Nils Venge and Mark Carter's friendship started simply enough. It began when Carter, a longtime wine enthusiast and restaurateur, invited Venge to host a winemaker dinner at his Restaurant 301. Venge—a seasoned Napa Valley winemaker—had earned himself a reputation after his 1985 Groth Reserve cabernet sauvignon became the first American wine to snag a perfect 100-point rating from famed wine critic Robert Parker Jr. The achievement earned Venge the nickname "King of Cab," and set him on a path to meeting Mark Carter. Today, the duo runs a 17-acre vineyard and winery in Calistoga. There, Venge and Carter create small-batch wines, such as petite sirah, merlot, sauvignon blanc, and of course, cabernet sauvignon. They invite folks to sample the varietals at the tasting room or on a patio overlooking sun-soaked vineyards where they grow most of the grapes featured in the wines.