Sent to the Napa Valley by the French government “to spy” for 6 months, Jean-Noel Fourmeaux reported back home “Looks good, I stay”.
This son of Bordeaux created VGS Chateau Potelle 43 years ago on Mount Veeder in Napa Valley. Originally seduced by the exuberance and generosity of the Napa Valley fruit, Jean Noel makes wines that have dimension, subtlety and definitive character. Their assertiveness is all in the nuances and their successive layers, not in the bold over ripeness of fruit.
Jean-Noel’s unconventional but very serene and comfortable approach to life and wine is guided by his passion for making wines true to his standards and of his loyal customers.
He is a winemaker, traveler, teacher, storyteller. He enjoys sharing his passion and spreading the essence of wine, which he believes should be a sensual gratification not an instant one.
Jean Noel empowers people to be themselves and to embrace their own personal taste and give it the chance it deserves. “Once you know your taste, your taste will never let you down”.
The Fourmeaux Red, Jean-Noel’s latest creation, received the highest price at the Napa Valley Barrel Auction three years in a row! A true French-American blend, he travels the world sharing the culture of wine with his customers and friends, from Bordeaux where he is from, to South Africa, Latin America and beyond.
"To make mainstream wines has never been my calling. VGS is NOT about chasing trend or acclaim. True luxury does not shout. It whispers with timeless confidence.” — Jean-Noel Fourmeaux
2025 Cris, Camille, and Henri Cherry — MAHA Estate | Villa Creek
2024 Pardis & Frank Stitt — Stitt Restaurant Group
2023 Rob Fisher — Fisher Vineyards
2022 Shannon Staglin — Staglin Family Vineyard & Artie Johnson - Le Artishasic
2021 Donelan Family Wines
2020 Susan and Tom Lowder — Holman Ranch
2019 Eric Jensen — Booker Vineyards
2018 Andy Peay — Peay Vineyards
2017 Jake Krausz — Arkenstone Vineyards
2017 Wes Steffens — Vineyard 7 & 8
2016 Dr. Madaiah Revana — Revana Family Vineyard
2015 Jasmine Hirsch — Hirsch Vineyards
2015 Fern Frias — Frias Family Vineyard
2014 Jim Clendenen — Au Bon Climat
2013 Alan Viader — Viader
2012 Anne and Chuck McMinn — Vineyard 29
2011 Beth Nickel — Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, Dolce, EnRoute
2010 Peter Thompson — Andrew Geoffrey Vineyards
2009 Ann and Dick Grace — Grace Family Vineyards
2008 Tom and Susan Curtin — Five Sons and DuMOL
2007 Juelle and Fred Fisher — Fisher Vineyards
2006 Grace and Ken Evenstad — Domaine Serene
2005 Margie & Kerry Murphy and Janet & Michael Verlander — DuMOL
2004 Rosalind, Jacques and Jeremy Seysses — Domaine Dujac
2003 Joe Davis — Arcadian
2002 Margaret Duckhorn — Duckhorn Vineyards
2001 Michael Honig — Honig Vineyards
2000 Micki and David Voisard — Napa Valley Artists
1999 Morgan and Jim Clendenen — Au Bon Climat/Cold Heaven
1998 Teresa Norton and Tom Paine — Vineyard 29
1997 Diane and John Livingston —Livingston-Moffett
1996 Shari and Garen Staglin — Staglin Family
1995 Brice Jones — Sonoma Cutrer
1994 Robin Lail — Lail Vineyards
1993 Margrit and Robert Mondavi — Robert Mondavi Winery
1992 Rusty Staub — New York restauranteur and philanthropist
1991 Ann and Dick Grace — Grace Family Vineyards
1990 First Wine Auction
