JACE Cellars: Four Friends, One Mountain, and a Cabernet Worth Debating

After nearly 20 years of serving and consuming the wines of Sonoma County and Napa Valley through SoNapa Grille, Joe, Adam, Chris, and Eddie are finally pouring a wine of their own. In this special episode of Grapes & Debates, the four longtime friends and business partners share the story behind the launch of JACE Cellars—the culmination of two decades spent building relationships, discovering exceptional vineyards, and pursuing a vision that was always bigger than the bottle. The conversation explores why they chose the rugged, high-elevation Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA, how their partnership with acclaimed winemaker Doug Hackett brought the project to life, and what makes mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County so distinctive. Of course, no Grapes & Debates episode would be complete without a spirited argument. The hosts put their first vintage to the test and tackle a bold question: Can a Pine Mountain Cabernet stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any Cabernet produced in Sonoma or Napa? Friendship, craftsmanship, mountain fruit, and a little healthy debate—this episode uncorks the story behind JACE Cellars and the journey that turned four friends’ dream into a bottle worth sharing. Taste. Toast. Together.