Pursuit of excellence

Over our decades together, Susan and I frequently traveled to France and Italy. We fell in love with the restraint in European wine, which was a striking contrast to the powerhouse wines of Napa Valley.

We secretly wondered… was there a place for Napa Valley's richness and intensity combined with European sensibility?

Through our deep connections, Susan and I were able to access exceptional fruit in Oakville—and that's where the journey really began. When we tasted our first vintage of Oakville Cabernet in barrel, we exclaimed that it was a "textbook Oakville Cab," and our name was born.

We trusted our vision to find the very best of the region so wholly that we bootstrapped that first vintage—put all the expenses on our credit cards—and hand-sold wine for years out of the trunk of the SUV in between kids' soccer practices, carpools, and work.

With Susan's passing, I continue this journey of exploration and invite you to be part of our story of curiosity, grit, and pursuit of excellence every time you open a bottle of TEXTBOOK wine.

— Jonathan Pey, Founder