The Sill Family Vineyards

NAPA’s ATLAS PEAK VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN AND THE SILL FAMILY

Sill Family Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery and estate vineyards dedicated to hand crafting exceptional, ultra-premium, limited production wines. As a Court of Master Sommelier, Winemaker, Igor Sill became passionate about Bordeaux wines after being introduced to Château Margaux, Château Latour, Château Haut-Brion and Château Lafite Rothschild in the late 1970s by H. Lyman Emerson, a renaissance gentleman and noted fine wine collector. We hand craft award-winning, world class volcanic, high elevation Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Chardonnay and a uniquely obscure Rosé combining new world vineyard advancements with the graceful sophistication of old world Grand cru Bordeaux and Burgundy. Robert Parker extended a 97 points rating to this vineyard’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon vintage and our 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon received the coveted 2018 Wine of the Year award, as well as the Double Gold Medal.

Some wines are worth remembering, a rare few are unforgettable.

“Wine is one of the most civilized and natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, offering greater enjoyment and appreciation than any other purely sensory thing.” Ernest Hemingway

Please Note: Since the Atlas Peak fires of Oct 2017 destroyed our Winery we are not permitted to be open to the public. You may only purchase our wines direct from this website or enjoy them at a few exclusive, fine restaurants. Our Maestro Wine club members, trade partners and friends are always welcome to visit us for a tasting by appointment.

THE SILL FAMILY

We own and operate two distinctive vineyards, Atlas Peak Mountain vineyard located on a plateau 1,650 feet above sea level, and our St. Helena terraced vineyard. Our St. Helena vineyard is located on the east side of the Silverado Trail, just a mile or so north of the village town of St. Helena. It is sited in one of the most beautiful parts of the world surrounded by absolutely wonderful views. The half-acre vineyard was planted by famed vineyard manager, Michael Nunez in 2009 with cabernet sauvignon vines that are exceptional clone 7 grafted on 110R rootstock and were carefully chosen for compatibility with the vineyard’s terroir. Michael learned his craft from his time spent with winemaker legend, Justin Meyer, who in turn worked for the famous winemaker and Cellar Master, Brother Timothy, at their Christian Brothers winery in St Helena. Justin went on to found Silver Oak Cellars along with Ray Duncan and specialized in growing a single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, a unique approach when most wineries produced up to a dozen varietals. Today, we follow a very similar, though more disciplined approached, keeping fruit production tightly controlled via Michael Nunez’s supervision.

Our Atlas Peak Mountain vineyard is an elevated winegrowing winery estate in the eastern hills of Oak Knoll, California – in the heart of the Napa Valley. The property consists of 24.4 acres of natural splendor set within the fabled Atlas Peak Appellation. The complex influences that result in our wine’s unique characteristics are embodied in the concept of “terroir,” a term that aptly captures the elements of soil, climate, placement of vines, environmental and cultural influences. We chose Napa's high elevation Atlas Peak volcanic appellation on the Vaca mountain ridge given its longer sun exposure and cooler nights because it presents an obscure, distinctive area for truly great wines, those with profound boldness, elegance, density and character. There are numerous soil characteristics which provide this specific site with the mysteries that unfold in this volcanic mountain plateau's exceptional terroir. This vineyard represents a unique piece of Napa winemaking history as it was one of the most difficult to plant, hard to farm and its quality is truly exceptional. Of course, the small size of the vineyard limits production, but then, it also produces some of the greatest cabernet fruit Napa has to offer each and every year. This obscure piece of land is turning the heads of wine critics and collectors worldwide.
Our Atlas Peak Enologist, Derek Irwin, graduated from the University of California, Davis, and started his career as an enologist and assistant winemaker at Cosentino Winery in Yountville and then moved to Bouchaine Vineyards where his brilliant skills were utilized as assistant winemaker. Derek was privileged to work under the mentorship of world renowned Italian enologist, Alberto Antonini. In the late 1990's he moved to Viansa Winery and led their wine programs as Chief Winemaker and Vineyard Manager.

Donald Taylor, a wine connoisseur and esteemed wine lover serves as our Directeur Général responsible for our worldwide sales and marketing efforts. Don is based in Boston, MA and spends a great deal of time in the South West of France. Don is well versed and connected in the worldwide wine community. Don has lived in a number of wine producing countries around the world. His father introduced him to fine wines while living in France in the late 60's. From Sancerre to Chablis, to modest Burgundies and then the finest. Don made his way through the Bordeaux fifth to first growths with stops at Champagne and the South West. Don expanded his knowledge of wines to include Spain, Italy, Australia and California wines.

Our ambition has always been to produce a premier Grand Cru style Napa "First Growth" from the terroir of our volcanic mountain ridges of Atlas Peak, and our terraced St Helena vineyards, and I believe we are the most passionately made wine in America. We may make many compromises in life, but never with our wine.

“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”

~ Ernest Hemingway ~

Our Estate History

We recognize that we are only the most recent stewards in a long history of our land, farming according to a continually organic and sustainable methods. We utilize a farm conservation plan for the vineyard which includes environmentally-based practices that utilize beneficial insects and predatory birds in order to protect and sustain our environment naturally. We are deeply committed to building a family legacy that will endure for future generations to come.

1800

The earliest stewards of what is now the upper Napa Valley were the Wappo, native gardeners and land conservationists who tended these lands until the early 1800s. The Wappo maintained a delicate balance among wildlife, water, vegetation and human impact during their occupation.

1841

In 1841, the Russian Baron, Alexander Rotchef, landed in Mendocino’s Fort Ross and traveled to St Helena. He was accompanied by his wife, the beautiful Princess Helena, whose godfather was Czar Nicholas. According to local folklore, the property dates back to the mid 1800’s when it became the home of the Russian princess, Helena, who started a flower nursery, along with some grape vines on the property.

1880

Robert Louis Stevenson and his new bride, Fanny Vandergrift Osbourne spent the summer of 1880 honeymooning in an abandoned mining camp on Mount St. Helena. Stevenson’s book The Silverado Squatters includes much of his experiences while living there.

1980

From the 1880s to the late 1980s these lands remained under continuous vegetation and grape cultivation, surviving many successive owners.

1996

In 1996, the Sill family acquired a portion of the Princess’ property, specifically the Blackrock Terrace block along the Silverado Trail.

2003

Since 2003, our friend and vineyard manager, Mike Nunez, has done an exceptional job in delicately handling the growth of our grapes so as to produce fruit of unique quality.

2016

In September of 2016 we completed the purchase of the 24.5 acre Ardente Estate Winery, an Atlas Peak AVA, Napa winery and vineyards whose high-ranking Cabernet Sauvignon have achieved notable accolades and top awards among California’s finest premier Cabernet Sauvignon wines. We are thrilled to have secured this truly magical vineyard.

2016

In November 2016 we secured our official Federal TTB Winery license (Winegrower 2) allowing us to grow estate grapes, ferment them into alcoholic wines and sell them to our customers while collecting taxes of course!

The Winemaker

emersonigor-sillWinemaker, Igor, became passionate about Bordeaux wines after being introduced to Château Margaux, Château Latour and Château Lafite Rothschild in the late 1970s by H. Lyman Emerson, a renaissance gentleman and noted fine wine collector.  In 1997 through 2010 Igor worked with Francois Pinault’s Group Artemis, owner of Château Latour. Château Latour is a French wine estate, rated as a First Growth under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification and lies in the commune of Pauillac in the Médoc region of Bordeaux.

Igor went on to become a Court of Master Sommelier, judging wine competitions including the annual International Wine Challenge, earned his Masters at Oxford University’s Merton College and learned his winemaking craft via UC Davis’ viticulture program. He worked at Italian wine producer, V. Sattui Winery and Opus One Winery in Napa. Igor acquired the St. Helena appellation property some twenty nine years prior and fell in love with Napa’s numerous microclimates and unique terroirs.  Thereafter, he started a thorough search for an extraordinary volcanic mountain vineyard.  That search lead to the purchase of the twenty four acre Atlas Peak Mountain Winery property (formerly Ardente Estate Winery) in 2016, turning his passion for collecting fine Bordeaux and Burgundian wines into a love for producing it with an artisian Old-World approach.

Igor chose Napa’s high elevation Atlas Peak volcanic appellation on the Vaca mountain ridge given its longer sun exposure and cooler nights because it presents an obscure, distinctive area for truly great wines, those with profound boldness, elegance, density and character.  There are numerous soil characteristics which provide this specific site with the mysteries that unfold in this volcanic mountain plateau’s exceptional terroir.  This vineyard represents a unique piece of Napa winemaking history as it was one of the most difficult to plant, hard to farm and its quality is truly exceptional.  Of course, the small size of the vineyard limits production, but then, it also produces some of the greatest cabernet fruit Napa has to offer each and every year.  This obscure piece of land is turning the heads of wine critics and collectors worldwide.

There is an undeniable interest in wines born of volcanic origin, interest which seems to have evolved into a significant upward trend in the wine world.  Any restaurant with pretensions of discovering beautiful, ultra premium wines will have an Atlas Peak red wine listed these days. Igor spends considerable time walking this volcanic vineyard, developing an appreciation for every row of vines in his Atlas Peak mountain vineyard.  The rootstocks receive excellent drainage as a result of the igneous volcanic rock’s structure, moisture retention and aeration characteristics when combined with ideal exposure to sunlight.  These wines possess all the elements of greatness, an individuality combined with elegance, extraordinary complexity, remarkable aging potential, remaining faithful to the vineyard’s pedigree. It’s this understanding and an integrated natural and precision farming approach to growing grapes that allows him to produce wines that reflect the essence, soul and spirit of this volcanic mountain range, because exceptional wines are truly created from exceptional grapes.

Like any other great work, his arose out of the passion for uncompromised quality in creating exceptional wines.  As a result, his wines are receiving world-wide rave reviews for their powerful expressiveness, density, character, elegance and silk-long finish. “We’ve uncovered an amazingly serene and peaceful lifestyle along with the challenges that volcanic viticulture and Napa Valley offers.”  Fine wine, sunshine, great food and romance are enticements that seduces everyone who visits here.

"I spend considerable time walking the vineyard, developing an appreciation for every vineyard row in our Blackrock Terrace block and Atlas Peak mountain vineyards. It’s this understanding and an integrated approach to growing grapes that allows us to produce wines that reflect the essence, soul and spirit of Napa, because exceptional wines are truly created from exceptional grapes. Like any other great work, ours arose out of the passion for uncompromised quality in creating exceptional wines."
"As a result, our wines are receiving rave reviews for their powerful expressiveness and silk-long finish. We’ve uncovered an amazing lifestyle along with the challenges that viticulture and the Napa Valley offers. Wine, sunshine, great food and romance are enticements that seduces everyone who visits here."

"Clearly, the pleasures wines afford are transitory, but so are those of the ballet or of a musical performance. Wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living.”

~ Napoleon Bonaparte ~

Available Wines

Operating as one of Napa’s smallest, single-varietal ultra-premium volcanic cult vineyards, Sill Family Vineyards is proud to offer you our exceptional, limited production of Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon, Burgundian-style Chardonnay and our industry first Burgundian & Bordeaux styled très Chardonnay de Rosé!  Availability is very limited, thus, our Club Members have reserved first access, thereafter, our website orders are made available.  We apologize in advance if our wines are unattainable.  Thank you for your understanding.

très CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Our 2015 très Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted utilizing classic, Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux-style techniques from grapes grown and harvested from superior Rutherford, Napa bench vineyards. Its beautiful deep ruby color, represents a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec and 1% Petite Verdot. If wines were actors, perhaps it might be described best as having the charm, style, finesse and elegance of George Clooney. This suave wine possesses hints of blueberries and blackberries, cream-tinged cassis, silkiness of oak given the elegant nature of this wine, with pepper on the finish, a lovely mouth-feel and wonderful length on the finish. As with the nose, the palate feels polished, with lovely tannins, thus drinking very nicely now, but with patience of 4-10 years of “opening” will achieve true brilliance. Described as “absolutely exceptional” it will drink well upon release and will continue to age gracefully over many years. Retail: $185.
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2015 ATLAS PEAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Our 2015 Atlas Peak très Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted utilizing classic, Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux-style techniques from grapes grown and harvested from our high elevation Atlas Peak Mountain vineyards. Its beautiful hue of deep ruby, represents a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. This suave, silk smooth wine possesses hints of cherries, blackberries, cream-tinged cassis and given the elegant nature of this wine, with a hint of spice, a lovely mouth-feel and wonderful length on the finish. As with the nose, the palate feels polished, with lovely tannins, thus drinking very nicely now, but with patience of 4-10 years of “opening” will achieve incredible brilliance. We believe superior wines come from ultra superior grapes. We are truly blessed with the unique terroir and ideal climate of our high elevation Atlas Peak Mountain vineyard that supports this classic, old world-style estate grown, limited production Bordeaux-style wine. Retail: $185.
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2016 très CHARDONNAY

The style of our 2016 très Chardonnay blends elegance, purity of fruit, harmony and finesse. We’re a small, boutique Napa vintner producing a limited number of barrels of exceptional Sonoma Coast grown Chardonnay. We have been receiving rave reviews from Grand Cru Chablis-style wine lovers for our recently released 2015 très Chardonnay, noting comments such as "a true revelation", "absolutely exceptional", "a discernibly distinctive Chardonnay that is unmatched by mass-produced alternatives". When grown in the cool, clayish volcanic chalk soils around the southern Sonoma sleepy town of Sebastopol, our très Chardonnay is transformed into one of the world's most celebrated and distinctive white wines. This is truly a unique section of terroir which fully expresses itself in très Chardonnay. We barrel ferment and age in mostly white French oak with a final stay in steel to tighten and refine this exceptional wine. The result provides a crisp citrus meyer lemon character, floral lift with seductive ripe pear aromas, brioche and incisive minerality. Striving for finesse rather than overflowing power, our très Chardonnay exudes a silky, light body softness, delicate texture and finishes with a longing desire for a second glass. Retail: $65.
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très CHARDONNAY de ROSÉ

Finally! The wine industry’s first: Burgundian and Bordeaux styled Rosé! Our 2017 très Chardonnay de Rose blends the very best of both wine worlds with the elegance, purity of fruit, harmony of an exceptional Burgundian Chardonnay along with the richness, complexity and depth of a Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon. Our resulting très Chardonnay de Rosé is an absolute first in the wine industry: exceptional Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. For years I’ve studied producing a superior California Rosé born of my Provence and Bandol memories. A Rosé that’s rich, elegant, ultra quality and an extraordinarily different Rosé from those available here in the United States. Essentially, introducing an ultra premium Rosé for serious Rosé lovers while making a real difference in the industry.

What distinguishes our très Chardonnay de Rosé from all others is the grape varietals used along with the French white oak barrel aging. I contend that truly exceptional wines come from ultra superior grapes, such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. We barrel age a limited production of 98% Sonoma Coast Chardonnay blessed with 2% Rutherford bench Napa Cabernet Sauvignon wines, producing only these 300 bottles. A truly fresh marriage of the finest, most prestigious grapes producing this elegantly brilliant and floral Rosé. We are truly blessed with the unique terroir of our très Chardonnay de Rosé which supports this classic Provençal-style wine. Retail: $65.
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“Making good wine is a skill; making fine wine is an art.”

~ Robert Mondavi ~

The Vineyards

At its best, wine is an expression of place, and the magical Atlas Peak volcanic mountain plateau on which Sill Family Vineyards’ 24+ acres of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (22%) and Petit Verdot (3%) grapes grow is certainly extraordinary. Wine is also a reflection of the people who create it, and that starts with the precision farming practices of this mysteriously rewarding land. The vineyard sits in an elevation of 1,650 feet (503 m) above sea level, sheltered from oceanic foggy winds by the western Mayacama mountain ridges. We are truly blessed with an optimal west facing exposure which provides a full hour more sun exposure over valley floor vines and with an abundance of pure unadulterated clean fresh air.

Extraordinary care is taken to assure that our wine’s aroma, flavor, and texture express a sense of this magical place. Terroir is one of the absolute key elements in a wine’s characteristic taste and flavor, and wild indigenous yeast is an absolute vital component of our terroir.

Wild yeast is exactly what the name implies, it is the naturally existing yeast blowing and circulating in the vineyard’s air, much as pollen does. The yeasts in vineyards seem to flow from wind-ruffled trees, transported by mild breezes, bees, and insects that surround the vineyard. Wild yeast attaches to surfaces of the grape skin and, as it hangs onto the skins, it faithfully represents its surroundings, the air, sunshine, temperature, bees, vines and many other elements. It’s a complex organism that fuels and drives many processes in the crafting of wine and certainly influences the final, finished product.

Winemakers believe that the land speaks to them of possibilities. My sole ambition is to fully express those possibilities, capturing the very best of what this magical land offers. This care and attention is manifested in our vineyard’s sustainable precision farming practices.

We are committed to maintaining the beauty of our natural habitat with sustainability as the focus of our green farming practices. We take into account the impact of every vineyard decision on the native ecosystems under our stewardship. We plant a diverse array of cover crops which are matched to our specific soil type to naturally improve soil nutrients, health and promote indigenous insect growth while using organically produced compost in our plants, soils and vineyards.

We emphasize minimal soil tilling, smart energy use, waste management and water conservation as good stewards of these lands. We employ an extensive winery waste water management system that captures waste water to prevent run-off and soil erosion.
We understand that what is best for our vineyards is ultimately best for Mother Nature and our planet Earth and we hope to continue this commitment of responsibility to the environment for generations to come.

"Wine offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than possibly any other purely sensory thing which may be purchased."

~ Ernest Hemingway ~

Join Our Wine Club

The sharing of a fine bottle of wine has always played an intimate role in deepening family bonds and friendships throughout history. The simple, yet profound act of sharing a bottle of wine opens doors to the heart in the same way that a warm smile softens differences. We truly appreciate the extraordinary commitment and passionate support of our customers. In this spirit of sharing, we invite you to learn more about our extended family, our Sill Family Vineyards Wine Club.

Our wines are sold direct to our customers, thus our website ordering and our Wine Club membership are the only way to enjoy our wines. Our Wine Club provides many benefits to its elite members. In addition to having the opportunity to taste a selection of limited production wines, you will also receive an invitation to be our guest at our 2020 event held in the gardens at the private Sill Family Atlas Peak Mountain estate home (celebrating fire recovery and rebuild), quarterly insights and special email offers!

As a member, you’ll receive one (1) shipment per year (Fall/October). The cost ranges from $312 to $1,776 per shipment excluding tax based on your selection. Not only will you receive 15%-25% off your club shipments, you are also welcome to re-order any of these bottles and more directly from our Winery at the same great savings!

Our Wine Club can be customized to focus solely on the wines that you prefer; however, we may not be able to fulfill all your requests given our limited production. We invite you to join our Wine Club to guarantee your allocation of our small, limited production wines and to enjoy unique club benefits!

We offer three levels of memberships: Ambassador, Sommelier and Maestro Sommelier  each available with any combination of our wines.

AMBASSADOR CLUB   |   SOMMMELIER CLUB  |    MAESTRO SOMMELIER CLUB

Each membership level is available in two shipments, Ambassador: 6 bottles per year; Sommelier: 12 bottles per year or Maestro Sommelier: 24 bottles per year —which are split evenly between a shipment in the Spring (late April) and a shipment in the Fall (October) season.

Ambassador

6 Bottles Annually
15% discount on all SFV wines

Sommelier

12 Bottles Annually
20% discount on all SFV wines

Maestro Sommelier

24 Bottles Annually
25% discount on all SFV wines
Winery Tour & Tasting

Since we are not permitted to be open to the general public, we are only able to receive our friends and guests to our 24 bottle commitment Maestro Sommelier Club members. These by-appointment-only tastings & tours will help you discover the hidden side of Atlas Peak Mountain wine country while joining our extended family.

Our Maestro Sommelier Club members will be guided through the gardens at the private Sill Family Atlas Peak Mountain estate home where you’ll experience several levels of our precision farmed vineyard, learning how our soils are tended, how the grapes are grown, and harvested, how our wines are crafted, aged and bottled, using both innovative and traditional techniques. Afterward, enjoy a tasting of our remarkable très Chardonnay, très Cabernet Sauvignon, and très Rosé  de Chardonnay wines, expertly paired with hors d’oeuvres. Approximately 1.5 hours.

Details of the fine print:

Sill Family Vineyards strives for total customer satisfaction. There are no signup fees. We will notify you by email in advance of ship date. Shipments will be sent ground to business or residential addresses (business address preferred) and we will delay shipment if the weather is unsuitable. Laws pertaining to wine purchase and shipment vary from state to state, and we are unable to ship to select states. By law, an adult signature (over 21 of age) is required upon receipt for all alcohol shipments.

Your credit card will be billed prior to shipping for the cost of the wine, shipment and any applicable taxes. Please inform us of any changes to account numbers, expirations, shipping and billing addresses. By joining, you are agreeing to these terms and certifying that you are at least 21 years of age. You may cancel your membership at any time after your one year commitment by email or phone with no penalties, however, we cannot cancel a shipment that is already on its way to you. If you decide to cancel your membership before your 1 year agreement, extra charges may be applied.

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