Heitz Wine Cellars
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Winery |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Joe Heitz, Alice Heitz |
| Headquarters | St. Helena , United States |
Area served | Nationwide (United States) |
Key people | Brittany Sherwood (winemaker), Joe Heitz (founder), Alice Heitz (founder) |
| Products | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Grignolino, Zinfandel, rosé wine, fortified wines |
| Owner | Lawrence Group (since 2018) |
| Website | www |
Heitz Cellar is an American winery situated in Napa Valley, just east of St. Helena, California. Established in 1961 by Joe and Alice Heitz, the winery arose during a critical period when the number of Napa Valley wineries had declined to approximately twenty-four following Prohibition. The company gained distinction for introducing French oak barrel aging to the region, which contributed significantly to its winemaking edge.
The winery's premier offering, Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, has achieved notable market success and acclaim within the industry. Heitz Cellar is also recognized for its proficiency with Grignolino grapes, broadening its selection. As part of the Lawrence Group portfolio, the winery produces various varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Grignolino, and Zinfandel, in addition to rosé and fortified wines.
With nationwide distribution and tasting rooms accessible to visitors, Heitz Cellar supports both direct consumer engagement and extensive market penetration. Founders Joe and Alice Heitz remain key figures in the company’s history, alongside current winemaker Brittany Sherwood. The management’s strategic vision has preserved the winery’s status as a prominent Napa Valley entity.
Joe Heitz
Originally from Princeton, Illinois, Joe Heitz was raised on a farm before relocating to California during the 1940s while serving in the United States Army Air Corps. After World War II, he pursued formal education in viticulture and enology at the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, where he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in 1951 as one of the earliest graduates. His early career included positions at E & J Gallo Winery and nearly ten years as assistant winemaker under André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyard.
In 1958, Heitz joined California State University, Fresno's Research Center for Viticulture and Enology as an instructor. Three years later, he and his wife Alice acquired an 8.5-acre vineyard near St. Helena called "The One & Only" for $5,000, marking the start of their own winemaking venture ahead of peers like Robert Mondavi.
Heitz developed a business approach centered on compensating grape growers fairly to ensure superior grape quality, thereby raising product standards. In 1963, he purchased Chardonnay and Pinot noir barrels from Hanzell Vineyards’ final vintages and skillfully blended them to command premium prices. The following year, he expanded operations by acquiring an 1898 stone winery with an adjoining 160-acre ranch that became his main facility and tasting venue.
A significant competitive edge came from Heitz’s exclusive arrangement beginning in 1965 with Tom and Martha May for fruit from their 34-acre Martha's Vineyard located within the Oakville AVA. Starting in 1966, Heitz was a pioneer in labeling wines with single vineyard designations—an American first—which strengthened brand identity. The celebrated 1968 vintage set a new standard for California cabernets; it was aged two years in American oak vats and Limousin barrels, reinforcing Heitz’s influence on the market.
From 1976 onward, a comparable exclusive contract was maintained with Barney and Belle Rhodes of the 18-acre Bella Oaks Vineyard in Rutherford AVA. This ensured a steady supply of high-quality grapes vital for sustaining excellence and reputation.
Heitz was known for his assertive leadership style; when critic Robert Parker remarked that Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon lacked bouquet, Heitz famously sent him linen handkerchiefs to "clear his nose," demonstrating his vigorous defense of the brand.
After suffering a stroke in 1996, Joe Heitz remained mentally clear until his passing on December 16, 2000, at age 81. Industry figures such as Warren Winiarski have acknowledged him as a trailblazing entrepreneur who profoundly influenced Napa Valley’s artisanal winemaking through innovative strategies and focus on single vineyard sourcing.
Contemporary Period
David Heitz, born in 1950, took over the role of winemaker from his father in the late 1970s after accumulating extensive experience at the estate. The business expanded in 1984 through the acquisition of the Trailside Vineyard located in Rutherford, which had formerly supplied fruit, and this vineyard was launched as a distinct single-vineyard bottling by 1989.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Heitz encountered difficulties with TCA contamination and potential Brettanomyces yeast presence within its cellar facilities, issues that were ultimately addressed and corrected. Industry specialists critiqued the initial response to these problems. Additionally, the early 1990s presented viticultural challenges: Bella Oaks Vineyard underwent replanting due to eutypa dieback, resulting in no production for the 1991 and 1992 vintages, while phylloxera infestation at Martha's Vineyard caused a suspension of vintages in the mid-1990s.
In 2018, ownership transitioned when Gaylon Lawrence, Jr., an agricultural entrepreneur from Arkansas, acquired Heitz, marking a pivotal change in corporate leadership. Since 2012, Brittany Sherwood has held the position of winemaker, playing a key role in advancing product innovation and maintaining quality standards.
Competitions
The 1970 vintage of Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon earned significant accolades across several esteemed wine contests. Initially ranked ninth at the inaugural Judgment of Paris tasting, it subsequently improved its placement: second at the 1978 San Francisco Wine Tasting, seventh at the 1986 French Culinary Institute event, first place at the 1986 Wine Spectator tasting, and tied for third during the 30th Anniversary "Judgment of Paris" tasting in 2006. These distinctions enhanced Heitz's reputation and solidified its position within the premium wine market.
Production
The estate oversees cultivation across of vineyards and maintains grape purchase agreements, practicing certified organic viticulture. Annual production by Heitz Cellar is approximately .
Grapes are sourced from various American Viticultural Areas such as Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, and broader Napa Valley regions. The winery’s offerings include vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon wines typically matured in oak barrels for about three and a half years. Their range also encompasses varietals like Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Grignolino, and Zinfandel. Additionally, Heitz produces a dry rosé derived from Grignolino grapes and fortified "port-style" wines crafted from Portuguese varieties including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Souzão, among others.