Marketta and Jean-Noël Fourmeaux came to California in 1980 as Official Wine tasters for the French government. "We came to spy," jokes Marketta. In reality, they were here on official business--to taste California wines and learn about all aspects of California winemaking philosophy and vineyard management.

After six months and tasting 2000 wines, they sent a telegram back home saying "looks good, we stay". They returned to France, packed up their two young daughters, Mariette and Clarisse, and moved to California in 1983.

When looking for a "home," they exclusively searched in the mountains. According to the winemaking couple, hillside vineyards have it over flat-land vineyards in every way, especially in the intensity and character of the wines. After an exhaustive search, they purchased, in 1988, their 202 acres Estate on Mount Veeder. This property is one of the most beautiful natural settings in the Napa Valley. It is located in dramatically rolling hills and forests 1800 feet up. Five miles of twisting, wooded road bring you up from the Napa Valley floor, and into another world. Chateau Potelle is located in a small mountain valley of striking natural beauty, where rolling vineyards create a picturesque patchwork, framed by 360 degree views and majestic mountaintops, where nature has surpassed itself. As Marketta says "To us this is more than a winery and vineyard, it is our home. We journeyed 7 years and half way around the world to find it."

Marketta Fourmeaux is the Chateau Potelle winemaker. By being hands-on in every aspect of the wine from growing to bottling, Marketta has built her winemaking reputation on consistency, style and elegance. The combination of her skills and the Estate hillside vineyards have created extremely distinctive and dramatic wines that have brought Chateau Potelle to the top of the wine world. Because of Marketta's sense of perfection, Chateau Potelle has earned its place as a top ranked producer of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.