Never too late to post a review. We wanted to visit Pritchard Hill with my husband grandpa Pritchard many years ago. We purchased a few bottles of wine. We saved this 2006 Cab to open on our 30th anniversary on Valentines day read more

Chappellet - 2006 Cab Franc - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

This is such a picturesque winery in Napa Valley. It is worth the windy drive. Chappellet Winery is rich in history, founded in 1967 by Donn and Molly Chappellet, this family-owned winery has carved a niche for itself by its unique location on Pritchard Hill. Donn and Molly Chappellet were pioneers in recognizing the potential of hillside vineyards in Napa Valley. How is this spot different? Chappellet has a challenging terrain. Situated at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,800 feet, the grapes face a daily struggle against the elements. The steep, rocky slopes and well-drained, volcanic soils create an environment where vines must work harder. You might think the struggle would hurt the grapes. However, this struggle is precisely what gives the grapes their complexity. At these elevations, the vines experience greater exposure to sunlight and cooler temperatures, leading to a slower ripening process. Amazing! I'll say this.... I bought a case. read more

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This is a must visit tasting room and property when in Napa. Full disclosure- I am an existing member and will be for years to come. This is a winery focused on excellence. Everything they make is excellent. While you may like some more than others - no wines here are "misses" - decades of family run business and one of the best winemakers around lead to superior wines year after year. From the entry level red wines (Mountain Cuvée) which you might see at a local wine store or at a fine restaurant by the bottle for $30-50 to the top of the line Prichard Hill Cab (allocated only and $300-450 each) there is something for everyone here. The Signature Cabernet Sav ($~90) is the sweet spot and a must try. They also have crisp and tasty whites and unique twists on Merlot and Zin which aren't to be missed. They treat everyone here like they are members whether you are or not (tastings are free for members and you get discount on bottles) and service is top notch from welcome to exit. The beautiful architecture is also a great reason to visit as well as the vast and very natural grounds where you can see the care and effort placed into the grounds. Just trust - if you love wine, you need to know Chappellet. read more

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I had a wonderful time here from the moment we drove up the hill to the beautiful estate till the moment we left with some new bottles of wine! Got to meet one of the owners who gave us a little more detailed insight into the history. Incredible winery! Looks like something out of the movies. I will be back. It was a great birthday surprise to wine taste and tour with my family. Loved ones are everything read more

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I wish I could give Chappellet 10 Stars! This was an absolutely amazing and one-of-a-kind experience. Chappellet came recommended from a friend of my husband's that is a current wine club member.. and wow.. so thankful that this winery was suggested. Located in beautiful St. Helena on top of Pritchard Hill in a beyond gorgeous establishment {Think wine barrels, cozy couches, sky-high ceilings and lovely artwork} - You can come for the view/atmosphere but you'll stay for the delicious wine and top notch service. We were greeted immediately upon our arrival and then told that our host for the day would be right with us - Enter Mason - I can't begin to express how friendly, outgoing and knowledgable he was about the wine region, the history of Chappellet as well as the wines themselves. He was telling us that he is studying to be a wine maker - and based on our experience, he will no doubt excel in any avenue he chooses. A+ for Mason!! Since our friends are members there, they were able to call in a favor and schedule us for one of the member tastings. The afternoon started with a few pours of white wine as we walked the grounds, learned the history of the property and the wine-making family - This was then followed by a private seated tasting of the mouth-watering red wines {and the crackers that are served with the testing are *chef's kiss* and just what's needed while wine tasting}. While we loved every single wine we tasted {not a bad one in the house}, we fell in love with the 2019 Russian River Apple Lane Pinot Nior - Quite possibly one of the best red wines I've ever experienced. It was difficult to refrain from joining the wine club, but since we already have a few consistently coming in, we decided to hold off for a bit.. at least as long as our friends are members since we can always add to their shipments and still enjoy all of the amazing Chappellet wines. read more

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My friends are members here and invited me for a picnic on the grounds since they were picking up their shipment. I had never been before so decided to join. The picnic area was beautiful, with an amazing view, and weather was perfect. We shared a bottle of the Pinot and the Chardonnay. I enjoyed the wine we tasted so much that I even brought a couple bottles home. I shared the bottles with my family and they absolutely loved it! Will definitely need to come back and stock up on the Pinot again. read more

Chappellet - Outside the main entrance - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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I've served their Signature Cab at dinners and they've all been well received. As for the winery, this place is known for their views. So, we booked the ATV experience and it exceeded our expectations. Our host was funny and great. We were taken all over the property, to Molly's garden, to the top, the Meadow. It was exciting to us to see the vines growing at different elevations. There's, of course, the view of the Lake. We had 2 white wine tastings while cruising around. We concluded with another 5 reds, seated in their tasting room, surrounded by barrels and artwork. We left with a bottle of their Cab Franc and Pritchard Hill Cab. This is a must visit/revisit. We'll be back. read more

Chappellet is a gorgeous winery, and one of the best wineries I've been to for a tour and tasting for a while! They aren't easy to access, nor is the tour cheap; however, it was very worthwhile, and I'd highly recommend this for anyone looking for a slightly different experience. Make sure you follow the directions on your navigation, since there were a few twists and turns on the way up the hill. We purchased tour tickets ahead of time, and showed up a few minutes early for the tour. We had a group of about 8-10 for the tour/tasting, which was $50/person and includes 5 wines. Since it's appointment only here, make sure you purchase your tickets ahead of time- their online system is really easy to use. For the tour, we got to walk around their vineyards, and our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. We received our first tasting right away, and had that glass to sit on as walked. We learned about the history of the winery, types of grapes they grow, varieties of wine they make, etc. After walking around for the tour, we returned inside to complete the rest of the wine tasting. They had one of the best Sauvignon Blancs I've had in a while, and their reds were also very good. I hope to return soon! Parking is easy here since they have their own lot. read more

Derrick, our host, was the best! Wine tasting in the vineyard was breathtaking ! It was a fantastic experience and made our day! We joined the wine club and still talking about the great time we had there. read more

Having worked in the industry, I was quite familiar with the wines and the story, but had never visited the winery up on Pritchard Hill on the east side of the valley. Chappellet is nestled among a bunch of other venerable vineyards- Continuum, Bryant, Dalle Valle and Colgin. Patriarch Donn Chappellet (who passed away in 2016) was one of the valley's visionaries, homesteading and planting Pritchard Hill in the late 60's. Wines grown there qualify only for a Napa Valley appellation. Blakesley Chappellet, Donn's daughter-in-law, calls the region "a lieu-dit," the French term for a distinctive geographic area. While many might argue that Pritchard Hill could and should be its own AVA, the declaration would have to include a number of lower slope vineyards that are of Pritchard Hill sits above the fog line, with sites from 800 to 2000 feet above the valley floor. This location delivers the best of both worlds: Oakville sophistication with the extra intensity of a hillside. They offer three levels for your visit, each with a tasting fee.. Our visit included a walk through the vineyard, a tour of the winery and a tasting in the original barrel room, with some snacks for $75pp. From the 27 estate blocks come the bulk of their portfolio. Many are familiar with their entry level Mountain Cuvee ($25) second level Signature ($60) and flagship Pritchard Hill ($100 and up) cabernets. Also from the hill comes a rare Napa Chenin Blanc. Some fruit is purchased from Carneros for Chardonnay and secondary bottlings. There are a couple of small production cabs sold at the winery only (Hideaway $125 and Las Piedras $75) as well as a Merlot and a Zinfandel. Rounding out the portfolio, and conceived by Molly Chappellet as a way to celebrate her family's shared love of art and wine, are vibrant labels created by artists Carissa and Lygia Chappellet for the family's Malbec and Pinot Noir wines. Wonderful wines, a long and storied history and a lovely 1 1/2 hour visit. Go and experience! read more

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Bar none the highlight of a recent visit to Napa. We enjoyed a private signature tasting and tour of the gorgeous vineyard and winery, complete with narrative of the family history, vision, and of course tastes of several of the most delightful estate and local reserves. An amazing experience we will never forget. read more

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Very out of the way but worth every effort to get here. The location is tucked into the woods and backs up to a beautiful, rolling view of vineyards. The staff is beyond friendly and helpful. The experience of our scheduled tasting was top tier. The wine is delicious. The tasting is a waking tour of the facility and ends in a private living room style area in the main building. Very cool and very different than other tasting experiences. read more

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We visited this lovely winery on a whim last Saturday. Even tho we didn't have an appointment, the young man at the front desk (who's name I neglected to find out!‍) very kindly when he discovered my sis in law had never been to Napa before brought us a tasting of the Cab Sav and gave us a quickie tour. We bought 2 bottles as did my brother. I told my husband, "All I want for my birthday is a bottle of their Malbec!" Done! I will def make an appointment next ten for the full tour and tasting. read more

I am very biased but Chappellet is my one of my very favorite wines and wineries in Napa. It is located on Prichard Hill high above the valley overlooking the Lake Hennessy reservoir. The property lovely. Clearly mountain farming. The tastings are by reservation only. Some of the tastings are made in the vineyards and many are made in the main winery within the expansive barrel room. We took our tasting half in the vineyard and half in the main winery. We had an outstanding guide for our visit. Johnna was personable, knowledgeable and fun to be with during our visit. The wines are some of the best in Napa. They are known for great Cabernets but their Chardonnay and Pinot were equally delicious. They offer great wines. read more

Chappellet - 1st wine of the Tasting - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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My favorite winery! Everything from the time we entered until we finished our tasting was amazing! The staff are always kind and welcoming. The amazing views are breathtaking! read more

After a 2013 bottle of Chappellet Pritchard Hill won a blind tasting party I hosted at home, the winery topped my list of must-visit wineries for my next Napa Valley trip. Sure enough, when the time came I booked the experience and off we went. With various views of Lake Hennessey, the drive up to Pritchard Hill truly was truly special. We stopped several times along the way and on our way back for photo ops. With its pyramid shape, and lush surroundings, the entrance was camouflaged. It took us a bit to figure out its location. Upon entering, we were coldly received after a mixup with time meant our party arrived late. Yikes. Not my style, I promise. Apparently, they left messages on my phone (which didn't go through until hours later because the signal up there is nonexistent​). Lucky for them, by then we were saturated with wine tours, in a good mood, and we didn't care if they "could no longer give us the facilities and walking tour." Just show us to the wine! Although in hindsight, I do wish we would have been able to do it all. Our host did an excellent job despite our "happier than usual" nature. Although​ the presentation focused too much on the wine labels and art displayed on the property, our host knew her information and delivered it like a pro. We were surprised to learn it was her first week on the job. I wish I could remember her name. Kudos! The wine poured was nice, but didn't compare to the one we'd initially tried back at home. For the $75 per person fee, the Pritchard Hill should have been included​ or at least one comparable to it. Will I go back to this tasting for the experience? Not likely. I WILL continue to drink Chappellet at home though. Should you visit? Sure. It's worth a try and that drive is a dream. Just don't be late! read more

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I already knew and loved the wines. But learning about the Chappellet family moving up from LA, carving a home and winery out of the mountain and harnessing the wines from this stunning place exceeded any of my high expectations. The views from their vineyards will make you a lifelong fan and you'll be back. Our group was blown away by the passion and the knowledge of the wines and the story that Emmanuel shared with us. read more

Magnificent tasting room...give yourself time to find it though. Lovely views down to the lake. Have just not had their wine catch on with us ....it's just ok at a high price but experience is always nice. Taste by appt only read more

Exclusive, Quaint, Gorgeous and Sophisticated. This is how I would describe both this winery and their wines. It was a winery like no other and an unforgettable experience. After driving up on a windy mountain road on a Sunday and having to navigate using printed instructions as GPS does not navigate there, I could tell this would be a winner when I saw that there is no parking lot and really just a few parking spaces and one other car. Walking up the magical trail to the building that appears to be truly a part of the mountain itself, there was a sense of adventure and drive to experience something different. The staff were absolutely wonderful and did not even mention that we were quite late for the appointment. The winery, the story and the vineyard itself is absolutely beautiful and an architectural marvel in disguise. Now, on to the reason I was here, the wines. From Molly's favorite Chenin Blanc to the different red varieties, the wines were just spectacular. Most bottles are in the $35 to $80 range, which is quite fair for the quality of wine that you get here. Many of them can only be bought at the winery itself. While tasting wines, Molly Chappellet even happened to come down from her house and said hi to us, that also made the visit very special. This is without a doubt my favorite winery thus far in Napa and has the appeal to it like no other. It is a story of love, amazing wine and finding the beauty of mountains in life. read more

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Without a doubt, Chappellet was the best experience we had on our recent tour of Napa Valley. The wines are tremendous. In fact, they were the best we tasted. The price points of the wines is also very fair and often less than other sub-standard ones from other wineries. Emmanuel Cortez was our guide/ambassador and made the experience so much fun and pleasurable. They are lucky to have him! Make sure you put Chappellet on your list to visit. Beautiful property, family run without the "corporate" vibe and outstanding wines. read more

If you enjoy big California Cabs this is your place to visit. Must make an appointment ahead of time. All and all a great tasting experience. Chloe was our "wine gal" and she was great. She knew her stuff and gave us lots of information of about the Chappellet winery history, wine production, varietals and other Interesting facts. I personally enjoyed their Prichard Hill Cabernet! Pretty drive to your tasting is an added bonus! You won't be disappointed. read more

Laura was kind and friendly. The wine was delicious and I loved the tour and the view. It's the 3rd driveway from the boat launch abs all up hill on Pritchet Hill. It's a beautiful view abs the whole family (6 children) & parents are involved! read more

We had an amazing experience with Johnna, who felt like a longtime friend by the end of our visit! Chappellet came highly recommended to us by people who are much more advanced wine drinkers than we are, and we were very much looking forward to our visit. While Chappellet clearly has outstanding wine, the vineyard had a very familial, unpretentious feel to it. Truly the best of both worlds. A friend from SF joined us and he's been to Napa several times -- he said this was hands down the best experience he's had! Thank you Chappellet and Johnna! Can't wait to return. read more

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Had a wonderful time here. Wine is absolutely delicious here. Elizabeth was very professional and knowledgeable on their wines and history as well as Napa Valley wine scenes in general. I especially loved their buttery and slightly acidic Chardonnay. So delicious. Their merlot was absolutely delicious too. Beautiful and quiet winery. Def recommend!! read more

Chappellet - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

This was our first private tasting... and what a 1st impression. The uphill drive to the winery was quite a scenic adventure -- especially in stormy weather (it was one of those days that we'd probably have stayed home, had we not had an appointment); the incline path to/from the front door was simply beautiful: full of vivid green vegetation, and so serene. We received a warm welcome, as someone waited for us at the top of the path, holding the door open. I didn't expect to be guided to a private room, replete with big, comfortable chairs, a large, beautiful wooden table -- and coordinating coats (if needed). The person assigned to us was great; he took time between pourings to share with us the history of the family and winery, information on the wines, and took us on a short tour. Our group did not feel the least bit rushed. To our surprise, we were there for about 2 hours! A memorable experience -- and very good wines, too! read more

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My favorite winery in the valley ! The most heartfelt experience and exceptional wines at a fair price. A tour that is most unique and family driven. Chappellet is a gift to our valley. 50 years of pure love for the art of winemaking, to share with everyone. A tour for all interests, wine, art, nature and architecture! The ultimate Napa Valley experience. Thank you Chappellet ~ always a special day. read more

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Nice place but they use bait and switch sales tactics in regards to their membership. We were told as part of our tour that we could sign up for the membership and that it would allow us to skip shipments. When we actually tried to skip a shipment, their membership services ambassador told us we could not and that if we wanted to skip we would have to cancel our membership. read more

We really enjoyed starting our day at this winery. For starters, this winery is definitely off the beaten path. It's not among your typical stretch of wineries one after the other. You do have to head about 15 minutes away from AMY winery. Plan your day accordingly. The road to reach this venue is windy and narrow, so make sure you have a driver or designated driver on hand. This winery is by reservations only. Make sure to plan ahead and reserve ahead. The venue seats guests in groups of approximately ten. There is a set tasting menu, but don't be afraid to ask for another variety off the tasting menu of something interests you. The tasting menu included white and red options. Merlo is not my typical choice, but I did really enjoy theirs and purchased a bottle. My poison of choice is a red Zinfandel. They do have a red zin, so at the conclusion of our tasting, we asked to try theirs. We did really enjoy their red Zin and also came home With three bottles. I loved that they shared the history of the family and winery. It makes it that much more of a personable and favorable experience. I also loved that one of the chappellet sisters authored a book and featured some dragons that represented various members of the family. Some of The various dragon paintings are shown in the pictures I posted, but there were many that one could buy for around $500 a piece. These dragons are also featured on some of their wines. It was definitely a really cool story and also added a lot of character to the place. We joked about the game of thrones, and our host actually confirmed that sales of the dragon bottles did go up during the game of thrones seasons, especially for their season finale. Very cute! It was a homey feel but also had some sophisticated wine options. I enjoyed the exclusivity and the story as much as I did the wines. read more

Chappellet - On our tasting, also enjoying the dragon paintings of one of the Chappellet sisters. - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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Upon a not so great interaction with this winery the last time we were in napa, they more than made up for it this time. Our host Javier was great. The wine was excellent. The whole experience was one of imour groups favorites. read more

Gorgeous winery with the famous wooden pyramid in the middle that serves as barrel room, tasting room, and offices on top of the pyramid. After driving up the winding mountain, we admitted that it was totally worth it to come up there because of the greeneries and the view of the lake from up there at Chappellet. We reserved a winery tour with tasting in a group of 8 (4 couples) and we got Ivy as our tour guide. The tour itself wasn't very long, we just took a walk around the vineyard, listening to some stories about the Chappellet family, different types of grapes, and the history of the place. It was really nice, taking in all the beautiful sceneries. During the tour, every couple was a lil bit shy to talk to each other but after we had several glasses of wine, we started to talk and tease each other and of course the tour guide. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I gotta admit that our group was really fun (gotta thank the wine for having us to warm up). read more

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Cannot say enough good things about this place....excellent customer service, great wines, spectacular views and overall fantastic experience. GPS had us take a wrong turn so we were wondering around the hills.....called the winery and Stephen got in his car, found us on the road and escorted us up to the winery....exceptional! He was so nice, knowledgeable and a great host. The views are gorgeous. Every wine we tried was so good and reasonably priced for the quality. The Chardonnay was soft and silky, the Malbec was incredible and needless to say the Cab was great. You need reservations (no drop ins) but definitely worth the wait. Go visit this winery! read more

Chappellet - View of some of the vines - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

Hard to locate, but what a find. Up a narrow and winding road on the top of Prichard Hill lies Chappellet, which produces some of the best Napa Valley, Bordeaux style wines due to the rocky soils and higher elevations. Certified organic, they do irrigate using a grey water reclamation plant that they built to preserve the waste water from the winery. The Winery structure is impressive, a wooden building with very high ceilings, filled with wine barrels. The tasting inside was extensive with multiple whites and reds available. All showed complexity and character and will only get better with age. It is obvious Chappellet is passionate about wine and coaxing the very best out of the grapes and the soil to make exceptional Bordeaux style wines. Tip: Make a reservation for a tasting - then follow their directions for getting there. read more

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Sadly we lost another pioneer in the Napa Valley wine industry with the passing of Donn Chapellet. My First visit to this vineyard was back in 1971 and I still remember Donn sitting with me in his office talking about his vision. We shared some business stories as we were in similar industries but alas Donn achieved his true passion and I stayed corporate. He was the more astute visionary than I. I remember walking with Donn and he talking about the micro climates of Pritchard Hill, the rugged and rocky terrain and how he was the first vineyard planted in that hillside slope area of Pritchard Hill. He also stated he wanted to add some acreage and he hoped one day he could do that. Great story Sam, the hospitality "Queen" of Chapellet Estates, played back to me and how Chapellet got additional acreage. You will just have to go to meet Sam (she is leaving for 2 months for a sabbatical to South America "lucky lady") but will return in May. I have always loved the blending techniques deployed by Cyril and Phillip Titus the winemaker. They walk the talk on sustainability, using what each vintage gives them and amazing blending techniques. I never realized the original building had a higher temp where they stored the barrels and their new racking is adjacent to it and they get better than 50% less loss due to evaporation in the barrel in the new building. I cannot wait until the new changes are made to the original building but the temporary site is really cool as well. "Ya gotta love" Sam and her enthusiasm (see photo) and passion and I am impressed with her knowledge gained over a short period of time. Really a great time and we spent over 2 hours sharing and talking. This is a must. Wish I could have met Cyril Chapellet when there and talk with him about the next generation of wines. Gives me another reason to return! read more

We came here after having their wine at home. What an AWESOME place. The drive up to the winery was gorgeous and secluded. Peter was our "host" and was incredibly engaging, knowledgeable and quickly figured out what types of wine our group favored. We tasted many different things and based on our reactions Peter brought out more for us to taste. As a result, there are 4 excited Chappellet fans and wine consumers headed back home! The Cab Franc was a very unexpected find. Not many of those available and theirs is superb! Highly recommend and even if you don't buy anything the experience and opportunity to taste a wide range of their wines makes the tasting fee is worth it! read more

I had a great time here with Johnna. It's a beautiful property with stellar, complex wines. The whole tasting and tour felt private and seamless. It's the kind of place where you can tell everyone cares about the wine and wants to make your visit special; very much appreciated. Would definitely go back. read more

Amazing winery. The label talks about family and that not just marketing. Family run business and amazing facility. Great wines that are not expensive so you can enjoy with a plentiful family. They have some reserves that can get up there. Amazing location worth the visit. read more

Very cute family owned winery. The hiking tour/wine tasting led by the founder's granddaughter Sequoia Chappellet was great!

Gorgeous views!! My boyfriend and I loved Chappellet. It's a little colder up there but they have north face jackets for you to wear throughout the tour. I've had this bookmarked for awhile and it did not disappoint. I can't remember our guides name but he was very nice and you can tell he really loves working there...but then again who wouldn't!? We came right before harvest so it was really cool to see everyone getting ready and also taste the grapes off the vines. The wines were so good, and so are the prices! We spent way too much at a diff place the day before and totally regret it now! Make your reservation early as they book up fast! read more

Chappellet - eating grapes! - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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Beautiful winery. The wooden building is breathtaking. As others have said, it is a little trek driving up but you get beautiful views. Our tour guide was nice and friendly as well. There is no pressure to purchase their wine. Only negative is that I wished we could have toured the vineyards more. The tour and tasting is stated as 90 minutes but most of the time is sitting at the tasting table, which some might prefer I guess. read more

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It's official, I'm in LOVE. Chappellet is off the beaten path of winneries tucked away in the mountain side. I am so glad that Bob from Jessup Cellars sent us over here early. You know its good when another winery doesn't even serve you because they are concerned you will be late for your appointment at Chappellet. We started the tour inside with the barrels and made our way outside to the stemmers and vineyards. Its an absolutely beautiful property, not to mention super eco friendly. They operate using energy powered by their own solar panels. My favorites were the Cab Sauvignon, 2008 Futures, and the Cab Franc (which was not apart of the tasting, but an absolute must) Big thanks to our wine guide for opening this up. After a bit of light hearted pushing and heavy pouring, who wouldn't want to open this for us?! I also must note our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the family, history and the wines. There's not much else to say except, GO! read more

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