The Engelhard Vineyard
Calistoga, California
Engelhard Vineyard is a 16-acre wooded property on Franz Valley School Road in Napa Valley’s Calistoga AVA. Positioned at 600 - 720 ft elevation, Engelhard Vineyard’s gentle slopes lie at the toes of the Mayacamas range on the northern border of the Diamond Mountain District AVA. These western hillsides are known for their well-drained soils of volcanic origin, and Engelhard’s Forward-Kidd soil series is weathered from a volcanic ash known as rhotic tuff. The vineyard’s south-eastern aspect, combined with a northwest/southeast row orientation, makes best use of the gentle morning sun, while affording even exposure throughout the day as the sun moves toward its western descent.
Engelhard’s four acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot were planted in 2006 by prior owner, Richard Engelhard. The vineyard’s distinctive fruit quickly caught the attention of Winemakers Bob Levy and Thomas Brown, finding its way into Bill Harlan’s portfolio of wines and becoming the primary fruit source for Hobel’s The Grain from 2009 to 2017. When Engelhard sold the property to Louis Ciminelli in 2015, David Abreu and his team were brought on to deliver their telltale precision farming. Expanding the vineyard footprint with one additional acre of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2022 will allow for the production of a vineyard-designate wine from this impressive site.
