The winery was founded in 1893 by Horace Chase, who named it after the wild stags that roamed the area. The winery’s original vineyards were planted with Zinfandel and other grape varieties, and the winery quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality wines.
In the 1970s, the winery’s fortunes changed dramatically when its 1972 Cabernet Sauvignon won the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine competition, beating out top Bordeaux wines and helping to put California wine on the map. The wine was made from grapes grown in the winery’s estate vineyards and was praised for its balanced fruit flavors and smooth tannins.
Today, the winery’s vineyards cover a total of 240 acres, including a mix of estate-grown and sourced grapes. The estate’s vineyards are planted with a variety of grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. These grapes are used to produce a range of wines, including the winery’s famous Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot.
In terms of wine making, Stags’ Leap Winery follows traditional methods, with a focus on small lot production and aging in oak barrels. The winery’s wines are known for their full-bodied, robust flavors and are often aged for several years before being released to the market.
In addition to its wine production, Stags’ Leap Winery is also a popular destination for visitors, with a tasting room and outdoor patio that offer stunning views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains. The winery also offers a range of educational experiences, including winery tours and tastings, as well as food and wine pairing events.
Overall, Stags’ Leap Winery is a highly respected and well-known producer of high-quality wines in Napa Valley, with a rich history and a focus on traditional wine making techniques. Its 1972 Cabernet Sauvignon remains one of the winery’s most famous and highly sought-after wines, and its other varietals are also highly regarded by wine critics and enthusiasts.
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Steve Kosloske
a week agoA short drive off the main road. Far enough back that it's quiet and feels private. The grounds are amazing. A nice plus is the parking is spacious. We had no issue at all parking a RAM 150. We walked in without a resy on a Thursday afternoon, and they quickly brought someone to escort us outside to talk wine and drink wine. The staff is very proud of their grounds and wine selection and are very generous with options. We have had their wine several times before and were looking forward to visiting, and were not disappoointed. We were exceptionally taken care of, again, just walking in, no reservation. And after, we were given the business card of our rep, and encouraged to come back the next day, at any time, and ask for her to try more wines. TOP NOTCH service. And their wines are pretty damn good too.
John Yetsko
a month agoWorld class red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignons. On this trip to Napa we stopped in unannounced and the assistant manager was so accommodating and attentive. He was super knowledgeable about the wines and history of the property. We were able to do an abbreviated tasting and fell in love with (and bought) several bottles. The historic old home, restored into a tasting room/event center, was like walking into a museum. Looking out the windows, you are surrounded by beautiful views of endless vineyards. You can almost feel what life was like here a hundred years ago. A must stop for fine wine lovers.
Chris McLeod
in the last weekExtremely disappointing. The grounds are nice, but aside from the character of the old building, its very underwhelming compared to all the other wineries we visited. Christian was our hosts name. He had no care to wow us. All the other wineries were warm to welcome and tried to impress from start to finish. This was the opposite. The pours were minuscule, and beyond that the wines they did pour were far too young to be drank; admittedly by Christian. An easy skip.
Garth
a year agoBeautiful winery. We loved their twelve falls wine and had to take a bottle home. We also took the guided tour and it was very fun and informative. I would recommend doing the tour and of course a tasting on their patio is always a must. A little pricier than perhaps other winery experiences and I recommend booking in advance as soon as the dates are available because they go quickly.
Steve Scarsella
2 months agoChristian was an amazing host. Thank you for all the info and the great wine suggestions. We had a relaxing afternoon on the property.