Terroir & Vineyards

Sequoia Grove Estate Vineyard, Rutherford

Sequoia Grove’s Estate Vineyard lies in the Napa Valley’s most revered red wine growing region, midway between Rutherford and Oakville on the famous Rutherford bench, an area that extends east from the highway to the base of the Mayacamas mountains and is defined mainly by the distinct flavor characteristics it imparts in the Cabernet Sauvignon grown there. Sequoia Grove Estate Vineyard’s 18 planted acres are dedicated primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remainder to Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Each variety and clonal selection has been matched with the soil type to which it is best suited, with Cabernet Sauvignon in gravelly loam and other varieties in the deeper, richer soils.

Tonella Estate Vineyard, Rutherford

The Tonella Vineyard, a cornerstone of Rutherford’s development as the preeminent terroir for Cabernet in Napa Valley, traces its roots to 1922. It was then that J.J. Ponti purchased the land, alongside Georges de Latour’s acquisition of the adjacent property (now the legendary Beckstoffer Georges III vineyard). Ponti’s legacy, knowledge and respect for the land was passed to his ward Louis Tonella, and then to Louis’ son, Raymond. In 2006, eyeing retirement, Raymond entrusted the vineyard to Sequoia Grove and its then-viticulturalist Steve Allen (brother of the winery’s founder), himself a pioneering Napa Valley viticulturist and colleague of André Tchelistcheff. Since then, the winery has carefully stewarded the vineyard, planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc to micro blocks that continue to express the deep and ‘dusty’ complexity of the vineyard’s prime Rutherford terroir.

State Lane Estate Vineyard, Yountville

In June of 2022, Sequoia Grove acquired the prestigious State Lane Vineyard in Yountville, along the banks of the Napa River, cementing its commitment to premium valley-floor terroir in the central Napa Valley. The vineyard’s 18 planted acres include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and a small quantity of Sauvignon Blanc. Over the coming years, all blocks will be replanted under the direction of Vineyard Manager Jake Terrell to further elevate the quality of fruit coming from this exceptional terroir. The vineyard features gently sloping, well-drained gravelly soils on the Napa River alluvial fan. Its rhyolite and igneous (volcanic) terroir is unique to Napa Valley and the wider region and is the same prized soil type as icon vineyards ToKalon & Opus One.

Mount Veeder Estate Vineyard

Acquired by Sequoia Grove in 2023, this 120-acre property is a testament to the winery’s commitment to premium Napa Valley fruit. Its cool climate and mountain location provide both versatility and climate resilience. The site features a combination of soil types, including compacted ash bands and an ancient marine seabed. With northeast and southeast facing exposures ranging from 1,450 to 1,750 feet, the property is ideal for growing a variety of grapes. Of the total acreage, 29.2 acres are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, and Syrah. The remaining 90 acres are woodland and will remain so. A complete replant was finished in 2024 under the direction of Director of Vineyards Jake Terrell.

Carneros

Carneros is a cool-climate AVA that spans the southern tip of both Napa and Sonoma counties, defined by its mesoclimate rather than along political borders. Here, the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay send cool breezes through Carneros and up the valleys and provide foggy summers in the vineyards. The region’s long, cool growing season allows grapes to ripen slowly and fully. Sequoia Grove works with three vineyard parcels in the Napa section of Carneros to source the highest-quality fruit for its Chardonnay.

Morisoli Vineyard

This highly regarded vineyard on the Rutherford bench is managed by Gary Morisoli, who takes great pride in keeping the vines in balance with minimal interaction. In the dry-earth farming style, the heat from the ground helps to concentrate the flavors in the intense black fruit that defines Rutherford Cabernet. Morisoli fruit from a 9-acre parcel has been the foundation of Sequoia Grove’s Cabernet wines since 1982.

Stagecoach Vineyard

One of the most famed vineyards of Napa Valley, Stagecoach Vineyard rises from 900 to 1,850 feet above the valley’s eastern side. Excavated by Jan and Bart Krupp from a billion tons of rock, the vineyard now has 600 acres of vines in 175 different vineyard blocks. These south-facing slopes with volcanic soil provide fruit to numerous top wineries in the valley. Sequoia Grove has sourced prime Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot from an 18-acre parcel since 2001.