Born of a partnership between Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi in the early 1970s, Opus One is a vineyard of exceptional quality. Opus One was envisioned as a way to combine the expertise of Mouton-Rothschild and Mondavi to produce the finest red wine possible, the equivalent of a Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé. For one founder “Wine is born, then it lives. But it never dies, in man it lives on.” For the other “Wine to me is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit.”
The estate spans four meticulously maintained parcels, planted with the five classic Bordeaux grape varieties which are pruned like hedgerows: Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Two of the plots, totalling 40 hectares, are located in the renowned To Kalon vineyard while the remaining two are spread between River and Ballestra. Unsurprisingly, this icon is dedicated to preserving the health of its vines and land. The cultivation methods adopted are sustainable and certified ‘Napa Green’, and the estate adheres to over a hundred environmentally friendly practices. A fusion of tradition and innovation defines Opus One. Grapes are hand-harvested, and the winemaking process integrates modern, carefully implemented methods. In the winery, tasting is an essential stage that is repeated time and again, from grapes on their clusters to the wine being matured. The latter matures for 18 months in new French oak casks and continues refining for an additional 15 months in the bottle before its annual release on 1st October. The wines which emerge from the Opus One cellars are known for their exceptional ageing potential.
Passionate and driven by excellence, the estate has been making a name for itself in the Napa Valley for over fifty years and is now a leading name in American winegrowing. A true Californian grand cru.