Pure Expression of Place: Quintessa Winery

On the eastern edge of Rutherford, Quintessa is a natural mosaic of beautiful hills and valleys, the terroir of which is revealed in wines of elegance and harmony.

When its founders first set foot on the pristine, uncultivated property that would become known as Quintessa, they believed they had found something extraordinary.

They knew that the land, spread over five hillsides, with varying soil types and exposures, encompassed great diversity that would lead Quintessa to become a world-class wine estate akin to the first growths of the Old World. And they were right. Since its first vintage in 1994, Quintessa quickly became globally recognized as a benchmark of the Napa Valley. 

WINE

The Quintessa estate is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carménère on 26 vineyard blocks within the heart of Rutherford.

Inspired by the old-world estate model, the winery crafts a single wine each year that expresses the estate’s diversity and transforms the soil, vines, climate and energy into something greater than the individual elements. 

HOSPITALITY

Quintessa features three tasting pavilions set amid an oak forest overlooking rolling vineyard-covered hills and the lake beyond. Each is designed to accommodate immersive, privately hosted wine-tasting experiences for up to a dozen guests.

Tasting opportunities include: 

Salon Experience: A 60-minute seated tasting hosted either indoors or outdoors. Includes a sample of Illumination white wine and two vintages of Quintessa. ($100/pp)

Estate Experience: Begin with a guided walk through the winery’s natural surroundings with sweeping views of the Rutherford appellation as a host shares the philosophy behind organic and biodynamic farming practices. Includes a sit-down tasting showcasing the Illumination white wine and two vintages of Quintessa; 90 minutes. ($150/pp)

Private Winery Experience: A 90-minute immersive experience that begins with a tour of the unique gravity flow winery and discussion of fermentation, winemaking and aging processes followed by a walk through the 17,000 square feet of caves.

Features tastes of Illumination white wine and two vintages of Quintessa followed by two single vineyard block wines to be included in the future blend of Quintessa. ($175/pp)

Private Quintessential Experience: During this bespoke 90-minute tasting, a host shares the Quintessa story and details the winery’s organic and biodynamic farming practices. Includes a flight of six wines. ($225/pp)

ORGANIC & BIODYNAMIC

Since Quintessa’s beginning, every thought and action has put the land first, including preservation of 100 acres of natural woodland.

In order to capture the purest expression of place, Quintessa has practiced organic techniques since its founding in 1989; the winery transitioned to biodynamic practices in 1996. Via these practices, the winery’s natural mosaic of vines at the foot of the Vaca Mountain range are trained to work with mother nature and thrive through the seasons.

Organic farming practices are used to promote a balanced ecosystem where the soil is composted naturally, sheep are used to ‘mow’ the grass, and pruning and harvest are based on phases of the moon and the planets. The Quintessa approach is holistic; the team’s care of and respect for the land are ultimately revealed in their elegant and harmonious wines.

The estate received full organic farming certification from California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and official Biodynamic farming certification from Demeter USA in 2021.