Guest Winemaker: Rob Sinskey from Robert Sinskey Vineyards

On June 17th, Rob Sinskey will join us as our guest winemaker. We’ll be pouring a selection of his wines by the glass, as well as offering a curated flight of four wines designed to accompany the meal. In addition, we’ll feature several special library selections available by the bottle.

Robert Sinskey Vineyards (RSV) is a second-generation, family-owned Napa Valley winery founded in 1986 by Dr. Robert (Bob) Sinskey, a renowned cataract surgeon who originally set out to grow premium Pinot Noir grapes in the Carneros region.

Today, the winery is led by Rob Sinskey and his wife Maria Sinskey. RSV is best known for producing elegant, food-friendly wines rather than heavily extracted, score-driven styles. Their portfolio includes Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinot Gris, and a range of proprietary blends sourced from estate vineyards in Carneros and the Stags Leap District.

The winery has become especially famous for its commitment to organic farming and biodynamic-inspired “whole farm” practices that focus on soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance. Rob Sinskey and longtime winemaker Jeff Virnig began converting vineyards to organic farming in 1991 and developed vineyard ecosystems that incorporate cover crops, composting, beneficial wildlife habitats, and low-impact farming methods.

RSV believes that exceptional wine begins in the vineyard, with every estate vineyard certified organic and farmed to encourage living soils and natural vineyard expression. Their guiding philosophy is that “wine is not an athletic event,” meaning wines should emphasize balance, elegance, and compatibility with food rather than power or high critic scores. The winery strives to make “pure wines of character” that express terroir, evolve gracefully in the glass, and remain connected to the land from which they originate.

While RSV embraces sustainable technologies such as solar power, electric equipment, and reduced-carbon farming, it remains committed to preserving craftsmanship and the human element in winemaking over excessive technological intervention.