The Meaning of Linked A story shaped by land, family and the connections that bring it all together.
At Linked Vineyards, the story is not just about wine. It is about people, place and the moments that connect them. Perched high above the valley floor in Knights Valley, our vineyard sits at the intersection of Napa and Sonoma, where rugged terrain, coastal influence and family roots come together to shape something truly meaningful.
What makes a great wine story? Is it the land, the people, the wine itself? For Linked Vineyards, it is all of these, woven together over time. Jessica Link and Drew Johnson decided to launch a small wine project in 2007, with the help of the very talented Luc Morlet. But the story started a number of years before that.
In the late 1990s, Jessica’s father, Ken Link, purchased a remote hillside property with the hope of creating something lasting, a place that could bring family together and stand as a legacy for generations to come. At the time, there was no roadmap; no deep farming experience; just belief, curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Jessica, then in college, quickly realized what it would take to bring that vision to life. She shifted her path, immersing herself in wine business and viticulture, while she and her father pursued every opportunity to understand the land beneath their feet. Together, they studied the soils, the exposures and the unique positioning of the vineyard, perched just above the fog line where marine air meets mountain warmth.
What they discovered was a site defined by contrast. Volcanic and loamy soils. Wild, untamed hillsides alongside carefully farmed vines. Cooling influences balanced by warmth and elevation. These natural tensions create the ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, a place where the vines would be challenged, and in that challenge, produce fruit of remarkable depth and character.
As the vineyard began to take shape, so did the family around it. Jessica met Drew, a vineyard manager whose steady hand and deep understanding of farming would become instrumental in guiding the vineyard forward. Their connection to the land became even more personal when they were married beneath the oaks and madrones on the property, rooting their lives as deeply as the vines themselves.
What followed were years of hands-on work and shared experience. Early mornings in the vineyard. Weekends spent tending vines as a family. Children growing up alongside the rows, learning the rhythms of the land. This was never just a project, it was a way of life, shaped by commitment, curiosity and connection.
As the vines matured, so did the opportunity. By 2007, the fruit had reached a level that inspired something more, the creation of a wine that could fully express the site. A pivotal moment came with an introduction to Luc Morlet, whose philosophy and experience aligned seamlessly with the vision for Linked Vineyards.
Together, they focused on a small, exceptional section of the vineyard, Shelby’s Block, the steepest and most demanding site. Rocky volcanic soils and limited yields resulted in fewer clusters, but with extraordinary concentration and character. It was here that the true identity of Linked Vineyards began to emerge.
The name “Linked” reflects more than just the family. It represents all the connections that make the wine possible, the land and the extended community of friends and supporters who have been part of the journey from the beginning. Today, that connection continues with every hand numbered bottle, personally registered to its new owner, ready to be enjoyed with other friends. It is a reminder that this story is ongoing, shaped by each vintage and each person who becomes part of the fold.
At its core, Linked Vineyards is about more than what is in the glass. It is about honoring where it came from, who crafted it and the relationships that continue to develop with its sharing.
"Linked is not just our name, it is what we believe. The land, the family, the people and every bottle are all connected. That is what makes this story so personal."
Jessica & Drew
Jessica and Drew met when they were working at Beringer. Jessica likes to joke that "Drew was the best thing I got out of that place." Drew says "I heard a laugh........"
With many years of experience in the wine business between them, Jessica and Drew make a strong team. He has a long history in Viticulture and Vineyard Management, and she has a shorter, but still very impressive, run in Vineyard/Winery Finance and Winery Management. Together they have most of the requisite skills to make wines that are intended more to be fun than profitable.
The Vineyard
Wine starts in the vineyard!
The location of the vineyard, areas within the vineyard, elevation, orientation to the sun and other elements of weather, plant material and farming methods are all critical to the final product. Most of these are beyond our control once the decision has been made to plant a given site. When vines are in the ground and growing, it becomes a process of observing and reacting to everything Mother Nature brings our way.
There are a handful of tasks that are required every year. Pruning, suckering, mowing and some level of pest management have to happen to keep a vineyard from getting out of control. Everything else is a matter of balance. Do we irrigate? Do we pull leaves? How many leaves do we pull? Do we drop some fruit? Sadly, we cannot add fruit! All of this is in the interest of preparing the vines to develop and ripen thousands of small berries that will eventually become wine.
We do the work, and then we wait for our next observation.