:::Judd's Hill MicroCrush - Napa Valley Custom Winemaking:::

Art Finkelstein, Winemaker

With over 30 years of winemaking experience, Art Finkelstein was literally making "garage wines" before the term was coined to describe small winemaking operations in which the wines develop a cult-like following.

After a successful career as an architect in Los Angeles, Art began making wine in the early 70's. Wines made in his garage garnered top honors from virtually every competition entered. A trip to Napa Valley in 1971 began the germination process of wine as a profession and in 1979, Art purchased a vineyard just south of St. Helena where he designed and built Whitehall Lane Winery.

At Whitehall Lane, he continued his efforts as a commercial winemaker, releasing his first wine in 1980. As demand for the wines grew and production increased, Art found himself spending more time managing and less time making wine, which is not what he set out to do. With the winery growing to over 30,000 cases per year, he and his partner/brother decided to sell Whitehall Lane in 1988.

Believing that smaller is better, Art and his wife Bunnie purchased a 14-acre hillside vineyard in the eastern hills of Napa Valley outside of St. Helena. Here he designed and built his second winery, Judd's Hill with the first release of wine in 1989. The goal has remained to produce no more than 3000 cases each year, an amount that allows Art a hands-on approach to every aspect of wine production. In the 1990's Art's son, Judd, joined the winery and now works alongside Art in wine production.

Because of Art's reputation as a highly respected winemaker in Napa Valley, growers began to approach him to make small quantities of wine as a way to showcase their fruit. Soon requests for this custom winemaking service were increasing to the point that Judd's Hill MicroCrush was established as an adjunct business to the wine brand. Art has made wine for hundreds of grape growers and wine enthusiasts and has helped launch numerous commercial brands.

With Judd's Hill and MicroCrush moving to the Silverado Trail in the summer of 2006, Art designed and built his third winery in Napa Valley.

Art is an accomplished ceramicist and is known for his culinary talents.

Judd Finkelstein, Winemaker

Judd Finkelstein is a Napa Valley native. Being raised in the heart of wine country while his very creative parents were developing their own winery, Judd was involved from an early age in every facet of grape growing and winemaking.

Judd left Napa Valley to work towards his undergraduate degree with the intention of pursuing a career in radio and film. Graduating from The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in at Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in Television Production. In 1995, Judd moved to Los Angeles. He worked in radio and film for several years while also representing the family's wine brand in southern California. Soon Judd came to realize that he wanted to fully establish himself in the wine business. As his passion for winemaking and his interest in the wine business grew, he decided to follow in the family business and went on to study winemaking at U C. Davis and Napa Valley College.

Today Judd and his wife Holly have shared responsibility in running the family business along with his father Art and mother Bunnie. Judd works in partnership with is father, Art, overseeing the vineyards and wine production. Judd and Holly are the main representatives for Judd's Hill and they frequently travel to markets of distribution conducting winemaker dinners, benefit tastings and seminars.

One of Judd's other passions is playing ukulele, both solo and with his band, The Maikai Gents Featuring the Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa. In their spare time, Judd and Holly perform at clubs, special events, weddings and other celebrations.

Winemakers, Art and Judd with a few samples of their custom wines

To visit the Judd's Hill winery website, please click here