Araujo Estate, Eisele Vineyard

If you have heard of Araujo Estate and are familiar with their Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon then you know it can cost over $300 per bottle. So what is the big deal? Why is it one of the most sought after wines in the world? 

Apparently, it has to do more so with the unique vineyard soil, location and grape varietal than the prominent Araujo name. The limited availability doesn’t hurt either.

Eisele Vineyard is located on an alluvial fan near the northern end of the Napa Valley, just east of Calistoga. Milt and Barbara Eisele first purchased the 35 acres of vineyard in 1969. Initially, they sold their crop to the local co-op. But suspecting that their fruit was of exceptional quality, they approached Paul Draper, winemaker at Ridge Vineyards. Ridge produced the first Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in 1971. This landmark wine is considered by many to be one of the finest wines ever produced in the Napa Valley and is one of the first vineyard-designated wines in California.

The French term terroir describes the unique environment of a vineyard, from its soils, slopes, and aspects to its climate, weather patterns, and microclimate. The Eisele Vineyard terroir reflects the dominant natural forces of water and mountains surrounding the vineyard. The Simmons Creek bisects the estate, and a small perpendicular tributary flows from the east and spreads an alluvial fan of volcanic cobbly soils from the surrounding Palisades Mountains. The vineyard's southerly orientation provides an ideal exposure in which to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon, while the surrounding Palisades Mountains provide a natural air-conditioning system on hot days. Warm days, cool nights and well-drained cobbly soils produce remarkable wines.

In 1975, Napa Valley wine visionary Joseph Phelps began producing what would become a long line of legendary Cabernets from the Eisele Vineyard. Through the last Joseph Phelps bottling in 1991, the wines reflected the incomparable character and quality of the Eisele Vineyard. Bart and Daphne Araujo acquired Eisele Vineyard in 1990 and the 1991 vintage yielded two significant Eisele Vineyard Cabernets: the final Phelps bottling from the property, and the first Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Araujos’ acquisition of the property marked a new phase in the life of the Eisele Vineyard. They have reconfigured the vineyard's component blocks. Now, not only is Cabernet Sauvignon grown, but also Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot for blending; Sauvignon Blanc for production of an estate white wine; and a small amount of Syrah. Fortunately, for the consumer, the new bottlings of the Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah are more attainable and affordable and range from $50-$75 per bottle.