When you hear a name like PlumpJack Wines, it suggests something more than just a label — it’s a story, an attitude and an intertwining of wine culture with the taste for adventure. PlumpJack Wine & Spirits was founded as a small wine store in 1992 in San Francisco. (Its name, borrowed from the placename Lompoc, is a play on Shakespearean bawdiness: Sir John “PlumpJack” Falstaff (or “Plump Jack,” as he was often referred) was earthy and indulgent, and the founders wanted it to reflect that buddy-sozzled-unsober-but-fine spirit.)
As time passed, PlumpJack expanded beyond retail. It staked its own presence in Napa Valley with PlumpJack Estate Winery, which is located in the Oakville appellation. It became a member of a larger PlumpJack Collection of Wineries that includes other labels such as Odette and CADE, all pulling from their own specific vineyard plots throughout Napa.
Rare Whiskey Bottles: It’s Hiding a Strength If you’re perusing dusty bottles of whiskey from the 20th century, there is unlikely to be much talk about strength on labels.
What few people realize, however, is just how deep PlumpJack has gone into the whiskey game. Their “Whisk(e)y List” online is a curated selection of hard-to-find and often limited-release, rare bottles — from brokered editions of Scotch to proprietary barrel picks. They operate a Private Barrel Selections program, where they team with distilleries to select single barrels (frequently rare) that carry the PlumpJack brand. Among the highlights are" Rare Character VER-110 Single Barrel Bourbon, 1792 Bottled in Bond PlumpJack Barrel Select Bourbon, Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel OBSV and more. The other way they bring rarities or exclusives to collectors and enthusiasts is the American Whiskey Club.
The effect is that the PlumpJack property isn’t just a place to buy wine — it’s a home for spirit lovers who’re hunting for something harder to find, well selected. On the whiskey side, you can cruise in-stock reserves and past barrel releases while signing up to be among the first notified of new drops.
On the wine side, PlumpJack has a big, well-curated list: Italian, French, Californian and of course Napa Valley. Their “Wines” page offers hundreds of red and white varietals, chardonnays, cabernets, pinots and more. Among them are the PlumpJack Collection wines: from their Napa Valley labels — including, but not limited to, PlumpJack cabernet, Syrah and Merlot, as well as crossover blends.
The lure of purchasing Napa Valley wine through their website, is you can access estate level wines that are difficult to find on the market throughout the world. Members and customers can access wines from Oakville, Howell Mountain, Stags Leap and more via the PlumpJack Collection.
And, the estate winery also offers tastings at its Oakville estate. Visitors can taste estate wines, tour their 42-acre vineyard and taste library (older) releases. They also host a “Passport Tasting” that covers several PlumpJack sister estates located throughout Napa Valley.
Why PlumpJack Stands Out
PlumpJack has two things going for it: one is wine, one is rare spirits, all wrapped up under a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously but induces some pretty serious taste. Even the name “PlumpJack” sounds like fun, a little irreverent, open to discovering. It has walked the line between accessible and premium for decades.
For wine lovers, it adds depth in Napa labels; for whiskey hunters, the store gives access to limited barrel picks; and for newbies, the branding screams “come explore not judge.”
Call to Action
If you like rare whiskey bottles or desire to buy top-tier Napa Valley wine on the internet, explore PlumpJack Wine & Spirits now. Peruse their whiskey list, check out the Napa wine collection and consider joining a club or barrel-selection program to be informed about new releases. Just go to their website, join, and order a bottle (or five) — your next great find is only a click away.
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