gap Vineyards and Martinez Grapevine Nursery. Sourced from vineyards stretching from Mendocino to Chalk Hill, Rutherford and the Winters Highlands, the wines capture the unique terroirs of this iconic California wine corridor.
MCEVOY RANCH​
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Founded by Nan McEvoy in 1990, McEvoy Ranch is situated on a 550-acre ranch in the Petaluma Gap. While their primary focus is the production of organically-farmed and traditionally-milled olive oils, Sally's portfolio of fresh, flavorful wines from special vineyard sites throughout Northern California acts as a complement to the Estate's olive oils, enhancing guest experiences and the estate’s culinary program. ​
PÁŠXA WINES​
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Pášxa produces site-driven wines from estate-farmed vineyards within the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA. Small-lot, elevated and intentional Rhône variety wines are thoughtfully-created to showcase the unique character of this remarkable region, heralded as one of America’s most distinctive examples of terroir. Pášxa is Place.
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PLOTLINE​
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Plotline tells the story of founder John LaCour, whose passion for wine has led him across the globe in the pursuit of the perfect bottle. Plotline’s portfolio is anchored by its elegant Oak Knoll Merlot and commanding Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Sourced from pedigreed Napa Valley sites, the lineup also features small-lot expressions of Sémillon, Cabernet Franc, and a refined Red blend.
stanley groovy​
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Blending bold flavors with classic craftsmanship, Stanley Groovy is unconventional, charismatic, and delicious. The portfolio includes blends Vinho Tinto (driven by Portuguese varieties including Touriga, Tinta Cao and Souzao), Lip Stinger (a white Rhône-style blend driven by Grenache Blanc and Picpoul), and the varietal wines A Cab Supreme and Don’t Explain Chardonnay.
SYLVIE ESTATE​
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Sylvie Estate is among the most exclusive producers in Napa Valley, making only 100 cases of Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon per vintage. This family-owned estate is nestled on the slopes of Oakville’s eastern Vaca mountains, benefitting from a perfect convergence of iron-rich volcanic soils, southern-facing sun exposure and cooling afternoon breezes. A Sémillon was added in 2024.
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tamber bey vineyards​
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The Tamber Bey wines are sourced from the winery's Yountville and Oakville estate vineyards, alongside fruit purchased from iconic California sites like Bien Nacido Chardonnay, Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and UV Pinot Noir. The philosophy is "property not process"—wines defined by expressive, ripe fruit, layered complexity, a supple midpalate, and restrained new oak.
THE WALLS​
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Mike Martin’s flagship brand The Walls Vineyards remains the heart-and-soul of his portfolio, which now also includes Pàšxa and Stanley Groovy. These eclectic and classic wines have a story to tell. Reflecting the unique terroirs of Washington’s Columbia and Yakima valleys, as well as Walla Walla valley and the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, the Walls provide a deep-dive into the region’s most renown vineyard sites.
PRESS AND MEDIA
wine business
club oenologique
wine spectator
napa wine project
wine spectator
THE WINE WRITE
Wine Business
wine business
san francisco chronicle
THE WINE WRITE
wine spectator
WINE INDUSTRY network
PALATEXPOSURE
winemaker interviews
sip magazine
Contact Me
SALLY JOHNSON BLUM ​​ sally@sjbwinemaking.com​​
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PO Box 52, Calistoga CA 94515​​