Meet Texas Native James Moss, winemaker and owner of J. Moss Winery
Texas native James Moss got his start in the wine business working in sales for a wine distributor in Dallas. He tells Robb Report he eventually moved to Napa and began working for a new distributor, “assisted a friend at his small family winery, and got the wine bug shortly thereafter.” He began making wine and his first vintage of Merlot in 1998, which he and his wife (and business partner) Janet served to guests at their wedding celebration at Domaine Carneros. The winemaker and proprietor at J. Moss Wines, he tells Robb Report thatJanet is “the ‘rock’ as well as managing director and proprietor. She is active in all aspects of the winery. Her primary roles are in the day-to-day administration, marketing, public relations, tasting room, sales, and accounting. She also has a winemaking degree and knows the production side of the winery. As a small family owned and operated winery, we all wear many hats.”
The family’s first commercial wine was produced in 2001. They own a small parcel of Merlot vines in south Napa, and they also purchase fruit from neighboring vineyards. James says, “We have sourced fruit from almost all the appellations of Napa Valley. We currently have wines from Rutherford, Coombsville, Atlas Peak, Howell Mountain, and Stags Leap and continually explore other opportunities in Napa and the surrounding grape growing regions.”
In addition to single-AVA, single vineyard and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, James and Janet produce Merlot, Chardonnay, rosé made from Cabernet Sauvignon, and a recently released red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. They also made a Sonoma Mountain Merlot that is due to hit the market later this year.
Offering insight into the 2016 Mee Lane Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon included in the most recent Club 672 offering, Moss states, “It is from a special vineyard set on volcanic rock which produces concentrated flavorful berries from vineyard clone 337. This special wine has achieved numerous awards and high scores from wine critics.”
For those looking to add more J. Moss wines to their cellars, James informs Club 672, “J. Moss winery and tasting room is nestled in the Crusher Wine District, an urban-industrial area of South Napa near the Crusher Statue. Our tasting room and courtyard setting offer a welcoming and personalized experience and the salon style tastings are an excellent opportunity to learn first-hand about the nuances and complexities of the winemaking process. The tasting room is open by appointment and guests can book directly on our website.”
