Taste Napa Valley’s Summer: The Blueberries of Clif Family Farm

At Clif Family Winery & Farm, every ingredient we grow is rooted in our commitment to sustainability, community, and the joy of simple, delicious food. Our blueberries are a perfect example — small but mighty, and lovingly cultivated on our Napa Valley farm with organic practices that honor the land. Our blueberries may only cover a small patch on the slopes of Howell Mountain, but it’s bursting with life. Each year, our entire Clif Family team rolls up their sleeves and comes together to help hand-harvest these sweet little gems. It’s a true celebration of the season, a reminder of how connected we are to our food, our farm, and each other. We sat down with our Farm Manager, Tessa, to learn more about what makes our blueberries — and the preserves we craft from them — so special. Q: Tessa, why blueberries? What inspired Clif Family to grow them here? Tessa: Blueberries fit nicely into our farm’s philosophy of growing diverse crops that support a healthy ecosystem. They thrive naturally in our slightly acidic Howell Mountain soils — very similar to conditions where wild blueberries grow. Plus, they’re a treat for our kitchen team to work with — we use them to make some of the most delicious jams in our Organic Farm Kitchen. Growing them organically also allows us to show how a small, thoughtfully farmed plot can yield incredible flavor without relying on synthetic chemicals. Q: What varieties do we grow, and why did you choose them? Tessa: We’ve planted Southern Highbush varieties — Jubilee, Misty, and O’Neal. They’re well-suited for our Mediterranean climate and stagger their ripening times, giving us a nice extended harvest window. Each has its own personality: Misty is floral and bright, Jubilee is a little firmer with a deeper flavor, and O'Neal has that classic sweet blueberry taste that everyone loves. Q: What organic farming techniques help make our blueberries taste so good? Tessa: First, we focus a lot on building healthy soil — that's the foundation of everything. We use organic compost to feed the plants naturally and mulch heavily with pine needles from our farm woodlands. The mulch not only keeps weeds down and conserves water but also maintains the low soil pH blueberries crave. We also plant cover crops around the patch to attract beneficial insects and create habitat for pollinators, which makes a big difference in berry production and overall plant health. Q: What's harvesting season like at Clif Family Farm? Tessa: Our harvest usually kicks off around Memorial Weekend, and it’s truly a team effort. Everyone from the farm crew to the winery staff jumps in to help hand-pick. It’s slow, careful work — it can take two to three hours just to harvest about 10 pounds — but it’s also a great way for everyone to connect with the farm. Last year, we harvested over 480 pounds! Q: Any major challenges in the blueberry patch? Tessa: Birds! They know exactly when the berries are ripe, and they’re not shy about helping themselves. We use netting and visual deterrents to protect the crop, but we try to strike a balance — after all, birds are part of the ecosystem too. Q: For folks inspired to plant their own blueberries at home, what advice would you give? Tessa: Start with the right soil. Blueberries need acidic soil — ideally a Ph of 5.0-5.5 acidity for blueberries — so you may need to amend with organic soil acidifiers if your native soil isn’t a good fit. Or adding coffee grounds to your plants is an easy natural acidifier amendment. They also love well-drained soil and benefit from a thick layer of mulch. Pick a couple of different varieties to help with cross-pollination and to extend your harvest season. And most importantly — be patient! Blueberry plants often take a few years to really hit their stride, but when they do, it's worth every bit of effort. Q: Finally, how do you love to enjoy the fruits of all this labor? Tessa: There’s nothing better than our Blueberry Preserves, made right here in our Organic Farm Kitchen. I love it spread on warm, buttered toast or a bagel with cream cheese. It’s such a pure, concentrated taste of summer. Want to bring a taste of Napa Valley into your home? Our Blueberry Jam — along with many of our limited-production artisan products — are featured in our Mangia! Subscription Box. Sign up and enjoy the bounty of Clif Family Farm, grown with love and sustainability in every bite. Discover the box that takes your everyday up Mangia! is the sustainable food subscription box that enhances your everyday with limited-edition, small-batch, delicious goods. As a Mangia! member, you’re joining a community that believes in creating a better world. Sign up today and receive your first box for only $35 and receive a Mangia! tea towel on us! Feel good about what you eat. Feel better about who feeds you. SUBSCRIBE NOW