Discover Our Storied Winegrowing Region

Stags Leap District Appellation

Stags Leap District, marked by a dramatic outcropping of rock that flanks Napa Valley’s east side, was one of the first areas to be designated an appellation based on the distinctiveness of its soils. Our four vineyards here—Pine Ridge Estate, Locked Horns Vineyard, Cornerstone Vineyard, and Circle Hill Vineyard—feature soils that range from well-draining rock and sand to clay loam. The palisades high above help heat the district during the day; at night, vineyards cool down quickly under the influence of breezes from the nearby San Pablo Bay. Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Stags Leap District share concentrated, deep fruit characters with a distinctive balance of power and elegance.

There are many versions of how the Stags Leap area got its name. The local Napa Wappo legend, the most common, says that a mystical stag (some say it was a Roosevelt elk) leaped between the craggy rock outcroppings, known now as the Stags Leap Palisades, to escape hunters. According to another legend, the indigenous inhabitants relied on deer for food and left the stags alone to preserve the gene pool. When the early settlers arrived, they saw these magnificent animals and called the area Stags Leap. Yet a third account relates to the Staggs family, who lived in the region on a ranch with a small vineyard. Finally, the name may simply refer to the abundance of deer and elk in the area combined with the word leap, commonly used to describe British and North American place names (this last reference is from Richard Mendelson’s Appellation Napa Valley).

Howell Mountain Appellation

Howell Mountain rises nearly 2,000 feet above sea level on Napa Valley’s northeastern edge. This elevation gives the rugged region dramatically warmer summer temperatures and colder winters than down on the valley floor, resulting in later budbreak and harvest than in other Napa Valley appellations. Our Las Posadas Vineyard is planted in the dry, volcanic tuff soils of the mountainside. The vines’ struggle to take root here causes them to produce sparse clusters of small, thick-skinned berries that give our wines intense, full-bodied, deep fruit character with attractive savory notes.

Oakville Appellation

The Oakville appellation spans the valley from the Vaca Range on the east side to the Mayacamas Mountains on the west. Cabernet Sauvignon vines thrive in the region’s rich, red volcanic soils and mid-valley location, where morning fog that rolls north from San Pablo Bay is followed by warm, sunny afternoons. Our Dos Olivos Vineyard takes its name from two majestic olive trees that flank its entrance. Wines from Dos Olivos express their origins with bright red fruit character and finely integrated tannins.

Rutherford Appellation

The historic Rutherford region has been producing prized Cabernet Sauvignon wines since the mid-1800s, and today this variety represents more than half the appellation’s planted acreage. Our Rutherford Ridge Vineyard has a steeply sloping hillside with well-drained alluvial-fan soils. The hill gives way to a flat valley-floor vineyard with soils of heavy clay. Quintessential Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon has classic richness, with lush black and red fruit characters, fine tannins, and an elusive dusty mocha quality that the locals call Rutherford Dust.

Carneros Appellation

Located along the southern edge of Napa Valley, vineyards in the Carneros appellation benefit from the marine influence of nearby San Pablo Bay. Overcast mornings and cool afternoon breezes contribute to slow, even development of the grapes, resulting in an optimal balance of sugar and acid. Our vineyards here—Carneros Collines Vineyard, McKinnon Vineyard, and Olive Pond Vineyard—have thin, shallow, silty, clay loam soils. This profile provides just enough nutrients to support vine growth and fruit maturity. Our Carneros Merlot reveal delicate red fruit and bright acidity, while our Chardonnay wines have complex citrus and tropical fruit expression.