Baldacci Family Vineyards Offers Passionately Crafted Small Lot Varietals

Thomas and Brenda Baldacci purchased their Stags Leap property in 1998, and more than two decades later their winery continues to be family owned and operated.

Today, their son Michael serves as winemaker, and Kellie Duckhorn, of Napa Duckhorn family fame, serves as general manager. A second generation vintner, Michael throughout the years has held a variety of roles within the vineyard and the cellar.

His business acumen and passion for innovation have garnered Baldacci wines with top scores from industry critics, and his vision for the best in guest experiences has resulted in a state-of-the-art visitor center with a focus on wine education and high-end tasting experiences.

WINE

Baldacci Family Vineyards is a favorite of wine enthusiasts and small-lot collectors who value the limited production, premium Cabernet Sauvignon made from the fruit of Baldacci’s 50 estate acres of vines from celebrated Napa Valley appellations such as Stags Leap District and Calistoga; in addition, they source fruit from vineyards in Oakville, Coombsville, and Howell Mountain from winegrowers with whom they have longstanding relationships.

The family prides itself on the caliber of their portfolio, which ranges from bubbles to Chardonnay to Pinot Noir to single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. They also craft an award-winning late harvest Gewürztraminer.

BALDACCI FAMILY VINEYARDS HOSPITALITY

Baldacci’s agrarian-esque, Dutch dairy farm design features a wine cave where an interior raw rock wall showcases the region’s natural underground geological features.

In a visual display of sustainability, the rock that was excavated for the cave construction was broken down and disbursed throughout the estate vineyards as landscape material.

At Baldacci Family Vineyards visitor experiences include:

All Cabernet Tasting with Cave Tour: Enjoy a splash of estate-grown sparkling wine, followed by a 30-minute walking tour of the winemaking facility and cave. Return to the tasting room for a sample of four exclusive Cabernet Sauvignons from four different Napa Valley appellations: Stags Leap District, Oakville, Calistoga, and Coombsville. Includes a seasonal cheese + charcuterie plate. ($120/pp) 

Portfolio Tasting: Begin with a splash of estate-grown sparkling wine prior to a sit-down tasting of estate-grown wines including sparkling, Los Carneros Chardonnay, Los Carneros Pinot Noir, Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap District. Includes a seasonal cheese + charcuterie plate. ($75/pp) 

Behind the Cellar Door: This educational tour and tasting showcases what happens behind the scenes, from grape to glass.

Learn about the technical side of viticulture and enology, and how each plays a role in the resulting wine’s quality, complexity, and flavors. Organic vs. conventional farming, pruning, ripening, optical sorting, fermentation, and barrels are all topics for discussion in this informative experience. ($150/pp)

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Baldacci’s ‘Taste Like a Somm’ visitor experience is a Napa Valley standout. Follow along as a distinguished wine educator makes wine tasting accessible to all by explaining how to identify wine flavors in an unpretentious way.

Explore three different wines through the senses of sight, smell, and taste, and learn the tools, tricks, and tips that professionals use when analyzing and tasting wines. ($150/pp)