Our estate vineyards are located in the Oak Knoll area of southern Napa Valley. The climate here is ideal for Cabernet, Chardonnay and Merlot grapes with fog burning off early, and the cooling influence of San Pablo Bay helping to moderate daytime peak temperatures. The result is that natural acidity and the more delicate nuances of varietal character are consistently preserved. Soils are of the Hare clay loam type underlaid with gravel, and are shallow (18") and low in vigor.

Wine history was made in 1976 at the now famous Paris wine tasting, where French judges, in a blind tasting, were stunned to learn that they had judged two California wines to be superior to the most highly rated French wines. The top-rated white wine was the Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay, made from grapes grown on the Hanna vineyard adjoining our vineyard.