The state-of-the-art facility in Oak Knoll District initially will produce 30,000 gallons annually
(Napa, California) July 15, 2024 – Even though industry analysts reported that consumption of California wine fell by 8.7 percent last year, the proprietors of Napa Valley’s Arrow&Branch Estate Vineyard (www.ArrowAndBranchWinery.com) in Coombsville are optimistic about continued demand for premium brands as they prepare to formally open their new winery and tasting salon near Yountville, California on July 30, 2024.
Steve and Seanne Contursi have been planning the Arrow&Branch Winery on the 10-acre L’attitude Vineyard since 2020 when they purchased the property in the Oak Knoll American Viticultural Area at 5215 Solano Avenue along the west side of Highway 29 just south of Yountville at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains.
“Despite sluggish sales for mass-produced and grocery store wines, I believe that exceptionally crafted, premium wines from heritage vineyards that are sprinkled throughout Napa Valley will always be in demand. Highest quality and great rarity seem to always be in demand,” said Steve Contursi.
“We have completed building a winery in arguably one of the best Bordeaux varietal wine grape growing areas in the world, Napa Valley,” he stated.
Groundbreaking was in August 2022 for the new home of Arrow&Branch, including a hospitality area for visitors’ tastings by appointment only.
“Our initial plans are to produce 30,000 gallons a year for our vintages and custom crush production for several of Napa Valley’s finest small-production brands. We already are looking at expansion plans to eventually produce 45,000 gallons, the equivalent of about 20,000 cases annually,” he added.
“The new winery was designed by Taylor Lombardo Architects with the production layout and equipment selections by winemaker extraordinaire and partner Jennifer Williams. The general contractor was Nordby Construction,” Steve Contursi explained.
Arrow&Branch was established by the Contursi family in 2008 beginning with the purchase of a 3.5-acre vineyard from renowned winemaker Tony Soter in the Coombsville AVA area. They added another 1.5 contiguous acres in 2011 as well as sourcing grapes from four of Napa Valley’s most iconic vineyards. In 2020, they acquired the L’attitude Vineyards from Bob and Joni Williamson, producers of Ideology Cellars wines.
Current wines available (https://ArrowAndBranch.com/wines), all sourced from historic vineyards in Napa Valley, are:
- 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard;”
- 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard;”
- 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon” Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard;”
- 2021 “Right Bank Blend” (68% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon);
- 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Black Label;”
- 2021 Cabernet Franc Estate “Arrow&Branch Vineyard;” and
- 2023 Sauvignon Blanc “Stagecoach Vineyard.”
The name Arrow&Branch is a reference to numismatics. Since 1975, Steve Contursi has personally invested in and traded historically significant, museum-quality, ultra-rare United States coins.
Steve Contursi once owned the first gold coin struck in the United States, the legendary 1787-dated Brasher Doubloon that he sold for $7.4 million to a Wall Street investment firm in 2011. Part of the design on that early American gold coin, and a motif used on many other U.S. coins since then, features an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons. It signifies that the U.S. is a nation of peace but ready to defend itself. That enduring design inspired the name, Arrow&Branch.
He currently manages one of the largest active inventories of U.S. rare coins in the world, sharing access with individuals seeking to enhance their portfolio diversification strategies (www.ArrowAndBranchRareCoins.com).
“Like my philosophy in producing fine wines of uncompromised quality, I focus on the highest end of the U.S. rare coin market. This upper echelon is well insulated from traditional market volatility, as wealthy collectors and investors maintain high demand to own the finest rarities. This leads to steady overall increases in value over decades for the highest-quality assets,” he explained.
Additional information about the wines, to make an appointment to visit the new winery, and free newsletters are available online at www.ArrowAndBranchWinery.com by phone at 707-800-6777, by email at www.wine@ArrowAndBranch.com, and on Instagram @arrowandbranch.
