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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Hallie Klocek
2 weeks agoChimney Rock is our favorite winery in Napa, after having been there twice and visited both times. If you love great wine and want to have an elevated experience but in an unpretentious setting - then Chimney Rock is for you. It’s only 15 minutes from Downtown Napa and is absolutely beautiful - both inside and out. The staff are the most accommodating and down-to-earth group of people, and go above and beyond to make sure you have a stellar experience. Our reservation was with Gary this time, after he received a glowing review from our friends who had just visited a few weeks prior. Boy, were they right! Gary made our experience at the winery a 10/10, and we didn’t think it could have gotten any better than our last visit 10 years ago, when we wandered in by happy accident on our honeymoon. Gary is knowledgeable, funny, engaging, and easygoing. You could sit at the table with him for 8 hours and not get bored or antsy. His knowledge of wine is unmatched (and we visited 10 wineries this trip), and his stories of world travel and dry sense of humor will make it feel like you’re being guided through your tasting by your best buddy. Now onto the wine - absolutely amazing. No notes. The tour takes you through the vineyard and then into the building where the wine is made/stored, and it’s a truly fascinating experience. Not every winery takes you that up-close and personal. Each wine is crafted so specifically and thoughtfully. For Napa, the price of their wines is probably right in the middle — more expensive than some of the mainstream wineries, but not as cost prohibitive as some of the “elite” big names. We ended up joining the wine club, not only because we want to drink their wine in PA year-round, but we also just want to remain connected to the vineyard in any way possible! Truly cannot recommend a visit to Chimney Rock enough — you will NOT regret it!!
Amanda Carlstrom
2 months 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
6 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.
Christie Hervas
2 weeks agoOur wine tasting experience at Chimney Rock was absolutely amazing! Our host, Gary Miller was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the wines. He walked us through each tasting, explaining the unique story behind each vintage. I am now a Chimney Rock Wine Member.
shiela FitzPatrick
3 months 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 🍷