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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Amanda Carlstrom
2 weeks agoI had a wonderful experience tasting at Chimney Rock. I loved that it was a smaller more intimate space and the presentation felt very personalized. The wines were exceptional (as I expected) and my wine educator (Gary 🙌🏻) did a great job hosting. It was nice to be at a high end winery, but not have things feel scripted or pretentious. I got to drink spectacular wine, learn a little about the winery and the region, and partake in some casual conversation that really set my Napa visit off on the right path. I highly recommend you add Chimney Rock to your plans!
Art P
4 months 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.
shiela FitzPatrick
a month agoChimney Rock is a fantastic winery with phenomenal wines in a gorgeous setting. I’ve been a member for years and could not fathom giving up such delicious and memorable wines. On my most recent visit we were hosted by Gary. He’s fabulous - warm, friendly, knowledgeable, and generous! He made our visit even more enjoyable than normal, which I didn’t think was possible. I highly recommend a visit to Chimney Rock Winery 🍷
Stephen Setian
a month agoWe love Chimney Rock Winery! It’s an elegant tasting experience with super friendly experienced staff that make your visit memorable. (Ask for Gary!) Great deep cabs and Merlot with many awards. We have been several times and always great. Their sister winery Rutherford Hill with reciprocal be benefits if in the wine club is also five star!
Missy Smith
a week agoWe are visiting from Ohio during Labor Day weekend. We did not realize that a reservation was needed to visit the wineries. We went past Chimney Rock winery, and it was so beautiful. We called them, and they were able to let us do a walk in, even though they were fully booked. Cathy Bermudez was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! My husband is the wine connoisseur. I was along for the ride, because I have never found a wine that I liked other than a sweet wine. This winery was a game changer for me!!! I absolutely loved every wine that we tried! I highly recommend this beautiful winery, and the amazing staff!❤️