The Ciminelli
Vineyard
Angwin, California
The Ciminelli Vineyard is the product of grand vision and remarkable patience played out on the summit of Howell Mountain. The initial groundwork was laid over a century ago by the non-indigenous settlers of Napa Valley who discovered the potential for grape growing in this wild place, where vineyards sit high above the inversion layer. The days here are cooler than the valley floor below, yet nights are often warmer as cool maritime fogs creep in, pushing warm air to higher elevations. Porous, volcanic soils drain freely, resulting in vines that root deeply, fighting for survival and focusing energy on the typically small clusters and berries. Wines of great structure and concentration are the norm.
None of this was in the mind of Louis Ciminelli when, after following the structured wines of northern Italy for decades, he became captivated by a glass of 1992 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine convinced him that Howell Mountain was the place he would plant a vineyard to fulfill his dream of creating a Napa Valley wine to pay homage to his family’s Italian heritage. The search for the perfect property commenced, and in 2014 a wild and unkempt 40-acre parcel at the summit of Howell Mountain presented itself. At an elevation of 2200 feet, the views of Pope Valley below were breathtaking. It was evident that the gentle slopes of the property, with their southern and eastern aspects, were ideal for a vineyard. To be sure, Louis hired Bob Gallagher, a consultant specializing in the assessment of sustainability for vineyard development. Soil analysis confirmed that the property was graced with red Aiken loam, a soil weathered from andesitic and other volcanic rock, prized for its porous nature.
The next step was to hire a vineyard manager, and Louis had one person in mind: the legendary David Abreu. Bob Gallagher had worked with David on many projects and set up a meeting. David does not take on just any client, but when Louis showed him the site and explained how important the quality of the vineyard was to him, David liked what he heard. But he had one last question: Did Louis have the stomach to go through the agonizing permitting and painstaking development process? To which Louis replied that after being in the real estate development business for so long he was accustomed to the “bullshit.” David agreed then and there to develop and farm Ciminelli Vineyard and he and Louis have developed a strong collegial relationship ever since.
After a four-year process to obtain the necessary development permits, the first vines were planted on the property in 2020. Planting was completed in the summer of 2021, with 15 pristine acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc nestled among 25 acres of carefully managed forest.
