Abreu Vineyards

David Abreu is a third-generation Napa Valley rancher and Vietnam veteran raised in Rutherford, whose mother Kathleen is part of the long-established Del Bondio viticulture family. After graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and Enology, he founded David Abreu Vineyard Management in 1980, initially working with winemaker Richard Forman to manage farming operations at Inglenook Winery. His frequent study trips to Bordeaux, where he and Forman observed French viticultural practices and brought back French rootstock and trellis techniques, shaped his approach to Napa viticulture. By 1999, Forman described Abreu as 'probably the premier viticulturist for premium grapes in Napa Valley,' and in 1998 Robert Parker included him in his list of the most influential wine personalities of the preceding 20 years.

• Founded David Abreu Vineyard Management in 1980, working initially with Richard Forman at Inglenook Winery.
• UC Davis Viticulture and Enology graduate; third-generation Napa Valley rancher and Vietnam veteran.
• Consulting credits include Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Colgin Cellars, Bryant Family Vineyard, Staglin Family Vineyard, and many others.
• Named by Robert Parker in 1998 as one of the most influential wine personalities of the previous 20 years.

Abreu Vineyards is built around four exceptional estate sites spanning 85 planted acres between St. Helena and Howell Mountain. Madrona Ranch, the flagship property acquired in 1986 and planted in 1980, covers 23 acres of red Aiken clay and rocky soils stretching from the Mayacamas foothills to the Spring Mountain base. Cappella is a 6-acre hillside parcel in St. Helena, one of Napa's oldest vineyard sites first cultivated in 1869; David removed old vines and replanted in 2002. Las Posadas on Howell Mountain sits at nearly 2,000 feet elevation with volcanic stone, limestone, and red clay soils, its extreme altitude placing it above the fog line for reliable ripening. The current Thorevilos property, a large estate acquired by Abreu in 2019 with 40 planted acres, replaced the original Thorevilos site (now Ecotone Vineyard), which Abreu and Richard Forman had jointly planted and farmed until 2019.

• Madrona Ranch: 23 acres, St. Helena valley floor, acquired 1986; planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot (Petit Verdot added 2000).
• Cappella: 6-acre hillside parcel in St. Helena, one of Napa's oldest sites first cultivated in 1869, replanted by Abreu in 2002.
• Las Posadas Howell Mountain: approximately 15 planted acres at close to 2,000 feet elevation, with volcanic stone, limestone, and red clay soils above the fog line.
• Thorevilos: current estate acquired in 2019 with 40 planted acres; the original Thorevilos (now Ecotone Vineyard) was farmed by Abreu and Forman until 2019 but is no longer an Abreu source.

Brad Grimes, a former Seattle chef with no formal enology training, joined Abreu in early 2000 and made his first harvest that same year. He is the sole person to touch every tank, giving each wine a singular provenance rooted in both vineyard and vintage. Rather than separating grape varieties before fermentation, Grimes co-ferments fruit by individual vineyard plot, a practice that traces back to classic pre-modern winemaking and captures a true snapshot of terroir. Fruit is harvested early in the morning and sorted twice before fermentation in small custom tanks of two to three and a half tons capacity. The wines then age in 100 percent new French oak for approximately two years before spending another two years in bottle at the winery prior to release. Each vintage begins with around 100 barrels, equivalent to approximately 2,400 cases, and a rigorous selection process whittles these down to roughly 15,000 bottles (about 1,250 cases) across all wines.

• Brad Grimes has been winemaker since 2000; a former Seattle chef with no formal enology training, he works solo in the Yountville cave winery.
• Co-fermentation by vineyard plot rather than by variety is the hallmark of the Abreu method, using small custom fermenters of 2 to 3.5 ton capacity.
• Grapes are harvested in the early morning, sorted twice before fermentation, and taken through malolactic fermentation before barrel aging.
• Wines age in 100 percent new French oak for approximately two years, then spend a further two years in bottle before release.

Abreu Vineyards gained rapid recognition after Robert Parker praised the wines enthusiastically from the 1994 vintage onward. Parker awarded the 1997 Madrona Ranch a 100-point score, one of only 140 wines in the world at that time to achieve that honor. As of the 2021 vintage, the estate holds twelve 100-point scores from Parker's Wine Advocate across its single-vineyard bottlings. The Thorevilos 2013 and Las Posadas 2019 are among more recent perfect scores. In October 2006, the 1995 Madrona Ranch Cabernet blend tied for first place in the Grand Jury Europeen's blind tasting, known informally as the 'Judgment of Sauternes,' surpassing 39 wines from California and Bordeaux. Wines are sold almost exclusively through an allocation list; those not on the list may join a wait list through the winery's website.

• Twelve 100-point scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate as of the 2021 vintage.
• The 1997 Madrona Ranch was one of only 140 wines in the world to receive a Parker 100-point score at the time of the award.
• The 1995 Madrona Ranch tied first place at the 2006 Grand Jury Europeen 'Judgment of Sauternes' blind tasting among 40 wines from California and Bordeaux.
• Distribution is nearly entirely through an allocation membership list, with limited availability at select retailers and premium restaurants.

David Abreu's approach to viticulture was shaped by repeated study trips to Bordeaux with Richard Forman, from which he brought back French rootstock, vertical trellis systems, and tight vine spacing. The vineyard teams at each estate site have remained largely unchanged for decades, with crew members developing intimate knowledge of individual vines and blocks. Picking is extremely precise, sometimes selecting fruit from portions of individual rows as different blocks reach ideal maturity, which may require seven or more separate picks at Madrona Ranch alone in a given vintage. Abreu also consults for other top properties through DAVM, and in 2024 announced a strategic partnership with Trinchero Family Estates to produce a new luxury brand using Cabernet from all four Abreu vineyards (Madrona Ranch, Thorevilos, Cappella, and Las Posadas), while Abreu Vineyards itself remains entirely family-owned and operated.

• Bordeaux-inspired viticulture: tight vine spacing, vertical trellis systems, and French rootstock introduced to Napa from Abreu and Forman's study trips in the early 1980s.
• Vineyard crews remain largely consistent for decades, with each crew assigned to specific estate sites and individual vine blocks.
• Harvest selection is surgical, sometimes picking portions of individual rows as blocks reach optimal maturity; Madrona Ranch may see seven or more picking passes per vintage.
• In 2024, DAVM announced a partnership with Trinchero Family Estates for a new luxury brand drawing on Cabernet from all four Abreu vineyards; Abreu Vineyards itself remains independently owned.