Araujo Estate Wines
Encyclopedia
Araujo Estate Wines is a California winegrowing estate owned by Bart and Daphne Araujo. Located in Calistoga, California
within both the Calistoga
and Napa Valley AVA
s, the estate produces a small portfolio of limited-production wines from the organically and Biodynamically
farmed Eisele Vineyard.
Araujo Estate Wines is widely considered to be one of California’s “cult” wineries, and has been classified as a “five star” winery by the Wine Spectator
writer James Laube
and included in Robert M. Parker, Jr.
’s The World’s Greatest Wine Estates: A Modern Perspective. The Eisele Vineyard was called "the object of a cult like no other among California wine lovers" in The World's Greatest Wines by Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve, and the winery’s flagship wine, the Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, was listed as a “First Growth” in Fine Magazine’s “Napa Valley Classification.”
and Riesling
; it was first planted to Cabernet Sauvignon
in 1964. Bart, who had come from a career in home building and mortgage banking, and Daphne, who had a background in landscape architecture, had been interested in acquiring an historical vineyard property. When they purchased the Eisele Vineyard from Milt and Barbara Eisele, they decided to build a winery on the property. Daphne stated “Our intent was to have a vineyard. But before we even closed escrow, Bart realized that it was important to also make the wine, to control the whole process from beginning to end.” Shortly after purchasing the property, the Araujos built a barn-like winery out of redwood
and dug caves into a hillside of the property.
Araujo produced its first vintage of Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in 1991. Since its founding, the winery has worked with some of the best-known winemakers in the industry, including Tony Soter, Mia Klein, Françoise Peschon and consultant Michel Rolland
. Its Eisele Vineyard Cabernet has earned consistent acclaim in the Wine Spectator and from Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker. Today the winery continues to retain Françoise Peschon and Michel Rolland as consultants, and Nigel Kinsman is Winemaker. The vineyard manager is Caleb Mosley, formerly of Ridge Vineyards.
. Joseph Phelps made a vineyard-designated bottling from Eisele Vineyard for several years starting in 1975. The vineyard is located on an alluvial fan
near the northern end of Napa Valley, and features cobbly, mineral-rich soils.
The Araujos began farming the Eisele Vineyard organically in 1998. Soon they began looking into farming the vineyard Biodynamically, an agricultural practice that eschews chemical inputs of any kind and coordinates the timing of farming practices around the lunar and astronomical calendar. In 2002 the vineyard was certified Biodynamic.
, Syrah and Viognier
.
Calistoga, California
Calistoga is a city in Napa County, California, United States. The population was 5,155 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , 99.30% of it land and 0.70% of it water.-Climate:...
within both the Calistoga
Calistoga AVA
The Calistoga AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the northern portion of California's Napa Valley AVA. The appellation is distinguished by its volcanic soil, high temperatures up to during the day, and cool nights during the growing season due to breezes from the Russian River,...
and Napa Valley AVA
Napa Valley AVA
Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States. Napa Valley is considered one of the top wine regions in the United States...
s, the estate produces a small portfolio of limited-production wines from the organically and Biodynamically
Biodynamic wine
Biodynamic wines are wines made using the principles of biodynamic agriculture. Biodynamic refers to both the agricultural methods and the handling and processing of the fruit post-harvest.-Biodynamic viticulture:...
farmed Eisele Vineyard.
Araujo Estate Wines is widely considered to be one of California’s “cult” wineries, and has been classified as a “five star” winery by the Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator is a lifestyle magazine that focuses on wine and wine culture. It publishes 15 issues per year with content that includes news, articles, profiles, and general entertainment pieces...
writer James Laube
James Laube
James Laube is an American wine critic, writing for Wine Spectator since 1980, a full-time staff writer since 1983, with expertise on California wine...
and included in Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. is a leading U.S. wine critic with an international influence. His wine ratings on a 100-point scale and his newsletter The Wine Advocate, with his particular stylistic preferences and notetaking vocabulary, have become very influential in American wine buying and are...
’s The World’s Greatest Wine Estates: A Modern Perspective. The Eisele Vineyard was called "the object of a cult like no other among California wine lovers" in The World's Greatest Wines by Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve, and the winery’s flagship wine, the Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, was listed as a “First Growth” in Fine Magazine’s “Napa Valley Classification.”
History
In 1990, Bart and Daphne Araujo bought the 162-acre property in Calistoga that included the 35-acre Eisele Vineyard. The vineyard had originally been planted in the 1880’s to ZinfandelZinfandel
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century...
and Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
; it was first planted to Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
in 1964. Bart, who had come from a career in home building and mortgage banking, and Daphne, who had a background in landscape architecture, had been interested in acquiring an historical vineyard property. When they purchased the Eisele Vineyard from Milt and Barbara Eisele, they decided to build a winery on the property. Daphne stated “Our intent was to have a vineyard. But before we even closed escrow, Bart realized that it was important to also make the wine, to control the whole process from beginning to end.” Shortly after purchasing the property, the Araujos built a barn-like winery out of redwood
Sequoioideae
Sequoioideae is a subfamily in the Cupressaceae family, with three genera.-Genera:The three redwood subfamily genera are: Sequoia and Sequoiadendron of California and Oregon, USA; and Metasequoia in China. The redwood species contains the largest and tallest trees in the world. These trees can live...
and dug caves into a hillside of the property.
Araujo produced its first vintage of Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in 1991. Since its founding, the winery has worked with some of the best-known winemakers in the industry, including Tony Soter, Mia Klein, Françoise Peschon and consultant Michel Rolland
Michel Rolland
Michel Rolland is an influential Bordeaux-based oenologist, with hundreds of clients across 13 countries and influencing wine style around the world...
. Its Eisele Vineyard Cabernet has earned consistent acclaim in the Wine Spectator and from Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker. Today the winery continues to retain Françoise Peschon and Michel Rolland as consultants, and Nigel Kinsman is Winemaker. The vineyard manager is Caleb Mosley, formerly of Ridge Vineyards.
The Eisele Vineyard
Named for Milt and Barbara Eisele, who owned the vineyard prior to Bart and Daphne Araujo, the Eisele Vineyard has long been known for the quality of its Cabernet Sauvignon. Eisele provided grapes for what is thought to be the third vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon in California, a 1971 from Ridge VineyardsRidge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards is a California winery specializing in premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern California...
. Joseph Phelps made a vineyard-designated bottling from Eisele Vineyard for several years starting in 1975. The vineyard is located on an alluvial fan
Alluvial fan
An alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain. A convergence of neighboring alluvial fans into a single apron of deposits against a slope is called a bajada, or compound alluvial...
near the northern end of Napa Valley, and features cobbly, mineral-rich soils.
The Araujos began farming the Eisele Vineyard organically in 1998. Soon they began looking into farming the vineyard Biodynamically, an agricultural practice that eschews chemical inputs of any kind and coordinates the timing of farming practices around the lunar and astronomical calendar. In 2002 the vineyard was certified Biodynamic.
Wine Production
On average, Araujo produces 2,000 cases of Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon annually. In addition, the winery also produces a second Cabernet-based wine called Altagracia as well as small quantities of estate-grown Sauvignon blancSauvignon blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage and blanc due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France., a possible descendant of savagnin...
, Syrah and Viognier
Viognier
Viognier is a white wine grape. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhone valley.-History:The origin of the Viognier grape is unknown. Viognier is presumed to be an ancient grape, possibly originating in Dalmatia and then brought to Rhône by the Romans. One legend...
.