The Story

While traveling to Northern California in the mid-eighteen hundreds with his entire life savings, John Weinberger’s stagecoach was attacked by robbers. Passengers were told to “shell out”. Weinberger, without hesitation, shot the robbers with his Colt Navy he had hidden under his seat. John, a visionary, then became one of the first pioneers in Napa Valley winemaking when he built the first stone winery in St. Helena in 1873.

Smoking Gun represents the bygone days of Napa Valley where, with perseverance, dreams can come true. Cole Ballentine, fifth generation Italian/Irish Napa Valley native, embodies the future in trailblazing Cabernet Sauvignon that remains true to its place.