The Vintner's Collective: A Locus of Wine and History

By Keaton Larson

Inside the sandstone façade of Vintner's Collective, there is a group of boutique Napa Valley winemakers selling small production vintages—sometimes around 25 cases—to Napa natives and visitors. This collection of vintners is just one part of the story within the two-story Pfeiffer Building, which serves as the home of the Vintner’s Collective and is also the oldest commercial building in Napa built in 1875. In 2002, Garret Murphy and Kim Erasmy, founders and co-owners, opened their doors. The first floor features a wine bar that welcomes walk-ins. Tastings include five wines tailored to your palate and typically last about 45 minutes, making it a great choice if you have other plans. The second floor is the stage for their more personal tastings requiring a reservation. For $100, guests receive a collection of reserved wines tailored to enhance their experience. The option for charcuterie is available for $25 per person. A third tasting is available, aptly named “The Best of the Best,” which includes sparkling wine upon welcome, the smallest productions and most profound wines, as well as artisan cheeses, charcuteries and exquisite gourmet chocolates. Before the Pfeiffer Building became a tasting room, it operated as a meat and deli company between 1980 and 2000, and before that, it was a laundry operated by Sam Kee from 1937 to 1977.  The building originally began as a brewery in 1875, thanks to a Bavarian immigrant named Philip Pfeiffer. The owner of the building changed hands several times before it burned down in 1881 and returned to the hands of Pfeiffer, who reopened the building as a saloon and brothel. Later, the building became a grocery store, a residence, and a hatchery before becoming what stayed for 50 years, Sam Kee Laundry. While this style of historic building might be vanishing from Napa, Vintner's Collective, more than 20 years into its life, repurposed the Pfeiffer Building well, creating a hub for wine aficionados on Main Street in Downtown Napa.