High-Elevation Wines from an Iconic Site Forge Exciting Future for Napa Valley Winery
Rutherford, CA, October 5, 2023 – Since its founding in 1978, Sequoia Grove Winery has become one of the most recognizable and critically renowned family-owned producers of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley. The label has become synonymous for its Rutherford estate wines and those sourced from grower partners through the years, crafting elegant wines that express the indelible characteristic from prestigious vineyards and premier AVAs including Atlas Peak, Coombsville, St. Helena, Calistoga, Oak Knoll and Howell Mountain.
Now, for the first time in its storied history, the winery is excited to announce that it has acquired 104 acres of land within the prized Mt. Veeder AVA. “Mt. Veeder represents an exceptional area for winemaking in Napa Valley and is the first mountain estate owned by Sequoia Grove,” notes Rick Bonitati, President of Sequoia Grove Winery. “We’re extremely enthusiastic for how this acquisition helps diversify our estate properties, our grape sourcing, and the wines we will produce. It is especially important for us to invest in cooler climate sites like this one to help pave the long-term success of our winemaking program, opening up a new chapter and unique opportunity to express this compelling hillside terroir”
This new property, which sits above the fog line and was originally owned by winemaker Donald Hess, is a distinguished addition from both a viticultural and visual perspective. The vineyard reaches elevations of over 1,700 feet and straddles northeastern slopes of the mountain within the Mayacamas Range, unfolding via a steep road that meanders through a forested area and eventually opens to an expansive vista that spans from the Sonoma Coast to the Golden Gate Bridge. Mt. Veeder is the coolest of Napa Valley’s Mountain AVAs, enjoying gentle morning sun and cool marine breezes in the evening pulled in from San Pablo Bay. This, combined with the unique soils that are remnants of an ancient seabed, result in vines with small berries that are full of concentration and complexity. In the glass, they produce vibrant, mineral-driven Cabernet Sauvignons with a well-defined structure that emphasize balance and invite long-term aging.
After taking an initial selection of fruit from the 2023 vintage, Sequoia Grove will begin a two-year replant with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties. Along with its work in the vineyards, Sequoia Grove will maintain the 73 acres that are currently forested as part of its ongoing commitment to preserve Napa Valley’s natural landscape
“Mt. Veeder produces wines of both power and elegance,” says Jesse Fox, Winemaker at Sequoia Grove. “The elevation and highly desired soil profiles produce balanced, structured, and complex wines that have remarkable hillside diversity. This new acquisition is incredibly exciting to me as a winemaker as well as for the future of the winery; it is a privilege to incorporate this site into our vineyard estates.”
Sequoia Grove’s holistic approach to its place within Napa Valley has continued to evolve over the last decade. A complete re-imagining of the winemaking facility and hospitality space culminated in 2018, and all estate vineyards have been or are undergoing complete replants. The recent Mt. Veeder acquisition adds to Sequoia Grove’s 2019 acquisition of the State Lane Vineyard in Yountville, bringing their total farmed estate vineyards to 120 acres. Further, the winery continues to build upon its commitment to precision farming techniques, viticulture, and sustainability. Deeply invested in environmentally responsible practices throughout, Sequoia Grove is certified as a Napa Green Winery and its estate vineyards are certified Napa Green Vineyard and Fish-Friendly Farming.
Sieba Peterson of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Reality was the exclusive agent for the transaction.
For more information, visit Sequoia Grove Winery’s Webpage: www.sequoiagrove.com. For social media, please visit Facebook page @SequoiaGroveWines or sequoiagrove on Instagram.
About Sequoia Grove
Established in 1978, Sequoia Grove Winery is obsessed with the details that go into crafting our Napa Valley wines and single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. Our commitment to quality starts in the vineyard; we grow the very best grapes in the finest terroir to form the foundation of our wines. Quality is intrinsic to everything we do, from winemaking to our gracious hospitality; it’s ingrained in our culture and the vanguard of our philosophy. At Sequoia Grove, we’ve been carving our own path for decades while never losing sight of who we are: rooted in history, guided by integrity, resolute in our values, and committed to the future. For more information visit: www.sequoiagrove.com
About Kobrand Corporation
Founded in 1944, Kobrand Corporation remains one of the few family-owned wine and spirits companies in the United States. Kobrand’s portfolio of fine wine and spirits was meticulously selected according to a single, unerring principle: quality. This continued focus has made the Kobrand name synonymous with wines and spirits of the highest caliber for over 75 years. Kobrand is the sales and marketing representative of Sequoia Grove winery. In addition, Kobrand is the exclusive agent for an outstanding selection of fine wines, spirits and sakes from key regions around the world, including the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand. For more information, about Kobrand and our portfolio visit http://www.
