Steve and Seanne Contursi, founders of esteemed wine brand Arrow&Branch, are thrilled to announce their new Oak Knoll production site. The space opened to the public in late July, but it was under construction and development for four years—and was a good 16 years in the making. 

When the couple purchased a home in Coombsville in 2007, they didn’t plan on becoming vintners. However, the property included five acres of Cabernet Franc vines. Previous owner Tony Soter used the grapes to produce a much sought-after Cabernet Franc. “The option was either to sell the fruit or bottle wine,” says Steven Contursi, Steve and Seanne’s son. They decided to try bottling it, and their flagship wine, Right Bank Blend, and their new winemaking brand, Arrow&Branch, was born in 2008. 

The Contursi family and winemaker Jennifer Williams produced Arrow&Branch at various custom crush facilities throughout the valley. As Arrow&Branch grew, the Contursis became increasingly interested in winemaking. “It became a dream to take the next step and have a winery,” explains Williams. In 2020, they found the property in Oak Knoll and set out to create a unique establishment. Their experience working at different crushpads made the Contursis  realize what aspects of a winery they wanted to incorporate into their space. 

“We built this winery to have all of the options needed to make high-quality wine every single year,” says Williams. “There's so much uncertainty these days, and it seems like some of this uncertainty is more frequent. So, we worked with the architectural team to incorporate all of these little things. They look little, and they are little, but they make a big impact on us being able to produce a high-quality product every year.” When Williams refers to uncertainties, she’s talking about everything from wildfires to rainy weather to power outages. While the winery boasts state-of-the-art technology, it also has the tools to make wine the old-fashioned way, without power. 

Every detail of Arrow&Branch’s new home is thoughtful and purposeful. The sky-high ceilings, open floor plan, floor-to-ceiling windows, and barn elements give the space an equestrian-center feel. The fruit-dropping area is in the shade to ensure the grapes stay cool as they come in from harvest. The custom fermentation tanks have automatic pumpovers, counter pressure lids that are easy to lift, screens inside that keep skins from entering valves, and jackets that can close off part of the tank, allowing vintners to make smaller batches of wine. There’s also a multipurpose climate-controlled room that holds smaller fermentation tanks. The barrel room doubles as a hospitality center where visitors can enjoy a tasting experience. 

Another cool thing about the winemaking facility? It’s big enough for Arrow&Branch and then some. “There will be custom crush here, too,” says Williams. “We're drawing on well over a decade of custom crush to offer a high-quality experience for other clients who want to join this winery. Hopefully, we can get some Coombsville growers here to make wine.” The family is excited to offer small producers the chance to make wine, expand their brand’s footprint, and host tasting experiences. As Seanne explains it, “Arrow&Branch Winery provides the opportunity for high-quality producers to not only make their esteemed wines but also a convenient space where our custom crush partners may host white glove tastings for their clients at the winery.”

How to Taste: Arrow&Branch only hosts one group at a time, so if you’re looking for a super private experience, you’ll find it here. The seated journey includes a cheese plate and pours of five Arrow&Branch wines. Email wine@arrowandbranch.com for more information on setting up a tasting. 

Known For: Red Bank Blend, a bottle that showcases their Coombsville Cabernet Franc grapes. “We have four different plantings within the property,” says Williams. “So different age vines, different clonal material, different root stalks. It’s really, really cool diversity within that small piece. We get a nice, rich, ripe fruit profile and retain this lovely aromatic profile not found in other regions' Cabernet Francs.” 

Wine Club 411: Called The Society, joining Arrow&Branch’s wine club is the best way for fans to receive wines upon release. Arrow&Branch Society members enjoy inclusive shipping, access to limited special-release bottles, and invites to annual events at the winery. 

Fun Fact: Arrow&Branch’s motto is “Mind Your Business,” a saying popularized by Benjamin Franklin. The phrase is on each cork. “You would think it means mind your own business, but that's not it,” says Michael Ploetz, Arrow&Branch’s vice president of hospitality and sales. “It means to take care of your business, mind your business, pay attention to what you're doing.” A task that the Contursis and company excel at.

^{Photos courtesy of Elan Villamor, Bob McClenahan and  David Ortega}

‍