Atlas Peak Vineyard comes back under Antinori management next year.
Napa, Calif. -- Antica Napa Valley, the winery in Foss Valley in the Atlas Peak appellation owned by Marchese Piero Antinori of Florence, Tuscany, has released its first wines, a 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2006 Chardonnay. Both come from the company's 40-acre vineyard next to its 600-acre Atlas Peak Vineyard, which is leased to Beam Wine Estates until November of 2008.
Antinori bought this parcel in 1998 from a Seventh Day Adventist who originally told Antinori that she wouldn't allow wine grapes on it -- until Antinori told her what the property was worth to grow table grapes.
The new Antica wines are in limited distribution, with only 300 cases of the Chardonnay from 10 acres and 1,200 cases of Cabernet from 22 acres. Both wines were made at Conn Creek Winery in Rutherford under the supervision of Renzo Cotarella, Antinori's head winemaker.
Conn Creek is owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Antinori's partner in its recent acquisition of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. The two companies also jointly own Col Solare Winery in Washington's Red Mountain AVA. Ste. Michelle imports and markets Antinori wines in the United States. Ste. Michelle owns 85% of the joint venture that owns Stag's Leap, while Antinori has 15%. They are equal partners in Col Solare.
Piero Antinori has released his first wines made solo in the U.S.
Ste. Michelle also markets Antica Napa Valley in the United States under the supervision of Albiera Antinori, one of Piero Antinori's three daughters. All are involved in the company's management.
Wines & Vines spoke to Glenn Salva, general manager of Antinori Napa Valley, about the plans for the Atlas Peak Vineyards property.
Beam Wine Estates bought the Atlas Peak brand and lease from Allied Domecq, but the property--including the winery--belong to Antinori. Antinori takes possession of the vineyard and winery next year, but the brand remains part of Beam.
Ironically, only one Atlas Peak brand wine, a claret, uses the Atlas Peak appellation, while the others come from Napa Valley or other mountain appellations ("Atlas Peak Howell Mountain Cabernet," etc.). Beam had planned to make the Atlas Peak brand wines at nearby William Hill Winery after Antinori took over the Atlas Peak Vineyards facility, but in the meantime has sold that property to Gallo, and Beam apparently intends to produce the Atlas Peak brand wines at Buena Vista in Sonoma County.
Beam can use the Atlas Peak brand with claimed fruit from other areas since it was registered before 1986, though that practice is considered rather deceptive today. Salva admits that this situation has discouraged Antinori from participating in the Atlas Peak Appellation Association, and he hopes to see it resolved by the time Antinori takes over the property.
The property lies at 1,600 to 2,000 feet. At present, Atlas Peak Vineyards contains 25% each of Cabernet, Chardonnay and Sangiovese, plus 15% Merlot and the rest in other varieties.
Salva says Antinori will begin a replanting program as soon as it takes over the property. He says Piero Antinori wanted to plant a small amount of Sangiovese as a curiosity but a former manager of the property planted far more than that. He says they'd like to keep a small amount--5 to 10 acres--but replant the rest.
Present Atlas Peak Vineyards vineyard manager Tony Fernandez, employed by Beam Wine Estates, says the decision was made in 2002 to focus on Cabernet. No Sangiovese is now sold under the Atlas Peak Vineyards name. The Sangiovese is sold to Luna, Venge and Terra Valentine.
Atlas Peak Vineyards has a 27-acre reservoir, and it uses the water primarily for frost protection, which can be needed until June in the chilly area. Bud break, fortunately, comes two or three weeks behind that in the Napa Valley proper. As the property is above the fog line, the grapes catch up to some degree, though the grapes are harvested rather late during October or even into mid November.
As for other plans for the property, Glenn Salva says, "The Antinoris are very patient people, but they have a lot of passion. Quality and image are very important to them, and that will guide them in developing the estate."
For more information, go to
AnticaNapaValley.com.
