Chappellet Vineyard
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverage |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Napa Valley, California |
Key people | Donn Chappellet (co-founder),
Molly Chappellet (co-founder), Cyril Chappellet (CEO, chairman), Phillip Corallo-Titus (winemaker) |
| Website | chappellet |
Chappellet Vineyard is a family-operated American winery situated on Pritchard Hill within California's Napa Valley. Established in 1967, it stands as one of the pioneering wineries that emerged in the region after Prohibition, significantly influencing the development of Napa Valley’s wine industry.[1][2]
History and background
The winery was founded by Donn and Molly Chappellet in 1967 following Donn's decision to divest from Interstate United Corporation and move from Los Angeles to Pritchard Hill in 1966.[3] They were trailblazers in planting vineyards exclusively on Napa’s elevated hillsides after the end of regional prohibition, establishing a model for hillside viticulture.[2][4]
In 1969, under the guidance of winemaker Phillip Togni, Chappellet introduced its inaugural commercial Cabernet Sauvignon, setting a high standard for mountain-grown wines comparable to Bordeaux’s Château Latour.[5][6]
The estate benefits from Pritchard Hill’s well-drained soils and advantageous microclimate, practicing sustainable and organic viticulture. Since 1990, winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus has incorporated contemporary fermentation methods such as utilizing smaller tanks to improve quality oversight.[1][4][6]
While Cabernet Sauvignon remains the primary grape variety, Chappellet also cultivates Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc—the latter grown on a specific 3.5-acre vineyard.[1][2][6]
The winery’s structure features a pyramid-shaped design conceived by Molly Chappellet and Ed Moses that harmonizes with the natural environment. In 2012, a solar-powered barrel aging facility was added to provide electricity both to the winery and to the local grid.[6]
In 2024, a five-liter bottle of the 1969 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon achieved a sale price of US $64,575 at Heritage's Fine & Rare Wine Auction. Only four bottles of this size were ever produced; the remaining three are retained by the family. This particular bottle was resold by Napa restaurateur Alex Dierkhising, who initially purchased it for US $6,000 at the first Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1981. During that event, two magnums from the same vintage each sold for US $54,120; a single bottle reached US $17,220.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:0 - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:1 - ↑ Grimes, William (2016-05-26). "Donn Chappellet, Napa Pioneer Who Tired of Coffee Vending, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:2 - ↑ Laube, James (2012-07-10). "Revisiting the 1969 Chappellet Napa Valley Cabernet". Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:3 - ↑ Englund, Sofia (2024-04-01). "Local Bottle of Wine, 1 of Only 4 Ever Produced, Fetches $64,575 at Auction". Retrieved 2025-06-24.