Elyse Winery

In 1983, Nancy and Ray Coursen arrived in California from Cape Cod to fulfill Ray’s dream of making wine and Nancy’s taste for adventure. After working harvest at Mt. Eden Winery in Saratoga, they moved to Napa Valley. Ray’s nine year tenure at Whitehall Lane Winery under the tutelage of Art Finkelstein, first as a cellar worker and then as head winemaker, honed his skills in the art of blending and was the inspiration for Ray’s winemaking style. The year 1986 saw the arrival of a daughter, Elyse Sarah.

Elyse Winery has blossomed into a portfolio of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah focused on pure expression of fruit with a sense of place. For the next twenty years Elyse would become the launching pad for countless Napa Valley wine lovers to explore some of regions most celebrated vineyards. longtime owners and founders Nancy and Ray Coursen handed off the winery to Cheryl Foil and Josh Peeples of Yountville.