Our Philosophy
Our story is our wine. Craftsmanship, precision, and focus are central tenets of our winemaking practices, embodied every day by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. He passionately oversees the program, caring for our vineyards, aging wines, and production facilities with authenticity and reverence for the land that shines through in the finished product.
Elusa wines are created in small quantities, exclusively available to members and guests. The wines are crafted with minimal intervention, allowing the Calistoga terroir to shine, with the subtle nuances of each vineyard coming through in every sip.
Elusa embodies Thomas Rivers Brown’s impeccable craftsmanship and long-standing relationships with Calistoga’s most premier growers.
Thomas Rivers Brown | Consulting Winemaker
A Calistoga resident, Thomas Rivers Brown conceived Elusa as a distinct and honest expression of his town – and a celebration of the unique vineyards, the passionate local growers, and the grapes they produce.
Thomas Rivers Brown began his California winemaking career in 1997 and has since made a name for himself as a non-interventionist, creating wines that showcase the vineyard foremost. Renowned wine critic Robert Parker Jr. has awarded him 25 perfect 100-point scores on his Cabernet Sauvignon projects over the past decade. In 2010, Brown was named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine. He now oversees more than 45 wine projects across Napa Valley, including some of the region’s most iconic labels.
His thoughtful, site-driven approach continues to influence a new generation of winemakers throughout California.
Jon Keyes | Winemaker
Jon Keyes discovered his love for wine while studying chemistry at UC Santa Barbara and working in a local wine shop, where his curiosity quickly turned into a calling. He got his start with two consecutive harvest internships in 2005 and 2006 before heading to Australia to work a vintage at Two Hands Winery in the Barossa Valley. After moving to Napa, Jon became cellarmaster at Outpost Winery on Howell Mountain, where he refined his craft working with powerful mountain fruit and deepened his commitment to hands-on, expressive winemaking.
Jon Keyes advanced his winemaking career by becoming the head winemaker at a small, boutique winery in Anderson Valley, renowned for its Pinot Noir. He later joined forces with Mark Herold Wines and several of Mark’s clients. In 2013, Jon began collaborating with NBA legend Dwyane Wade, developing a portfolio of wines for Wade Cellars.
Now at Elusa Winery, Jon is excited to bring his experience, creativity and hands-on approach to a new chapter.
Over the past 10 years, we have designed and built Elusa’s winemaking facility from the ground up, ensuring that the brand is expertly equipped for luxury, high-quality winemaking.
Our Winery
Only steps away from the hospitality space is Elusa’s newly built Tank Room and production facility. Here, wine is made in limited quantities, allowing the winemakers to control every detail throughout the process.
Winery tours provided as part of the Library Experience aim to pull back the veil on the winemaking process. The oversized doors and wide walkways offer an immersive experience, inviting guests to explore and observe the wine production, and aging processes firsthand.
