| Region of production: | Calistoga AVA, Napa County |
| Winery Location: | Calistoga |
| Year Established: | 1888 as A.L. Tubbs Winery, 1940 as Chateau Montelena |
Vineyard Holdings
50 ha owned and 40.5 ha managed under long term leases throughout Napa Valley.
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Chardonnay (Napa Valley AVA): 1972
Average Total Production
- 480,000 – 600,000 bottles
Summary
A.L. Tubbs originally founded what is present-day Chateau Montelena in 1888. Winemaking ceased during Prohibition, and continued afterwards under the direction of grandson Chapin Tubbs. The winery was renamed Chateau Montelena in 1940 by new owners, Yort Wing and Jeanie Frank. Winemaking ceased once more in 1949 and did not resume until Jim Barrett purchased the facilities. The first vintage under the Barrett’s ownership was in 1972, after the winery was modernized and vineyards replanted. The 1973 vintage Chardonnay made by Milijenko ‘Mike’ Grgich won a blind tasting in Paris (famously known as the ‘Judgment of Paris’) in 1976. The original production of Chardonnay came from various vineyards in both Sonoma and Napa, but current day production is grown and sourced entirely from the Oak Knoll AVA in Napa, from the Takahashi and John Muir Hanna Vineyards. Fruit from the John Muir Hanna Vineyard is the only fruit used in the inaugural 1973 vintage through present day. Jim Barrett’s son Bo has overseen the winery and winemaking since 1981.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Fermentation takes place with both whole cluster and gently crushed de-stemmed grapes. Selected slow-fermenting strains of yeast are used and fermentation temperatures are kept low. Chardonnay does not go through malolactic fermentation. Only French oak barrels are used, with a minimal percentage of new oak (less than 10%).
Producer Website: Chateau Montelena