Marchesi Antinori, the Tuscany-based wine company and owner of Napa's Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, has purchased the Arcadia vineyard from the family of the late Warren Winiarski, bringing a key source of grapes for the Stag’s Leap operation under the winery’s complete control. Arcadia Vineyard is a 135-acre property with 84 planted vineyard acres, divided between Cabernet Sauvignon (58 acres), Chardonnay (23), and Merlot (3). The purchase price was not disclosed.
“We are very excited,” Piero Antinori told Wine Spectator. “For us it is quite important as it completes the Stag’s Leap project and in this way we’ll be able to follow the project in the Antinori tradition, controlling the grapes from vineyard to production.”
Warren Winiarski purchased Arcadia Vineyard in 1996 from Mike Grgich’s business partner, Austin Hills of Grgich Hills Estate, as a source of Chardonnay grapes for his winery. After the sale of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 2007 to a partnership between Antinori and Chateau Ste. Michelle, the Winiarski family retained the Arcadia vineyard and continued to provide grapes to the winery. Winiarski placed the property into the Land Trust of Napa County in perpetuity, so it can never be developed. Antinori purchased full control of Stag's Leap in 2023.
With the exception of some fruit that was sold over the years to John Kongsgaard for his Chardonnay, the vineyard has provided fruit solely to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars since Winiarski’s purchase, history that was not lost on the venerable Antinori, who represents the 25th generation of his family to produce wines in Tuscany.
“As Warren always used the grapes for his Artemis and Chardonay bottlings, we feel this brings the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars history full circle,” said Antinori.
Coombsville: An Appellation with Potential
The vineyard is located at the foot of Mount George, on the east side of Napa Valley in the Coombsville AVA, which has gained prominence in recent years for both Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
“We think with global warming this area of Napa is becoming very, very interesting," said Antinori. "Coombsville gives wines in my opinion that [are] based mostly on elegance, with intensity. It has personality.”
Renzo Cotarella, Antinori's CEO and longtime head of winemaking, says that the Stag’s Leap operation will remain distinct and different from their Antica project in Atlas Peak. For now, the production portfolio at Stag’s Leap won’t change, but there could be the potential for Coombsville-designated bottlings.
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