Cuvaison 'Estate Grown' Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley 2021

Cuvaison Estate Wines is a historic Napa Valley estate producing elegant, site-driven wines from the cool southern reaches of the valley.

Founded in 1969, Cuvaison has long been recognised for crafting balanced, terroir-focused wines, particularly from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The estate is owned by the Schmidheiny family of Switzerland, who acquired the property in 1979 and have since overseen its steady evolution into one of the key producers in the Los Carneros region. The modern winery, perched on a hill overlooking the vineyards, was completed in 2015 and reflects the estate’s focus on precision winemaking and careful stewardship of the land.

Much of Cuvaison’s fruit comes from the acclaimed Tai Vineyard which surrounds the winery in Carneros, named after the Schmidheiny family matriarch, Alexander Tai Schmidheiny. The vineyard benefits from the cooling influence of San Pablo Bay, where persistent fog and breezes create ideal conditions for slow, even ripening. These conditions allow the estate to produce wines with bright acidity, layered aromatics and notable elegance.

Steve Rogstad, who heads up the winemaking, farms the vines block by block and is a fount of knowledge, intimately knowing each row of vines requirements of the top of his head. The focus is very much on sustainability and careful farming, with the estate being certified by the Napa Green programme; vineyard practices prioritise soil health and biodiversity. Winemaking follows a similarly thoughtful approach, with gentle handling of fruit and restrained use of oak to preserve varietal character and vineyard expression.