The very public face of Kathryn and Craig Hall, the owners of the HALL wineries (in the eastern hills above Rutherford, just south of St. Helena) is very visible and well-chronicled.

We know about the history: Kathryn’s father was a grape grower in Mendocino County, Kathryn was the U.S. ambassador to Austria under President Clinton, and, beginning July 27, the Halls will break ground at the St. Helena property for what will no doubt be a spectacular winery designed by famed über-architect Frank Gehry.

But what most people don’t know is that the Halls seem to be serious about wine. More specifically, they are attempting to make distinctive wines – terroir-driven wines if you will – from the various vineyards they have so vigorously been purchasing over the last 10 years. In fact, the Halls have bought more land [see Vineyard Holdings below] in the Napa Valley during that period than perhaps anyone else. During that time they have acquired almost 3,000 acres consisting of five parcels from Pope Valley to St. Helena to Rutherford to Napa and to Foss Valley near Atlas Peak. (That doesn’t include the 420 acres they bought four years ago in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County.)

Thus far, only 367 acres – most of which will soon be certified organic -- have been planted, from which Hall produces 22,000 cases a year, mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon, and mostly of single-vineyard designated wine. And that doesn’t include the vineyard-designated wines Hall will make in the coming years from Diamond Mountain, Spring Mountain, Atlas Peak, and Mount Veeder.

The couple has surrounded themselves with capable wine professionals, including the winery’s president Mike Reynolds and vineyard manager Patty Saldivar. I spoke to both in a conference call recently. The conversation focused mainly on the winery’s vineyard-designated program and the vineyards from which the wines are and will be made.