Chappellet Winery is a family-owned and operated winery located in the Pritchard Hill area of Napa Valley, California. The winery was founded in 1967 by Donn and Molly Chappellet, who were inspired by the beauty and potential of the Napa Valley wine region.
Donn and Molly Chappellet first visited Napa Valley in the mid-1960s, and were immediately struck by the region’s potential for producing world-class wine. In 1967, they purchased a 180-acre property on Pritchard Hill, which is known for its well-draining, rocky soil and its exposure to the sun. They planted their first vines in 1968, and the first vintage of Chappellet wine was released in 1972.
Over the years, Chappellet Winery has built a reputation for producing high-quality, expressive wines that showcase the unique characteristics of the Napa Valley terroir. The winery has also been recognized for its commitment to sustainable practices, including the use of solar power, water conservation, and the integration of wildlife habitat into the vineyards.
Chappellet Winery’s vineyards are located on Pritchard Hill, at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 feet above sea level. The winery grows a variety of grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Chardonnay.
The vineyards are planted on well-draining, rocky soil, which helps to produce wines with a strong sense of place and a distinct character. The grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted to ensure the highest quality fruit is used in the winemaking process.
Chappellet Winery prides itself on producing wines that showcase the unique character of the Napa Valley terroir. To achieve this, the winery uses a combination of traditional and modern winemaking techniques.
The grapes are carefully sorted and gently crushed before being fermented in small, open-top tanks. The wines are then aged in a combination of French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks, depending on the specific wine and the desired flavor profile. The winery also practices minimal intervention winemaking, allowing the grapes and the terroir to speak for themselves in the finished wine.
In addition to its signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Chappellet Winery produces a range of other red and white wines, including Merlot, Cabernet franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Chardonnay. The winery also produces a range of small-lot, single-vineyard wines that showcase the unique character of specific vineyard sites.
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Damian Fido
a month agoI booked a Signature Cabernet Retrospective. We had a great tour of the property, Javier was really knowledgeable about the history of the place and the wine. Expensive, but it was worth the price. Only negative is we were served chenin blanc as a welcome glass and I can’t find it anywhere near me and it was a stunning expression of the grape.
Gabe Hostalet
5 months agoA must do winery when visiting Napa! Incredible wine and the most scenic views in all of Napa. Javier was a wonderful and incredibly knowledgeable guide of the vineyard and offerings of Chappellet. We participated in the Signature Cab Sav Retrospective experience and we highly recommend it. Without a doubt, Chappellet was our favorite winery we visited in Napa.
Alexander Slagg
10 months agoWhen I think of Napa wineries in the best possible way, Chappellet is it. Great overall experience. Passion for wine making is strong here. Family focused, environmentally focused. Beautiful vineyards and landscape. Our host, Mason, was friendly and clearly loved where he worked. We toured the facilities and savored our wine tasting. The wines were excellent. With no sales prompting, we bought a case on the spot. I will reminisce about our visit when I sip Chappellet wine at home.
Chaitali Naik
a year agoTo be honest we went there for the beautiful palace and the drive and ended up doing the standing tasting. David was the sweetest and most knowledgeable wine educator we experienced over the weekend. Ask for 'David' if you are doing the tasting. He has vast experience and knows what he is doing. Their wines are really good specially the zin. Highly recommend this place for everything- good views, serenity, wines and the educator. Really happy with the last minute call.
Susan Jackson
a year agoWe had a fantastic experience at Chappellet. Our host/guide was Mason and he was wonderful. And all the wines we tasted were so good. Ended up joining the club and spending too much money ;) but well worth it. Note: this is out in the middle of nowhere so if you’re Ubering…might want to consider prebooking a ride back.