Eisele Vineyard / Araujo Estate

The history of viticulture on the Eisele property dates to the early 1880s, when Jackson G. Randall and Charles Nathan Pickett were the first to plant grapes on the site. The vineyard was originally planted to Zinfandel and Riesling; Cabernet Sauvignon arrived in 1964. Milt and Barbara Eisele purchased the property in 1969 and established it as one of Napa's premier Cabernet sources. In 1990, Bart and Daphne Araujo acquired the 162-acre estate, built a winery and cave complex on the property, and produced their first Cabernet Sauvignon from the 1991 vintage. In July 2013, the Artémis Group, the holding company of French businessman François-Henri Pinault and family, acquired the estate; it was subsequently renamed Eisele Vineyard Estate in 2016.

• Grapes first planted on site in the 1880s by Jackson G. Randall and Charles Nathan Pickett; Cabernet Sauvignon first planted in 1964
• Milt and Barbara Eisele purchased the property in 1969, putting the vineyard on the map as a source of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon
• Bart and Daphne Araujo purchased the estate in 1990 and produced their debut vintage under the Araujo Estate label in 1991
• In July 2013, François-Henri Pinault's Artémis Group, owners of Château Latour, acquired the property; the estate was renamed Eisele Vineyard Estate in 2016

Eisele Vineyard sits on an alluvial fan near the northern end of Napa Valley, just east of Calistoga, within both the Calistoga and Napa Valley AVAs. The vineyard is protected by the Palisades Mountains to the north and cooled by westerly breezes drawn through the Chalk Hill Gap, moderating what would otherwise be a very warm growing environment. Two watercourses, including Simmons Creek, bisect the estate and have deposited an alluvial fan of volcanic cobbly soils over millennia. These well-drained, stony soils force deep root development and restrict vine vigor, producing low yields of intensely concentrated fruit.

• Located on an alluvial fan just east of Calistoga; 38 acres planted within a 162-acre estate
• Protected by the Palisades Mountains to the north; cooled by westerly breezes through the Chalk Hill Gap
• Soils consist of well-drained, volcanic cobbly alluvial material deposited by Simmons Creek and a parallel tributary
• Deep, stony subsoils encourage deep root development, restricting yields and concentrating flavors in the fruit

The flagship wine is the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, a Bordeaux-inspired blend principally composed of Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The estate also produces a Syrah, a Sauvignon Blanc, and the Altagracia, a second Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine sourced from additional Napa Valley vineyards. The wines of Eisele are renowned for their combination of deep concentration without heaviness, precisely defined flavors, fine-grained textures, and the capacity to develop profound complexity with extended cellaring. The estate describes wines with rare forthright character and fine textures.

• Flagship wine is the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
• Additional wines include a Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and the Altagracia, a second-label Cabernet Sauvignon blend
• Style is defined by concentration without heaviness, mineral precision, fine tannins, and exceptional aging potential
• Approximately 2,000 cases of the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon produced annually; total estate production around 5,000 cases across all wines

The Araujos introduced organic farming to the estate in 1998 and began transitioning to biodynamic practices around 2000, with Demeter certification awarded in 2002. These practices, which eschew synthetic inputs and coordinate farming around lunar and astronomical calendars, were well established before the Artémis Group acquisition. Under the current team, the estate continues full biodynamic and organic management, applying bovine manure and compost teas to improve soil health and using integrated pest management including insectaries and owl boxes. The 38-acre vineyard is divided into 13 blocks and over 40 sub-blocks, allowing extremely precise parcel-by-parcel management. Under Artémis ownership, the oak program has been refined, using 100 percent new French oak for the flagship wine with lighter toast levels sourced from multiple coopers. Hélène Mingot joined as winemaker following the 2013 acquisition, and Antoine Donnedieu de Vabres has served as managing director under Artémis Domaines.

• Organic farming introduced in 1998; biodynamic farming began around 2000 with Demeter certification in 2002
• Vineyard divided into 13 blocks and over 40 sub-blocks for parcel-level management; Simmons Creek bisects the estate
• Araujo-era winemakers included Tony Soter, Mia Klein, and Françoise Peschon, with Michel Rolland as consultant
• Following the 2013 acquisition, Hélène Mingot joined as winemaker and Antoine Donnedieu de Vabres has served as managing director under Artémis ownership
• Flagship Cabernet aged in 100 percent new French oak; lighter toast levels adopted under the current team

Eisele Vineyard holds a singular place in Napa Valley history and in the global fine wine hierarchy. The 1971 Ridge Vineyards Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is considered one of California's earliest vineyard-designated wines, produced by Paul Draper from Eisele fruit; Joseph Phelps later produced vineyard-designated bottlings from 1975 to 1991. The estate has been classified as a five-star winery by Wine Spectator's James Laube and included in Robert M. Parker Jr.'s The World's Greatest Wine Estates. The 2013 vintage, the first produced under Artémis ownership, received 100 points from Robert Parker, the first perfect score in estate history. The estate's Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard was named a 'First Growth' in Fine magazine's unofficial Napa Valley ranking.

• Eisele grapes used in the 1971 Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, one of California's earliest vineyard-designated wines, produced by Paul Draper
• Joseph Phelps produced vineyard-designated bottlings from Eisele from 1975 to 1991
• Classified as a five-star winery by Wine Spectator and included in Robert Parker's The World's Greatest Wine Estates
• 2013 vintage received 100 Parker points, the first perfect score in the estate's history
• Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard named a 'First Growth' in Fine magazine's unofficial Napa Valley ranking