Vice Versa acquired an estate vineyard in the northwest corner of Calistoga AVA in 2019, and the summer of 2024 will see the launch of a new winery facility and cave there.

Planted between 1998 and 2000, Vice Versa Estate Vineyard boast Calistoga’s highest percentage of volcanic soils overall, and also what is likely the most most extreme diurnal swing in temperature in the Napa Valley, producing Cabernet Sauvignon fruit with perfect phenolic ripeness and balanced acidity. When the winery is completed, an additional acre will be planted, bringing the total acres planted to five. Cabernet Sauvignon clone 338 is planted here on Boomer loams, on 8’ x 6’ spacing and south-facing slopes that vary from 2% to 15%.

The Vice Versa Estate winery will consist of a 4,950 sq ft cave with high-end finishes and three separate climate-controlled spaces (via overhead hydro cooling and radiant floor heating), a hospitality area, a dedicated red wine fermentation area, and white wine fermentation area. Its 4,000 sq ft covered crush pad can handle about 10,504 cases of production annually.

It is difficult not to be impressed by this extraordinary site. Stretching from the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains to Highway 29, To Kalon is arguably Napa Valley’s most famous vineyard. Originally planted in 1868 by early pioneer Hamilton Crabb, this Oakville property has a majestic quality that charms vintners and connoisseurs alike. It is a vineyard that inspires the few who have the privilege of sourcing fruit here to work with even greater precision to allow its purity to shine through. With a name that is aptly translated as “the highest beauty,” To Kalon embodies grace, power, and unapologetic confidence.

The blocks from which we source are part of the 89 acres purchased by Beckstoffer Vineyards in 1993. Replanted in 1994 with modern trellising and closer vine spacing that nods to European tradition, the vines here must work harder as they compete with one another, bringing about smaller yields of tiny berries with intense fruit flavors. The wines we make from this pristine gravelly loam soil articulate luxurious aromatics and opulent texture. The profile of cassis and graphite is unmistakable, lending to the distinctive expression of a lauded provenance.

Like To Kalon and Las Piedras, Dr. Crane is a true first growth vineyard of Napa Valley. Nestled unassumingly in the midst of a residential neighborhood in St. Helena, the gravelly loam soils that give life to these vines are steadfast and faithful. The site, which shares a Sulphur Creek alluvial fan with Las Piedras, has experienced the complete evolution of the wine industry from its inception to prohibition—when this land became home to St. Helena’s Chinatown—to its current state of acclaim.

Beckstoffer Vineyards acquired the historic vineyard in 1997 and replanted the vines a year later. Everything it has seen, every story its soil has heard, is infused in the grapes that thrive here. We taste its wisdom and its pride as we are offered extraordinary dense, complex, and rich aromatics and flavors that, like the vineyard itself, maintain a graceful profile. However, it is always the floral notes spiked with minerality that speak to us the most.

Dark and brooding wines hail from the Beckstoffer Las Piedras vineyard. Crouched against the base of Spring Mountain, this 25 acre plot is a foreboding sight of renegade rocks spilled into an alluvial fan on the outskirts of town. Its name means tiny pebbles, referring to its notable gravelly loam and river wash soil that provides support for roots, fast drainage, and naturally low yields.

A heritage vineyard that can be traced back to the Mexican land grants, Las Piedras was first planted in the 1840s after General Vallejo gave the property as a wedding gift to Edward Bale and his new wife. It was the first vineyard planted in what is now designated as the St. Helena AVA. The Beckstoffer family added it to their portfolio in 1983, planting it to two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon. Rockier than any other site we work with, the wines we produce from these grapes have a mineral-driven profile that is layered throughout the depth of rich, concentrated fruit. Our vines are located in the D2 Block planted to Clone 4 on 110R rootstock.

The historic Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard in Rutherford was partially planted in 1895 by Mrs Thomas Rutherford. It was purchased and fully developed by Georges de Latour in 1928 for Beaulieu Vineyards whose legendary winemaker, Andre Tchelistcheff, crafted brilliant wines from this vineyard and established its glowing reputation. Purchased by Beckstoffer Vineyards in 1988, the vineyard has since been replanted using new Cabernet Sauvignon clones with tighter spacing and advanced trellising systems.

This iconic site in Stags Leap District was chosen by Richard Steltzner as ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, after tasting the quality of neighbor Nathan Fay's homemade Cabernet Sauvignon in the early 1960s. Planted to Cabernet Sauvignon in 1964, the grapes were originally sold to various wineries and neighbors. The famed 1972 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon—a winner at the Judgment of Paris tasting—as well as the first release of Joseph Phelps Insignia all were crafted from grapes grown on the Estate. Meticulous farming by Jim Barbour—combined with mature vineyards—provides amazing fruit quality.

Situated on the Eastern side of Napa Valley, at the base of the Stags Leap Palisades, the fruit grown on this truly remarkable vineyard site benefits from the gentle slope and elevation, unique soils and cool breezes from the San Pablo Bay. Resulting wines show an extraordinary mix of intensity, silkiness, power and grace. We source grapes from Steltzner’s F Block, E Block, and the conspicuously distinctive J block.

Nestled in the steep hillside between Howell Mountain and Saint Helena, this 30 year old vineyard planted on white volcanic tufa is an absolute jewel. Planted and meticulously farmed by viticulturist extraordinaire David Abreu, this vineyard is the birthplace of several brilliant Napa Valley wines, including Abreu Thorevilos and Colgin Cariad. Fruit from this site shows extraordinary richness, intensity, depth, ultra fine tannins, and minerality. Ecotone is arguably one of the greatest vineyards in the Napa Valley.

Sitting high above the morning fog, at an altitude of 800 ft on a ridgeline near the Pacific Ocean, Platt is one of the coolest sites on the coast and is renowned for the extraordinary quality of its Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. The vines produce very small crops of intense fruit at very low sugar levels. We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work with this vineyard as we believe that it is one of the few true Grand Cru sites in California.

Starting in 2023, we began purchasing fruit from Heitz’s iconic Trailside vineyard on the east side of Rutherford, wedged between Conn Creek and the Silverado Trail. It’s a diverse site, with eight different soil types and seven clones spread over its 85 rocky, alluvial acres. The wine produced from this site is classically Rutherford, with a medium-bodied palate and dusty, loamy accents. This vineyard is certified CCOF Organic and is certified Biodynamic via Demeter.

Perched near the top of an alluvial fan in what is Oakville’s most desirable western district, True Dog Knoll lies in between Harlan Estate and Vine Hill Ranch in the foothills of the Mayacamas. It was planted to clones 4 and 7 in 2012, and its wines express the beautifully elegant blackcurrant and gravel aromas that this stretch of Oakville is world-famous for. This wine is a key component of our Spinning Plates Cabernet Sauvignon.

Our dear friend Stephan Asseo is the owner and founder of L’Aventure in Paso Robles’ excellent Willow Creek District. L’Aventure is a “lean” terroir, comprising rolling hills here on the west side, with a thin layer of topsoil over siliceous and calcareous shale. “The vein of limestone here is insane,” says Patrice.

Fog and cool marine breezes mean that this is a Winkler Index Region II, the same as Bordeaux. For Cabernet Sauvignon, this means wines of delicacy, minerality, and finesse, and that “prettiness” is what this component brings to our “Les Cousins” cuvée, a joint effort between our two wineries.