The Sill Family
At Sill Family Vineyards, we recognize that we are not owners of this land, but its current stewards. Our responsibility is to care for it with intention—farming organically and sustainably, always with a long view toward the generations that will follow. That philosophy did not begin in Napa. My father, BA Sill, was born in Pennsylvania in 1916, raised in the hills and valleys of western Pennsylvania—land historically stewarded by the Shawnee and other Native peoples who understood that land is not possessed, but cared for. Our family roots in that region trace back to the 1600s, shaped by soil, seasons, and a quiet ethic of responsibility. Though generations moved west, that principle endured. Here on Atlas Peak, it finds expression again.
Our estate vineyard lies at 1,450 feet above the valley floor, set on a secluded volcanic plateau in the heart of the Atlas Peak AVA. Above the fog line, the air is crisp, the rainfall pure, and indigenous yeast remains largely untouched by the activity below. West-facing slopes, cooling mountain breezes, and dramatic volcanic soils allow our Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot to ripen slowly and evenly—producing wines of depth, structure, and quiet elegance that faithfully express their place.
Stewardship here is practical, not performative. We treat the vineyard as a living ecosystem, guided by a comprehensive conservation plan focused on minimal soil disturbance, water conservation, and natural balance. Beneficial insects and predatory birds replace chemical inputs, and an advanced wastewater reclamation system prevents runoff and erosion. These efforts have earned multiple sustainability certifications, including Fish Friendly Farming, Napa Green, and National Wildlife Federation recognition. But certifications are not the goal. They are simply evidence of a deeper obligation. In spirit and in responsibility, the meaning is simple: Keeper of the Fields - He Who Cares for the Earth. That same philosophy—innovation grounded in purpose—finds an unexpected echo on our estate.
In 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression, the Hudson Motor Car Company introduced the Terraplane, inspired by aviation principles of lightness, efficiency, and performance. Christened by Amelia Earhart with a bottle of gasoline rather than champagne, the Terraplane embodied a belief that enduring things are built to work, not merely to be displayed. By 1935, the rare Terraplane Express Cab represented the model at its most refined and purposeful. Today, one of only two known running examples resides here at Sill Family Vineyards—still operational, still doing what it was built to do.
Like our vineyard, the Terraplane is a reminder that progress is born of restraint, integrity, and respect for craft. At their best, wine and engineering share the same virtues: purpose, place, and stewardship. And there is no place quite like Atlas Peak.
Derek Irwin
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.
Premier Grand Cru Napa
Our ambition has always been to produce a premier Grand Cru Napa "First Growth" from the terroir of our high elevation volcanic mountain vineyard, and I believe we have not only achieved that, but are also the most passionately made wine in America. We may make many compromises in life, but never with our wine.
