There is an on-going debate as to whether better wine is made on mountain slopes or valley floors. There are enough great wineries, high and low, that the issue will probably never be settled. But this much can be said: Mountain wineries offer better views. So even if Chappellet didn’t make excellent wines – which they do – it would be worthwhile to take the drive up Pritchard Hill just for the sake of the views you’ll get.
Photo courtesy of Chappellet
If you’re coming from the south, turn right on Sage Canyon Road in St. Helena on the Vaca range side of Napa Valley. You’ll soon see the vista, not so much into Napa Valley but on the other side towards Lake Hennessy, gleaming off in the distance. We have most enjoyed this view in autumn, when the grape leaves turn color. Keep going and you’ll arrive at Chappellet, a towering wooden edifice which, if viewed from above, is shaped like the winery’s logo. As you enter, you will enjoy the architecture of soaring ceilings and mellow wooden walls, ceilings and beams.
Photo courtesy of Chappellet
As with many wineries these days, Chappellet offers several different tiers of tastings. Tours and tastings at Chappellet are by appointment only. Some smaller and less well-known wineries say that but don’t really mean it. Chappellet is a popular destination and so they do. We have enjoyed the estate tour which not only includes a tasting in the barrel room but a tour around the vineyards (and more excellent views). You start out with a glass of white wine and then are offered other wines as you go along. At the end, you’re in the barrel room sipping Chappellet’s better known wines. And if you know what to ask for, you may get a chance to try some of their more restricted releases. Look for their Cabernet Franc which is really a Bordeaux blend, or more properly a California expression of a Pomerol blend.
Photo courtesy of Chappellet
Chappellet’s guides/servers have always been quite knowledgeable on the occasions we have visited there. Unless you pay for a private tour, you will be with other visitors. This is not usually much of a drawback, but if you are quite knowledgeable about winemaking already you may find the tour somewhat elementary. Wonky questions aren’t discouraged, but your tour mates may feel you’re slowing them down. We have found that to be fair to everyone, it’s best to save these sorts of questions for the end of the tour, when you’re back inside and there is no need to move onto the next spot.
The late Donn Chappellet founded the winery in 1967, which makes it one of the pioneers of the current era of Napa Valley winemaking and one of the first to exploit the mountain slopes for planting vineyards. Still family-owned, the Chappellets have demonstrated a commitment to quality for decades. For the visitor, the combination of quality wines, vistas and history is hard to beat.