Mary Weber Novak, of Spottswoode in Napa Valley
Mary Weber Novak, of Spottswoode in Napa Valley.
(Image credit: Spottswoode)

Mary Novak, owner of Spottswoode winery and one of the leading lights of California wine since the 1970s, has died.

Mary Weber Novak has died in St Helena aged 84 after a long and illustrious life at the beating heart of California wine’s rise to greatness on the world stage.

Under her leadership, Spottswoode in St Helena has also risen to become one of the most highly regarded Napa Valley wine estates.

Novak is to be featured in an up-coming article in Decanter’s November edition on Napa Valley matriarchs.

In the article, Linda Murphy spoke to Novak about her history. ‘The wine craze was just beginning,’ Novak said of 1972, when she and her husband bought Spottswoode vineyard.

‘Robert Mondavi had opened his winery and others were following suit.

‘We knew very little about growing grapes or making fine wine, but we planned to study and learn by doing, and we were eager to embrace an agricultural lifestyle in a rural town.’

A full obituary will appear shortly.

Decanter magazine’s November issue is due on sale from Wednesday 5 October. Subscribe here.

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Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.