Sequoia Grove Winery

Sequoia Grove Winery opened in 1979 when James and Barbara Allen converted a century-old barn on property they had purchased the previous year in Rutherford. The winery sits on land that forms part of the original Rancho Caymus land grant of 1836, placing it among the oldest continuously farmed parcels in Napa Valley. The estate took its name from the grove of Sequoia trees shading the property, a landmark that gave the winery an immediate sense of place. Early releases attracted international attention quickly: the 1982 Sequoia Grove Estate Cabernet Sauvignon won a gold medal at the International Wine Competition in London, and the 1981 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon earned a platinum award at the 1985 American Wine Competition.

• Property purchased by James and Barbara Allen in 1978; winery opened 1979 in a 100-year-old barn
• Land is part of the Rancho Caymus land grant of 1836, one of Napa Valley's oldest continuously farmed sites
• 1982 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon won gold at the International Wine Competition in London
• 1981 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon received platinum at the 1985 American Wine Competition

The Kopf family assumed full ownership of Sequoia Grove in 2002 and has since pursued an ambitious long-term reinvestment program. Since 2016, the family has committed $25 million to vineyard acquisitions, infrastructure, and replanting, with approximately 80% of estate vineyard holdings replanted during this period. The family's broader portfolio includes St. Francis Winery in Sonoma County and a 50% ownership stake in Domaine Carneros, demonstrating a serious commitment to California's top wine regions. Winemaker Jesse Fox joined the team in 2022, bringing a fresh perspective to the cellar as the expanded estate vineyard holdings began coming into production. The Tonella Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, released nationally in May 2025, became the first single-vineyard wine from Sequoia Grove to enter national distribution.

• Kopf family has owned Sequoia Grove entirely since 2002; also own St. Francis Winery (Sonoma) and 50% of Domaine Carneros
• $25 million invested since 2016 in vineyard acquisitions, replanting, and a new winemaking facility
• Jesse Fox joined as winemaker in 2022
• May 2025 saw the first nationally distributed single-vineyard wine: Tonella Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Sequoia Grove's vineyard holdings span approximately 120 acres across four distinct Napa Valley sites. The Sequoia Grove Estate Vineyard covers 24 acres in Rutherford, while the Tonella Estate Vineyard accounts for 50 acres in the same appellation, both on the prized Rutherford Bench. The State Lane Vineyard in Yountville was acquired in 2019 and provides a cooler-climate component to the portfolio, including a Sauvignon Blanc bottling. The most dramatic addition came in 2023 with the purchase of a 104-acre Mount Veeder property, formerly owned by Donald Hess, situated at elevations above 1,700 feet; a two-year replanting program focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varieties is underway. Additional fruit sources include the Hudson Vineyard in Carneros, Morisoli Vineyard, and Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak, enabling single-vineyard bottlings that express distinct Napa terroirs.

• Sequoia Grove Estate Vineyard: 24 acres in Rutherford; Tonella Estate Vineyard: 50 acres in Rutherford
• State Lane Vineyard (Yountville) acquired 2019; source of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Mount Veeder property (104 acres, formerly Donald Hess) acquired 2023 at elevations over 1,700 feet; replanting underway
• Additional sources include Hudson Vineyard (Carneros), Morisoli Vineyard, and Stagecoach Vineyard (Atlas Peak)

Sequoia Grove practices sustainable farming across all estate holdings and holds certification as a Napa Green Winery, reflecting a commitment to environmental stewardship. In the vineyard, the focus is on minimal intervention, allowing each site's character to develop naturally. In the cellar, gentle winemaking techniques preserve the fruit integrity and site expression of each lot. The flagship Cambium is assembled annually from the finest lots across estate vineyards, blending Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot in proportions that vary by vintage. The 2024 vintage was notable for being the first time wines from all four estate vineyards contributed to a single blend, a milestone in the winery's evolution. The portfolio ranges from the approachable Napa Valley series wines through single-vineyard Rutherford Bench Cabernets to the Cambium, giving collectors and casual drinkers entry points across price levels.

• Certified Napa Green Winery; sustainable farming across all estate properties
• Cambium flagship blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot from finest lots annually
• Gentle, minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy in both vineyard and cellar
• 2024 vintage: first time wines from all four estate vineyards combined in a single blend

Sequoia Grove occupies a compelling position in Napa Valley: an estate with genuine historical roots, sitting on land farmed since the mid-nineteenth century, now backed by substantial modern investment and expanding terroir diversity. The Kopf family's broader portfolio ties it to other significant California producers, while the $25 million reinvestment since 2016 signals long-term seriousness rather than passive ownership. The winery's range of AVA expressions, from Rutherford Bench to Mount Veeder to Carneros, offers a genuinely educational cross-section of Napa Valley's varied climates and soils, all under one producer's interpretation. Recognized as Best Estate Winery by readers in 2025 and Best Tasting Room three years running, Sequoia Grove has built consumer credibility alongside critical respect. For students of Napa Valley, it serves as a useful case study in estate development, terroir differentiation, and the Bordeaux-blending tradition that defines the region's finest wines.

• Historical land provenance dating to Rancho Caymus grant (1836) gives rare continuity of site in Napa Valley
• Vineyards span four distinct AVAs: Rutherford, Yountville, Mount Veeder, and Carneros
• Voted Best Estate Winery (Readers Choice 2025) and Best Tasting Room three consecutive years
• Kopf family ownership connects Sequoia Grove to St. Francis Winery (Sonoma) and Domaine Carneros within a cohesive California fine wine portfolio