Chimney Rock Winery is a Napa Valley estate with a rich history of producing exceptional quality wines. Founded in 1980 by Hack and Stella Wilson, the estate brought a love of wine and South African winery architecture to the Napa Valley. In 2004, the Terlato family had the opportunity to acquire the estate, and since then, they have worked to build on the foundation established by the Wilsons and advance the quality of every aspect of the winery and its wines.
The Terlatos have focused on sustainable and intelligent farming and grape growing, and they have employed a soft-handed and thoughtful approach to winemaking, led by Winemaker Elizabeth Vianna. The goal of this approach is to allow the unique and magnificent soil and fruit of the Stags Leap District to show themselves in their best light. Through this approach, Chimney Rock has built a reputation for consistently crafting unique wines that show a true sense of place.
In addition to their focus on sustainable and thoughtful winemaking, the Terlatos have also dedicated significant resources towards building a state-of-the-art winery. This facility allows the winemaking team to ferment each vineyard block separately and conduct small-lot experiments to fine-tune and further express the spirit of the Chimney Rock estate. The accompanying climate-controlled barrel rooms provide the ideal temperature and humidity for long-term aging of the wines in French oak barrels.
The vision and mission of Chimney Rock is to produce wines that are capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the great and important wines of the world. To achieve this, the Terlatos have provided Elizabeth and her winemaking team with the vision, resources, and guidance to craft unique wines of exceptional quality. This commitment to quality is a cornerstone of the Chimney Rock estate and is exemplified by their dedication to sustainable and thoughtful winemaking practices.
The legacy of Chimney Rock’s founder, Tony Terlato, also plays a significant role in the winery’s commitment to quality. Tony was an icon in the global wine community and dedicated his career to making and sharing the great wines of the world. He passed away in June 2020, but his values and commitment to quality live on through the wines produced at Chimney Rock. His children and grandchildren are continuing his legacy by keeping his spirit and values alive with every bottle of wine they craft.
Chimney Rock Winery invites wine enthusiasts to be a part of its ongoing story and to experience the elegant wines that are the result of the winery’s dedication to quality and commitment to showcasing the unique character of the Stags Leap District.
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Art P
a month agoChimney Rock Winery stands above all the rest in the Napa Valley thanks to their passionate and incredibly knowledgeable staff. Their friendliness was truly a memorable experience that lingered long after our tour ended. Julian’s warm welcome and attentiveness made us feel comfortable and right at home from the moment we arrived. I will definitely be coming back to spend more time with the fine people at Chimney Rock Winery and highly recommend that you do too.
Thomas Hornik
2 months agoThis little vineyard (in terms of acreage and production size) is quite the experience. We booked a wine tasting and Steven provided us a very insightful, slow paced tasting of the estate wines. The pours were generous and the amazing information that Josh provided, such as when we tasted three separate vintages of the same wine, was exactly what we wanted to gain from this experience. The name and history of this vineyard is tied directly to its location, and everything from the property to the buildings are something that you need to see and hear and experience yourself. Given the relative small size and full estate production, this vineyard does sit a bit higher on the price range. That being said, we highly highly recommend.
Crystal Goldberg
3 months agoWe always have a fantastic experience when we visit Chimney Rock! This past December, Gary really provided us with an outstanding wine tasting experience!! We celebrated our son’s 21st Birthday and Gary provided a personalized experience that we will always cherish. We can’t wait to visit again!! Cheers to the Best!!
Beth Paul
a week agoOutstanding wine tasting experience ! Gary Wilson was personable, knowledgeable and, unlike most, didn’t push sales or club memberships. Lovely setting, interesting history. The wine is superb! Not sending some home is impossible. Highly recommend this winery for anyone who enjoys and appreciates great wine.
Bob gadomski
a month agoGary Miller was a wonderful host at Chimney Rock vineyard. Excellent space to enjoy the wine and nibbles were an added touch. Wine , of course, was excellent