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Australia-born Richie Allen, director of viticulture and winemaking at the Napa Valley–based Rombauer Vineyards,
never thought he’d enter the U.S. wine business. He also didn’t think he would get notified, at just 28 years old, that he’d been made the head of winemaking at Rombauer, effective immediately.
“I remember calling my wife and telling her, ‘Honey, we’re fucked,'” Allen shared, teary-eyed, at the winery’s recent lunch hosted with Lane Boots, celebrating the launch of a Lane Boots x Rombauer Vineyards cowboy boot.
After his initial shock wore off, of course, joy followed — an emotion Rombauer and Lane Boots are all too familiar with. “The Joy of Wine” is the former’s catchphrase, and the collaborative style is fittingly named “Joy.”
The Western boot is available now at laneboots.com, priced at $395 (some sizes are already selling out). Crucially, it’s crafted from so-called “Chardonnay-washed leather”: a cheeky nod to Rombauer Vineyards’ most-loved pour, the buttery, full-bodied Carneros Chardonnay.
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Lane Boots x Rombauer Vineyards 'Joy' Boot
Heel height: 2.25″
Shaft height: 15″
A Chardonnay-evoking wash and intricate details inspired by the Napa Valley’s landscape.
For Texas-headquartered Lane Boots, which previously tapped the likes of Megan Moroney and the Houston Rodeo for limited-edition releases, God is in the details. Each one of its boots is handmade by skilled artisans, using techniques that have managed to withstand the test of time. That being said, the Lane Boots x Rombauer Vineyards “Joy” Boot has a lot to look at and admire — from the embroidery of grapevines and mustard blooms climbing up the shaft to the contrast piping and suede-wrapped vamp.
Peek at the boot’s bottom, and you’ll also discover a glossy, blue-hued sole, stamped with Rombauer’s signature seal, confirming its role as the central inspiration for this partnership.
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Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay
Does the drink match the boots? Introduced in 1982, Rombauer’s flagship Chardonnay accounts for approximately half of the winery’s total production in any given year.
If you know your wines, you’re likely aware of the rivalry that exists between Texas’ grape-growing Hill Country and California’s Napa and Sonoma giants. Captured in this boot, though, is the region’s unexpected synergy — the real-life manifestation, albeit in footwear form, of what would happen if a sleeper hit in the viticultural world joined forces with an industry behemoth.
The collaboration doesn’t feel as far-fetched when you peel back the layers of Rombauer’s history. The winery was founded in 1980 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer. Koerner is said to have been a cowboy at heart, with a deep appreciation of the Western spirit and all that the land could give.
“Every detail of this boot pays homage to our heritage. Partnering with Lane Boots offers our fans a stylish new way to experience Rombauer and carry a piece of Napa Valley wherever they step,” shared Heather McCarthy, Rombauer’s director of marketing.
And fans they do have. At Rombauer Vineyards’ Blue Party, held in Nashville this October, what seemed like hundreds of devotees came together to toast to the winemaker’s rich legacy (Chardonnay, or the plum- and cherry-forward Zinfandel, in hand) and witness the official unveiling of the “Joy” Boot.
If you build it, they will come, after all — famously misquoted logic that applies to both the annual event and Lane Boots’ latest project.
“At Lane, we design boots for those who appreciate exceptional detail and timeless quality, values that Rombauer has embodied in Napa Valley for generations,” Jill Gathmann, president of Lane Boots, said in a press release. “The ‘Joy’ Boot beautifully bridges our two worlds and celebrates the spirit of both brands in a way that feels timeless and distinctive.”
Whether you’re a seasoned oenophile, make a yearly pilgrimage to Rombauer Vineyards’ Silverado Trail and Sierra Foothills outposts, or simply want to round out your cowboy boot collection with a shoe that exudes care through every stitch (much like Rombauer does through every bottle), shopping the Lane Boots x Rombauer Vineyards “Joy” Boot online will come as naturally as taking the next sip.
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