Silenus Winery
Napa Valley AVA
Silenus Winery brings the perfect blend of a fine artisan winery with camaraderie
Silenus Winery has a rich history in Napa Valley and first began as a walnut orchard in 1967. The Newlan family eventually converted the orchard to Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and sold the fruit to such esteemed producers as Robert Mondavi, Inglenook, and Clos du Val. After discovering that the grapes were consistently ending up in the various wineries’ reserve wines, the Silenus property’s first winery was born - Newlan Vineyards & Winery. The inaugural release for Newlan Winery came in 1980, making it the 35th winery in Napa Valley.
In 1999, the Newlan family merged with the Sato family and renamed the entity Koves-Newlan Vineyards & Winery. They earned awards both internationally and domestically, focusing on high-quality estate wines. In 2006, the Williamson family purchased the property, added a new tasting room and state of the art winery facility, and renamed the company yet again to Silenus Winery. Silenus was named after the teacher and faithful companion of Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine. Pictured in Greek mythology as a plump, jovial old man with pointed ears, thick lips, and a squat little nose, Silenus was exceptionally wise and bestowed with the power of prophecy by the mere act of sipping his revered wine. In honor of Silenus, Silenus Winery brings the perfect blend of a fine artisan winery with camaraderie.
Today’s Silenus Winery is overseen by General Manager Scott Meadows, the former president and winemaker of Koves-Newlan Vineyards. Scott has a very dynamic background in marketing and spent many years living in Tokyo, working for incredibly successful advertising agencies. When a friend offered him a glass of 1971 Château Latour, one sip was all it took, and wine became a very passionate part of Scott’s life. He moved his family to Napa in 2001 to join the wine industry professionally.
The winemaker for Silenus, Bradley Smith, is a Fresno, California native who grew up surrounded by some of the world’s most fertile farmland. He fell in love with wine and vineyards from an early age and dedicated his life to creating the greatest wines in the world. After earning an enology degree from Fresno State and working for such esteemed wineries as Benessere Vineyards and Laird Family Estate, Bradley became the winemaker for Silenus Winery in 2007. He sources grapes grown in only the most ideal and meticulously farmed vineyards in Napa Valley, aiming to make wines that are rich, lush, and graceful for the Silenus brand.
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