Newton Vineyard

Peter Newton, who co-founded Sterling Vineyards in 1964, established Newton Vineyard in 1977 alongside Su Hua Newton, making it one of the first wineries on Spring Mountain. The estate quickly distinguished itself through French-influenced winemaking practices, including the use of indigenous yeasts and a commitment to leaving wines unfiltered. In 1990, Newton became the first California winery to label and release an unfiltered Chardonnay. The flagship Bordeaux-style blend, The Puzzle, followed in 1992 and became one of Napa's most recognized mountain blends. LVMH acquired the estate in 2001 and owned it through 2025, when new owners Nick Livanos, Patti Livanos, Eric Bryan Seuthe, and Brenda Seuthe purchased the property with plans to rebuild and resume production.

• Peter Newton previously co-founded Sterling Vineyards in 1964
• One of the first wineries established on Spring Mountain District
• LVMH owned Newton from 2001 until 2025
• New ownership took over in 2025 with a commitment to rebuilding the estate

The Newton estate spans 560 total acres on Spring Mountain, with 120 acres under vine. Elevations range from 500 to 1,600 feet above sea level, producing a cool hillside microclimate that extends hang times and promotes fresh acidity in the fruit. Soils across the estate are notably diverse, encompassing volcanic, sedimentary, clay, sandstone, and shale formations. Additional vineyard holdings extend to Mt. Veeder, Yountville, and Carneros, giving the winemaking team access to fruit from multiple Napa appellations. The 112 individual vineyard blocks are farmed and vinified separately, allowing precise expression of each parcel.

• Elevations of 500 to 1,600 feet create cool microclimates with extended hang times
• Soils include volcanic, sedimentary, clay, sandstone, and shale
• Additional holdings in Mt. Veeder, Yountville, and Carneros
• All three estate vineyards are certified organic by CCOF

Newton built its reputation on unfiltered winemaking, using indigenous yeasts and French-influenced techniques to produce wines with texture, complexity, and genuine terroir expression. The mountain setting naturally yields wines with lower alcohol levels than typical valley floor Napa bottlings, alongside firmer structure and the capacity to age. Varieties grown include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The estate holds both Napa Green Land and Napa Green Winery certifications, reflecting a longstanding commitment to sustainable practices.

• Pioneered labeled unfiltered Chardonnay in California in 1990
• Uses indigenous yeasts and French-influenced cellar techniques
• Lower alcohol and firmer structure than typical valley floor Napa wines
• Holds Napa Green Land and Napa Green Winery certifications

In September 2020, the Glass Fire devastated the Newton estate, with only 5 of 68 planted acres surviving. Under LVMH ownership, the company announced a permanent closure in early 2025. Shortly after, the property was acquired by Nick Livanos, Patti Livanos, Eric Bryan Seuthe, and Brenda Seuthe, who announced plans to rebuild the winery and resume production. The estate's underground cave system, which houses 80% of the winery infrastructure, provided some structural protection during the fire, and the new ownership regards it as a foundation for the estate's revival.

• Glass Fire in September 2020 left only 5 of 68 acres intact
• LVMH announced permanent closure in early 2025
• New ownership purchased the estate in 2025 and plans full rebuilding
• 80% of the winery is built underground, anchoring the reconstruction effort