Heitz Cellar

Heitz Cellar is one of Napa Valley's foundational estates, established by Joe Heitz in the early 1960s and among the first to produce vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon in California. Based in St. Helena, the winery helped define what serious, age-worthy Napa Cabernet could look like at a time when few American producers were thinking in those terms. It has remained family-owned and operated through successive generations.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is defined by its combination of warm days, cool overnight temperatures, and diverse soils — conditions that allow grapes to develop both concentration and structural acidity. Heitz Cellar's approach has historically leaned toward restraint and cellaring potential rather than immediate approachability, with wines that reward patience.

The Martha's Vineyard bottling is among the most historically significant single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons in California. The vineyard, located on the Oakville bench near Highway 29, is planted on well-drained gravelly loam and has long been associated with a distinctive eucalyptus or herbal note alongside dark fruit and firm tannins. The 2017 vintage in Napa Valley was marked by early harvest due to intense heat, yielding wines of ripe character.