The Site Formerly Known as Montagna Joins Wise’s Growing Portfolio of Luxury Wineries and Vineyards
NAPA, Calif. (August 24, 2023) – Brion Wise, proprietor of BRION and B. Wise Vineyards, today announces the acquisition of a 128-acre Pritchard Hill estate in the eastern ridges of central Napa Valley. The striking property, formerly known as Montagna, has 42 acres planted under vine and a 20,000 square foot cave. Now christened BRION Estate, the site will serve as the future home to Wise’s Napa Valley flagship label, BRION, currently based at Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville.
Situated at one of the high points on Pritchard Hill, this vineyard acquisition advances Wise’s commitment to producing the most authentic, high-quality wines possible. Pritchard Hill is known by serious wine collectors as having some of the most enviable terroir in all of Napa Valley, with its high elevation exposure and well-draining volcanic red soils that produce superlative Cabernet Sauvignon. Surrounded by highly sought names including Bryant Family, Chappellet, Colgin, Continuum, David Arthur, and Ovid, BRION Estate finds itself among just a handful of established neighbors with estates on Pritchard Hill. Given the region’s extremely limited real estate, acquisitions like this are a rarity.
“As a longtime collector of Pritchard Hill wines, I have long dreamed of building a marquee winery estate here,” said Wise. “This site is home to some of the best vineyards in what is already a rarified subregion of Napa Valley, and its grapes are immensely important to what we have already begun to build with BRION. I’m so grateful to [previous owner] Bob Long and the legacy he and his family have built up here over the years. How honored we are to be the next stewards of this crown jewel of a property.”
Wise plans to build a winery onsite and integrate the estate grapes into BRION’s acclaimed portfolio of wines, in addition to the estate single vineyard sites already under Wise’s purview.
While the new BRION Estate is a sole proprietorship under Brion Wise, the site runs adjacent to an additional vineyard property called Upper Range, which is owned in a partnership between Wise and the Bettinelli family (who are also Wise’s partners in Sleeping Lady Vineyard).
For decades, Wise has been a pioneering investor in Sonoma County and Napa Valley vineyards, wineries, distilleries, and hospitality properties including B. Wise Vineyards, Amapola Creek Winery, BRION and Mark Herold Wines. His belief that winemakers’ individual artistic style is essential to the terroir story of every vineyard means that his wineries are known to tap some of the top winemakers and viticulturists for the various vineyards in Wise’s portfolio – often using separate consultants for different vineyards within the same label.
Wise’s other investments include wine country vineyard holdings spanning Sonoma County from his Moon Mountain District home base (where he also lives) to Fort Ross-Seaview District. In Napa Valley, his investments and partnerships include BRION Estate on Pritchard Hill, BRION at Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville, the Upper Range vineyards between Rutherford and Pritchard Hill, Wise Caldwell Distillers (focusing on Constable Whiskey), and Caldwell Vineyard in Coombsville among others. Later in 2023 and new to the U.S. market, Wise is excited to introduce Grand Cru Champagnes under the Brion Wise brand. Wise also invests in talented winemakers and a Master Cooper, providing them with the tools they need to craft exceptional, site-expressive wines.
About BRION
BRION is a Napa Valley winery founded in 2002 by proprietor Brion Wise, focusing on single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from distinct regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma – Yountville, Oakville, Pritchard Hill, Coombsville, and Moon Mountain. Selected for their unparalleled terroirs and superior farming, the vineyards of BRION produce wines of intense, concentrated flavor and aromatics that reflect place above all else. Wise believes that terroir includes the unique imprint of the winemaker, and pairs vineyards with established talent. The winemaking team at BRION showcases the talents of three acclaimed winemakers – Julien Fayard, Mark Herold and Massimo Monticelli – each focused on interpreting the designated vineyard sites that fall under their purview. BRION is also home to Napa Valley’s only in-house Master Cooper (America’s first and only) who makes French oak barrels specifically for Wise’s wines. In August 2023, Wise acquired a 128-acre estate on Pritchard Hill which will serve as the future home to BRION. Wise’s winery and tasting room is currently located at Sleeping Lady Vineyard just south of downtown Yountville, in a restored ‘bank’ barn, one of two in California dating back to 1876. The gravity flow winery is dedicated solely to the vinification of BRION wines, which are made available via allocation twice yearly. BRION can be reached by calling 707.339.7686 or visiting www.brionwines.com.
