May 1st: Rooted in Napa: Heitz, Haynes & Burgess with Carlton McCoy Jr. MS
At Vinonueva | 5582 NE 4th Ct, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get tickets
In partnership with Demeine and Estates
Lawrence Wine Estates was founded by Gaylon Lawrence, who began this journey with the purchase of Heitz Cellar in 2018. Together with Carlton McCoy Jr, Lawrence has built a portfolio of historic wineries and distinctive vineyard sites across Napa Valley and Bordeaux. Their mission is to honor traditional winemaking while embracing forward-thinking farming practices.
In this tasting, we’ll explore wines from three of the Lawrence Wine Estates properties: Heitz Cellar, Haynes Vineyard, and Burgess. Please join us in welcoming Carlton McCoy Jr to Vinonueva for a masterclass rooted in Napa Valley.
ABOUT CARLTON McCOY JR, MS
Carlton McCoy Jr is a Master Sommelier and the CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, which he joined in 2018. The portfolio includes iconic wineries like Heitz Cellar, Burgess, Haynes Vineyard, Stony Hill, Ink Grade, Trailside Vineyard in Napa Valley, and Château Lascombes in Bordeaux.
Carlton attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York and graduated in 2006. Afterward, he trained at top restaurants including Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit, Tom Colicchio’s Craft Steak, and Eric Zeibold’s CityZen at The Mandarin Oriental in DC. In 2011, he joined the team at The Little Nell in Aspen, where he later became Wine Director.
In 2013, he earned the Master Sommelier title at just 28 years old. Today, Carlton leads Lawrence Wine Estates with a focus on honoring the history of these great vineyards while building a more inclusive future for the wine industry.
BACKGROUND
HEITZ CELLAR
Heitz Cellar has been family-owned since 1961 and is a true Napa Valley icon. In the late 1950s, founder Joe Heitz and his wife Alice helped usher in a new era of Napa winemaking, producing wines that would go on to define the region. Joe was the first to put the name of a single vineyard on a Napa Valley wine label with the 1966 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
For nearly six decades, the Heitz family's focus on quality farming, sustainability, and classic winemaking earned the winery a reputation as one of California's finest.
In 2018, the Lawrence family took over, bringing their strong agricultural background and commitment to the same values. Today, all their wines are made from organically farmed, 100% Napa Valley fruit.
The estate's vineyards span six Napa sub-appellations—Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Howell Mountain, Oak Knoll, and Calistoga—giving them a wide range of terroirs to work with. This diversity allows to craft wines that reflect where they come from.
HAYNES VINEYARD
Haynes Vineyard is now home to a dedicated single-estate winery, marking a new chapter for this historic site. Often called the crown jewel of Coombsville, the vineyard stands out for its cool climate and unique mix of soils, including diatomaceous earth and volcanic rock. For nearly fifty years, its fruit was sold to other wineries—meaning the vineyard was never truly given the spotlight it deserved until recently.
The Whitford/Haynes family purchased the vineyard from Napa City founder Nathan Coombs in the late 19th century. In 1967, they invited legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff to plant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay—now the oldest vines of their kind in Napa. In 2019, the vineyard was acquired by Gaylon Lawrence, only the third family to own the land, following his purchase of Heitz Cellar the year before. Soon after, a small winery was built on-site, and Nico Cueva, formerly of Kosta Browne, joined as winemaker to help the vineyard finally share its own voice.
Nico leads the team with a focus on thoughtful, low-intervention winemaking. An organic farmer, he brings a deep respect for the land and a commitment to natural farming. At Haynes, the goal is to craft Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah that honor Napa's classic style while letting the vineyard speak for itself.
BURGESS
Burgess traces its roots back to 1871 when George Clinton Fountain first acquired the hillside slopes of Howell Mountain. In the 1880s, Swiss-Italian immigrants Carlo and Fulgenzio Rossini brought their mountain farming experience to Napa, buying the land and planting vines with help from the Pestoni family. Giovanni and Elva Poncetta took over a few years later, expanded the vineyard, and built a stone gravity-flow winery in 1892 that would stand for over a century.
In 1943, Lee Stewart purchased the property and founded Souverain Winery—meaning 'sovereign'—producing acclaimed wines that helped shape Napa Valley's early reputation. He planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Syrah on Howell Mountain's steep slopes, recognizing the site's potential. It was here that future Napa legends Warren Winiarski and Mike Grgich began their winemaking careers before going on to establish the iconic Stag's Leap and Grgich Hills wineries.
A former Air Force pilot, Tom Burgess, fell in love with Napa and its wines. In 1972, he bought the Souverain estate and founded Burgess Cellars, setting out to make age-worthy mountain Cabernet. He brought on Bill Sorenson as winemaker, who crafted wines for 41 vintages—one of the longest tenures in Napa history.
In 2020, the Lawrence family acquired Burgess. Gaylon Lawrence Jr entrusted the next chapter of Burgess to winemaker Meghan Zobeck, who brings a focus on regenerative farming and sustainability. In 2021, Burgess moved to a new home on the Silverado Trail while continuing to farm the original Howell Mountain vineyard—now named Sorenson Vineyard.
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Philipponnat 'Royale Reserve' Brut NV - Welcome Drink
- Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 'Martha's Vineyard' 2018
- Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018
- Haynes Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
- Haynes Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021
- Haynes Vineyard Syrah 2021
- Burgess 'Promiscua' Cabernet Sauvignon 2021