From the moment visitors turn onto the drive leading to the vineyard estate, they realize this is not another Napa Valley Winery. The drive, which ascends with a few rousing turns, is steep and carved out of rugged rock. As guests meander to the top of the knoll they’re greeted by the façade of the majestic Mediterranean- style stone winery.
Beautiful Working Land
Long before it was planted to grapevines, this flat-topped knoll and the precious land at its feet was part of the Rancho Yajome Land Grant, one of the original 15 land grants in California. Grape growing in this area dates back to the mid-1800s when the Silverado Trail was no more than a horse path. Through the years, Rancho Yajome gradually became known as Stags Leap, characterized by geography and soils that are so distinctive it was awarded its own AVA status on these merits alone.
Silverado Vineyards Co-founder Diane Miller discovered the property in 1975 while on a day trip with her mother Lillian.She was looking for an investment property and had heard good things about the burgeoning Napa Valley. They instantly fell in love and were so enamored they returned with Diane’s husband Ron. At the time, the land, bordered by the Silverado Trail to the east and the Napa River to the west, was owned by Harry See, nephew of Mary See of See’s Candies fame. Across the river from this property was another 81-acre parcel owned by Harry’s niece. By 1978, the Miller family had purchased both parcels and became owners of two promising Napa Valley vineyards: Miller Ranch in Yountville and Silverado Vineyard in Stags Leap.
Harry had planted Silverado Vineyard in the late 1960s with a special field selection of Cabernet Sauvignon. This proved to be fortuitous because the plants’ hearty rootstock thrived through the region’s phylloxera attack of the 1980s. This clone helped establish the reputation of Stags Leap District and, with cuttings from the vineyard, UC-Davis propagated and distributed this Cabernet as “Heritage Selection,” one of only three clones to hold this distinction. Today it is classified as UCD 30, Silverado–Disney Heritage Clone.
A Winery is Born
In 1980, before the winery was constructed, the Millers hired recent UC Davis grad, Jack Stuart, as their winemaker. With Jack’s help they began construction of the winery in March 1981 on the picturesque hill overlooking Silverado’s Stags vineyard property. That August brought an early harvest and just as construction was complete, fruit started to come in. The inaugural Cabernet vintage was released in 1984 and with that, Silverado Vineyards was established.
International recognition soon followed when, in 1987, the International Wine & Spirit Competition awarded Silverado Vineyards Gold medals for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc in London. Jack flew to London to be presented the Robert Mondavi Award for Winemaker of the Year. The winery was also named American Winery of the Year at the Grand National Competition.
Along with this sudden notoriety, the Millers felt it was time to open a tasting room. The original winery was built without one, so the winery’s cozy reception room was tastefully converted to accommodate a tasting bar.
Wines of Distinction
Silverado Vineyards remains family owned. The legendary Heritage-Clone Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted 45 years ago are the backbone of the winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon program. Each year, to honor this extraordinary clone, a new vintage of SOLO Cabernet Sauvignon is released in limited quantity. Completely crafted from Silverado–Disney Heritage fruit, SOLO receives high acclaim as the ultimate expression of the Stags Leap District.
Since 1981, the Millers have purchased four more Napa Valley vineyards: Firetree Vineyard and Vineburg Vineyard in Los Carneros; Mt. George Vineyard in Coombsville; and Soda Creek Ranch, 600 feet up Soda Canyon, just southeast of the winery. With such prolific vineyard properties and almost 400 planted acres, current Winemaker, Jonathan Emmerich has an enviable pallet to draw from as he crafts Silverado’s estate grown, produced, and bottled single vineyard wines. Jonathan’s vision and expertise is why Silverado reputation for quality and consistency has continued to evolve.
Quintessential Guest Experiences
Today, when visitors reach the top of the knoll, it is clear they’re someplace truly special. The stunning winery has been expanded into a graceful villa designed with hospitality in mind. Upon entering, guests are greeted by the concierge and then guided according to the experience they have previously arranged. Those familiar with Silverado Vineyards’ reputation and intriguing history often opt for a more in-depth visit and arrange a Library Tasting in which the story of Silverado is told through three decades of Cabernet, or a Vineyard Tour where guests can walk the vineyard with one of the wine educators and taste under a 300-year-old Valley Oak.
The Silverado Experience is a personally guided tasting on the winery’s enchanting outdoor lower terrace overlooking Silverado Vineyard. Guests learn about this special sense of place as they sample several estate grown and bottled wines. Next, they are introduced to the winery’s beautiful art collection that graces its halls and stairways and get a glimpse into the winery’s commercial kitchen while they learn more about the Millers and their great philanthropic contributions.
Perhaps it is the wines or the enriching time they spend here, but a majority of the guests join the Wine Club during their visit. Besides many great benefits and invitations to special events, Wine Club members enjoy exclusive access to the Wine Club Member Lounge—a splendid, outdoor private space on the Upper Terrace where they can admire the incomparable view and enjoy club-member-only wines paired with artisan cheeses.
There is nowhere quite like this in the Napa Valley. In fact, some say there’s just a touch of magic in the air.