In 2004, Clif Bar co-creators Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford embarked on a new venture, founding Clif Family Winery & Farm based on their shared commitment to crafting delicious, small-batch food and wine while prioritizing the well-being of people, the planet, and the community. Guided by a dedication to the highest quality with the lowest environmental impact, Clif Family is a certified B Corp committed to organic food and farming, sustainable production, zero waste, and conserving and restoring our natural resources.
Clif Family's portfolio includes organically farmed Napa Valley wines and specialty foods, including Solar Grown Honey, Savory Nut Mixes, Fruit Preserves, Wine Jellies and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Clif Family farms 90 acres of organic vineyards and a 10-acre vegetable garden, olive grove and fruit orchard in the Napa Valley.
Founding Story
1992
Clif Bar & Company
Our adventure began over 30 years ago, fueled by our passion for food and our desire to create convenient, portable, delicious food for people with active lifestyles. From the beginning, we envisioned doing business in a more sustainable way, placing organic farming and ingredients at the forefront of our business.
2004
Clif Family Winery & Farm
The Clif Family Farm began as a way for us to connect with our family: Planting fruit trees and harvesting and milling olives from the 100-year-old olive trees on the acreage. We relished the process, and the connection between food, wine and the land. Our early experiences in families that valued agriculture and the outdoors played a pivotal role in shaping our connection to farming—and our respect for the environment.
2012
The Tasting Room
Our St. Helena Tasting Room started with a simple mission: Bring our love of wine and food to the local community and Napa Valley visitors. Three years later, we opened the Bruschetteria Food Truck, a food truck serving premium bites and plant-forward dishes crafted using ingredients from the farm. We were the first winery to have a food truck, offering our guests a unique Napa Valley wine and food experience.
Today
What started as a small garden has grown into a fully-operative farm, growing a variety of organic fruits and vegetables that sustain the Clif Family Bruschetteria Food Truck--and could end up on your table in our fruit and vegetable preserves and more. In addition to our gardens, we grow 10 grape varietals on 90 acres of Estate Vineyards located in Napa Valley’s famed Howell Mountain and Oak Knoll District AVA’s. Our vineyards are CCOF certified organic and Napa Green certified, furthering our commitment to sustainable farming.
Clif Family Winery & Farm is an extension of our values, an homage to our farming roots, and a way to give back to our planet and community.
Laura Barrett joined Clif Family Winery as Winemaker in November of 2014, bringing her passion for wine and her life-long love of science to the Clif Family Winery portfolio.
Laura received her undergraduate degree from The University of Vermont where she received a BS in Chemistry. Looking to put her degree to use for more than just lab work, she decided to pursue a career in winemaking. Her first step along this path was a job with Stony Ridge Vineyards, a small wine producer located on Waikeke Island in New Zealand.
After deciding that winemaking was the career she wanted to follow, Laura returned to the United States and pursued a Masters in Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis where she was quickly recognized as an up and coming winemaker. While studying at UC Davis she received the prestigious La Reve Foundation scholarship, awarded to female Viticulture and Enology students with outstanding academic standing.
After graduating from UC Davis, Laura became Assistant Winemaker at Fisher Vineyards where she worked for five years under the direction of celebrated consulting winemaker Mia Klein. In this role she learned to appreciate and understand the nuances of Napa Valley Cabernet.
Aspiring to move into a head winemaker position, Laura took a position with Casey Flat Ranch and spent the next seven years developing the wine program for this Capay Valley producer.
As Winemaker, Laura brings her keen scientific knowledge, attention to detail and creative inspiration to the Clif Family Winery portfolio. Laura developed the final blends for Clif Family Winery’s 2014 vintage wines and with the 2015 vintage assumes responsibility for the entire winemaking process.
Laura lives in St. Helena and in her free time enjoys hiking around the Napa Valley and spending time with her children.
Magnus's culinary journey began in his hometown of Calgary, AB, Canada, where he developed a love for cooking under the guidance of his father. From an early age, food has been central to Magnus's family, and his passion for the culinary arts has only grown stronger over the years. His diverse culinary experiences include working at renowned establishments such as Earls Restaurants, Cibo, The Glass Onion, Sean Brock’s McCrady’s, and Napa Valley’s former Terra Restaurant under the direction of celebrated chef Hiro Sone.
After completing his culinary education at the Culinary Institute of America, Magnus joined Clif Family Winery and Farm, drawn by the unique opportunity to work with our Bruschetteria Food Truck and the abundance of organic produce sourced directly from the Clif Family Farm. His commitment to cooking seasonally and utilizing high-quality ingredients aligned perfectly with Clif Family's culinary philosophy.
