"When you wait until you are in your forties to plan a vineyard, you need HIS HELP and SPEED, hence the name," says Larry Stricker, owner of Godspeed Vineyards.

Larry's goal has been to create wines commensurate with the quality, stature and consistency of his architecture. Stricker (AIA) is a principal in the architectural firm of Killingsworth, Stricker, Kindgren, Wilson and Associates, which has created some of the world's finest resorts, including the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, the Phoenician Resort, Desert Springs Resort and Spa, Halekulani Hotel, and Ihilane Hotel and Spa.

Godspeed Vineyards is featured in these and many other resorts and restaurants in California, Hawaii and Arizona.

As of July 1997, Larry and Collette have made their home and design studio in the vineyard. Day-to-day supervision of the grape growing is also kept in the family with son, David Stricker working as vineyard manager. Godspeed Vineyards has a consortium of winemakers and consultants, which have included Geoff Murray, John McKay, William Hill, and Dick Graeser.

Godspeed 1995 Chardonnay has been selected for the New Year's Eve Gala at Meadowood Resort, Napa Valley. Meanwhile, the 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon has been the featured Cab at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse July through December.

Link to Press Notice
Architect crafts European-style wines at Godspeed

Origin of Grapes

Godspeed Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are 100% estate grown at Godspeed Vineyards, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley. The hillside vineyard faces predominantly East, Northeast.

Micro Climate

Our hillside vineyard is located at an average elevation of 1500 feet above the valley. Temperatures are usually 10-12 degrees cooler than the valley. We are typically above the morning fog, giving us longer days of sunshine, which normally allows for an earlier harvest. Our Chardonnay is typically harvested late August to early September with Cabernet harvest following 2-3 weeks later. The 1998 Harvest was exceptionally late due to the cool, wet "El Nino" conditions, which left our Cab on the vines until late October.