The Producer

Dominus Napa Valley

Dominus Napa Valley.  

IN THE LATE 1960S, WHILE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS, CHRISTIAN MOUEIX FELL IN LOVE WITH THE NAPA VALLEY AND ITS WINES. SON OF JEAN-PIERRE MOUEIX, THE FAMED WINE MERCHANT AND PRODUCER FROM LIBOURNE, FRANCE, MOUEIX RETURNED HOME IN 1970 TO MANAGE THE FAMILY VINEYARDS, INCLUDING CHATEAUX PETRUS, LA FLEUR-PETRUS, TROTANOY IN POMEROL AND MAGDELAINE IN SAINT EMILION.

HIS LOVE OF NAPA VALLEY LINGERED AND, IN 1981, HE DISCOVERED THE HISTORIC NAPANOOK VINEYARD, A 124-ACRE SITE WEST OF YOUNTVILLE THAT HAD BEEN THE SOURCE OF FRUIT FOR SOME OF THE FINEST NAPA VALLEY WINES OF THE 1940S AND 1950S. IN 1982, MOUEIX ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP THE VINEYARD AND, IN 1995, BECAME ITS SOLE OWNER. HE CHOSE THE NAME ‘DOMINUS’ OR’ LORD OF THE ESTATE’ IN LATIN TO UNDERSCORE HIS LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO STEWARDSHIP OF THE LAND.

ROOTED IN VALUES OF QUALITY, STEWARDSHIP, TRADITION AND INNOVATION, THE DOMINUS ESTATE TEAM SHARES A VISION OF PRODUCING DISTINCTIVE WINES THAT EXPRESS THE ESSENCE OF THE HISTORIC NAPANOOK VINEYARD.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING BALANCED WINES OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, WHICH, THROUGH CLEAR VISION, INTELLECTUAL RIGOR AND UNCEASING EFFORT, EXPRESS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR TERROIR.

AT DOMINUS ESTATE, WE COMBINE CENTURIES-OLD TRADITIONS OF GRAPEGROWING AND WINEMAKING WITH INNOVATIVE PRACTICES TO TRANSFORM THE HIGHEST QUALITY GRAPES INTO FINE WINES WITH A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR AGING.

OUR RESPECT FOR THE LAND AND THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE UNDERLIES OUR ROLE AS CARETAKERS OF THE VINEYARD AND OUR COMMITMENT TO CONVEYING A PROPERTY THAT IS IMPROVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED WINE PRODUCERS IN THE WORLD, CHRISTIAN MOUEIX IS ON A PERSONAL QUEST FOR PERFECTION IN GRAPEGROWING AND WINEMAKING. IT IS A JOURNEY THAT BEGAN IN BORDEAUX AND CONTINUES TODAY AT DOMINUS ESTATE, WHERE HE HAS INSTILLED HIS PHILOSOPHY AND INSPIRED HIS TEAM TO SHARE HIS VALUES. TO WALK THE VINEYARD WITH CHRISTIAN IS TO WITNESS A COMMITMENT TO THE LAND, A STRONG SENSE OF PURPOSE AND THE MODEST SOUL OF A MAN OF THE VINES.

The Region

California, Napa Valley

There are several reasons for Napa Valley's global renown as a wine region. Most obvious is that the wines are produced to high standards, in a popular style, and are very well marketed. Then there is the region's accessibility from San Francisco. This draws millions of wine tourists to the valley each year to sample its wines and world-class gastronomy. And no less important (even after almost four decades) is the triumph of Napa Valley wines over their rivals from Bordeaux and Burgundy in the 1976 Paris Judgement. 

Wine has been made in Napa Valley since the 19th Century, but it is only since the 1960s that wine of any particular quality has been produced. The founding pioneers of Napa Valley winemaking were George C. Yount, and John Patchett and his winemaker Charles Krug, founder of the eponymous winery. Also of note are the Beringer brothers Jacob and Frederick, whose Beringer Vineyards (est. 1875) is one of California's oldest continuously operated wineries and features on the the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Robert Mondavi, who established his winery in 1966, is considered to be one of the pioneers of Napa's modern wine industry, as well as being one of the first proponents of varietal labeling.

The range of grape varieties grown in the Napa Valley has evolved steadily over the 150 years since Yount planted his first vines. Cabernet Sauvignon has risen confidently to become Napa's star performer, and is the most widely planted grape in almost all of the valley's sub-regions. The notable exception to this rule is Carneros, whose cool, breezy mesoclimate is better suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Merlot is also prominent, although since its fall from favor in the 1990s it is now used mostly as a blending component for Napa's Meritage wines and Bordeaux blends. Although it represents only a small proportion of the valley's vineyard area here, Zinfandel remains significant in the Napa wine portfolio. Hillside sites above the valley floor provide exactly the kind of warm, dry environment in which Zinfandel (California's signature variety) performs best, particularly on rocky, free-draining slopes.

White wines are strongly outnumbered here, but play a valuable supporting role, bringing an element of diversity to the valley. Once upon a time, Riesling was the variety of choice but has now been replaced almost completely by Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Climate, geology, and topography are three essential components in what makes Napa Valley such a first-rate viticultural area. The combined influences of San Pablo Bay and the hills of the North Coast Ranges are responsible for the valley's very particular Microclimate. The bay generates morning fog, and the hills channel it inland, up into the valley. Without this fog that comes rolling in from the bays, the valley's climate would be substantially warmer than it is, making it difficult to achieve structure and balance in the wines. The fog doesn't reach the higher parts of the valley, however, leaving these to rely on the cooling effects of altitude to keep their vines in balance. Winery, offering summertime concerts and year-round tastings. The region is also famed for its gourmet food, showcased in the stalls of Oxbow Public Market in the city of Napa.