Heitz Wine Cellars
Encyclopedia
Heitz Wine Cellars is a California wine
producer located within Napa Valley
east of the town of St. Helena
. An early modern era Napa Valley presence and pioneering exponent of French oak, the estate enjoys a historical renown with the success of its Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and has also been described as a "master of Grignolino
".
of near two dozen, at what is recognized as the turning point of Napa's wine industry.
, Heitz moved to California while enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Following World War II, Heitz began taking classes at UC Davis
, achieving a bachelor and eventually a master's degree in viticulture
and enology, in 1951 in the first graduating class of seven to do so. Heitz found employment under the wine industry extremes, first at Gallo
, and then in 1951 under André Tchelistcheff
at Beaulieu Vineyard
as an assistant winemaker where he worked for near ten years.
Having worked as a professor at the enology program at California State University, Fresno
for four years, in 1961, Heitz and his wife Alice bought a small 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) vineyard
from Leon Brendel named "The One & Only" for $5,000 planted with Grignolino
, and went into business for himself, his winemaking production preceding Robert Mondavi
's emergence in Oakville.
In 1963 Heitz bought at an auction several barrels of Chardonnay
and Pinot Noir
wine from Hanzell Vineyards
in Sonoma
, the last vintages of the deceased owner James D. Zellerbach's pursuit of Burgundian excellence sold off by his widow. Heitz blended the wines with success, achieving lucrative prices for the times. A stated strategy for success was to pay growers "what their grapes were worth", in turn increasing the standard of the product he was receiving. In 1964, Heitz acquired an 1898 stone winery with its 160 acres (64.7 ha) ranch property, which became the Heitz winery and home, with the original winery retained as a visitor's centre.
Heitz holds an exclusive agreement with Tom and Martha May, owners of the 34 acres (13.8 ha) Martha's Vineyard in the Oakville AVA
since the first purchase of fruit in 1965 which Heitz blended with other Cabernet, an act considered Heitz' great breakthrough. In recognizing the quality of the grapes, from the 1966 vintage Heitz first vinified the fruit separately and designated the vineyard on the label. Heitz is considered the first to champion the single vineyard designation in the U.S. Later, the 1968 vintage received attention for its quality, widely considered the greatest wine made in America up to that time. It had been 1000 gallons (37.9 hl) American oak vats, transferred to Limousin barrels where it aged for further two years. Frank J. Prial
contended the wine remained "the benchmark by which California cabernets were judged" for more than two decades.
Since 1976, a similar exclusivity agreement has existed with Barney and Belle Rhodes, owners of the 18 acres (7.3 ha) Bella Oaks Vineyard in the Rutherford AVA
.
Following a review by Robert Parker
where he wrote about Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that it "lacked aroma", Joe Heitz sent Parker a box of linen handkerchiefs, insinuating to the critic that he ought to clear his nose.
Joe Heitz suffered a stroke in 1996 which left him frail though lucid. He died on December 16, 2000, aged 81. He was described by Warren Winiarski
as the first of the [Napa Valley] artisans and the first to grasp the single vineyard concept.
During the late 1980s and early 90s there were reports of TCA
taint, or in alternate claims Brettanomyces
bacterial infection, in the Heitz cellars that were eventually overcome, and Tom Stevenson
has criticized American wine writers for not daring to "tell the late king he had no clothes on at the time".
In the early 90s, the Bella Oaks Vineyard suffered from the disease eutypa
and replanting became necessary. No 1991 and 1992 vintages were made of this cuvée. Also in the early 90s, phylloxera
afflicted Martha's Vineyard, and no vintages were made in the mid-1990s.
are cultivated by organic
principles per certification. Heitz Wine Cellars annually produces approximately 40000 winecase of wine.
A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
from Oakville, oak aged for 3.5 years.
A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, oak aged for 3.5 years.
A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, oak aged for 3.5 years.
The estate's varietal labeled wines
, consist of the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chardonnay
, Sauvignon Blanc
, Petit Verdot
, Grignolino
and Zinfandel
From 100% St. Helena Grignolino, there is produced a dry rosé
.
The estate produces two non-vintage fortified wines, In addition to a "Grignolino Port", there is a "Ink Grade Port" made from classical Portuguese grape varieties Touriga Nacional
, Tinta Roriz, Souzão
, Tinta Cao
, Tinta Bairrada, Tinta Madeira, Tinta Amarela
and Bastardo
.
California wine
California wine has a long and continuing history, and in the late twentieth century became recognized as producing some of the world's finest wine. While wine is made in all fifty U.S. states, up to 90% of American wine is produced in the state...
producer located within Napa Valley
Napa Valley AVA
Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States. Napa Valley is considered one of the top wine regions in the United States...
east of the town of St. Helena
St. Helena, California
St. Helena is a city in Napa County, California, United States. It is part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 5,814 at the 2010 census....
. An early modern era Napa Valley presence and pioneering exponent of French oak, the estate enjoys a historical renown with the success of its Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and has also been described as a "master of Grignolino
Grignolino
Grignolino is a red Italian wine grape variety commonly grown in the Piedmont region. It makes light colored wines and rosés with very fruity aromas, strong acidity and tannins. The name Grignolino derives from the word grignole which means "many pips" in the local Piedmontese dialect of the Asti...
".
History
The origins of the estate was established in 1961 by Joseph (Joe) and Alice Heitz, during a period when the population of Napa Valley wineries had been reduced to the lowest of its decline since the ProhibitionProhibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
of near two dozen, at what is recognized as the turning point of Napa's wine industry.
Joe Heitz
Born in Princeton, IllinoisPrinceton, Illinois
Princeton is a city in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,501 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bureau County.Princeton is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Heitz moved to California while enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Following World War II, Heitz began taking classes at UC Davis
UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology
The Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis, located in Davis, California, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the areas of grape growing and wine making. Located just 45 minutes from Napa Wine Country the department has strong connections with wine...
, achieving a bachelor and eventually a master's degree in viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
and enology, in 1951 in the first graduating class of seven to do so. Heitz found employment under the wine industry extremes, first at Gallo
E & J Gallo Winery
E & J Gallo Winery was founded in 1933 by Ernest Gallo and Julio Gallo in Modesto, California. E & J Gallo Winery is the largest exporter of California wines and is a large promoter of wines from Sonoma County.-History:...
, and then in 1951 under André Tchelistcheff
André Tchelistcheff
André Tchelistcheff was America's most influential post-Prohibition winemaker. Tchelistcheff is most notable for his contributions toward defining the style of California's best wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon...
at Beaulieu Vineyard
Beaulieu Vineyard
Beaulieu Vineyard is a vineyard near Rutherford, California, belonging to the appellation Rutherford AVA. It was established by Georges de Latour and his wife Fernande in 1900.-History:...
as an assistant winemaker where he worked for near ten years.
Having worked as a professor at the enology program at California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
for four years, in 1961, Heitz and his wife Alice bought a small 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
from Leon Brendel named "The One & Only" for $5,000 planted with Grignolino
Grignolino
Grignolino is a red Italian wine grape variety commonly grown in the Piedmont region. It makes light colored wines and rosés with very fruity aromas, strong acidity and tannins. The name Grignolino derives from the word grignole which means "many pips" in the local Piedmontese dialect of the Asti...
, and went into business for himself, his winemaking production preceding Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi
Robert Gerald Mondavi was a leading California vineyard operator whose technical improvements and marketing strategies brought worldwide recognition for the wines of the Napa Valley in California. From an early period, Mondavi aggressively promoted labeling wines varietally rather than...
's emergence in Oakville.
In 1963 Heitz bought at an auction several barrels of Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
and Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
wine from Hanzell Vineyards
Hanzell Vineyards
Hanzell Vineyards is a California wine producer located just outside the town of Sonoma. The winery was founded by James David Zellerbach who acquired 200 acres in the Mayacamas Mountains in 1943 and began planting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 1953...
in Sonoma
Sonoma Valley AVA
The Sonoma Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California, USA which centers on the Sonoma Valley in the southern portion of the county...
, the last vintages of the deceased owner James D. Zellerbach's pursuit of Burgundian excellence sold off by his widow. Heitz blended the wines with success, achieving lucrative prices for the times. A stated strategy for success was to pay growers "what their grapes were worth", in turn increasing the standard of the product he was receiving. In 1964, Heitz acquired an 1898 stone winery with its 160 acres (64.7 ha) ranch property, which became the Heitz winery and home, with the original winery retained as a visitor's centre.
Heitz holds an exclusive agreement with Tom and Martha May, owners of the 34 acres (13.8 ha) Martha's Vineyard in the Oakville AVA
Oakville AVA
The Oakville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA and centered around the town of Oakville, California. The appellation extends over a flat expanse of well drained gravel soil between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains...
since the first purchase of fruit in 1965 which Heitz blended with other Cabernet, an act considered Heitz' great breakthrough. In recognizing the quality of the grapes, from the 1966 vintage Heitz first vinified the fruit separately and designated the vineyard on the label. Heitz is considered the first to champion the single vineyard designation in the U.S. Later, the 1968 vintage received attention for its quality, widely considered the greatest wine made in America up to that time. It had been 1000 gallons (37.9 hl) American oak vats, transferred to Limousin barrels where it aged for further two years. Frank J. Prial
Frank J. Prial
Frank J. Prial, who graduated from Georgetown University in 1951, was the wine columnist for The New York Times for 25 years, writing the weekly "Wine Talk" column since 1972 until his retirement in 2005....
contended the wine remained "the benchmark by which California cabernets were judged" for more than two decades.
Since 1976, a similar exclusivity agreement has existed with Barney and Belle Rhodes, owners of the 18 acres (7.3 ha) Bella Oaks Vineyard in the Rutherford AVA
Rutherford AVA
The Rutherford AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA and centered around the town of Rutherford, California. The area is known for its unique terroir particularly with its Cabernet Sauvignon. The well drained soil of this area is composition of gravel, loam and sand...
.
Following a review by Robert Parker
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. is a leading U.S. wine critic with an international influence. His wine ratings on a 100-point scale and his newsletter The Wine Advocate, with his particular stylistic preferences and notetaking vocabulary, have become very influential in American wine buying and are...
where he wrote about Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that it "lacked aroma", Joe Heitz sent Parker a box of linen handkerchiefs, insinuating to the critic that he ought to clear his nose.
Joe Heitz suffered a stroke in 1996 which left him frail though lucid. He died on December 16, 2000, aged 81. He was described by Warren Winiarski
Warren Winiarski
Warren Winiarski is California winemaker. Winiarski was born in a large Polish section of Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from high school, he entered the University of Chicago, then left for a school of agriculture and mining in Colorado, and finally graduated from St. John's College in...
as the first of the [Napa Valley] artisans and the first to grasp the single vineyard concept.
Modern era
Born in 1950, David Heitz succeeded his father as winemaker in the late 1970s, having worked at the estate for many years. In 1984 the estate purchased the Trailside Vineyard in Rutherford, having previously purchased fruit from the site, introduced as a single vineyard bottling in 1989.During the late 1980s and early 90s there were reports of TCA
2,4,6-Trichloroanisole
2,4,6-Trichloroanisole is a chemical compound that is a chlorinated derivative of anisole.Trichloroanisole is a fungal metabolite of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, which is used as a fungicide. It can be found in minute traces on packaging materials stored in the presence of fiberboard treated with...
taint, or in alternate claims Brettanomyces
Brettanomyces
Brettanomyces is a non-spore forming genus of yeast in the family Saccharomycetaceae, and is often colloquially referred to as "Brett". The genus name Dekkera is used interchangeably with Brettanomyces, as it describes the teleomorph or spore forming form of the yeast. The cellular morphology of...
bacterial infection, in the Heitz cellars that were eventually overcome, and Tom Stevenson
Tom Stevenson
Tom Stevenson is a British author who has been writing about wine for more than 30 years. Described by his colleagues as one of today’s most prolific wine authors, Stevenson is regarded as the world’s leading authority on Champagne...
has criticized American wine writers for not daring to "tell the late king he had no clothes on at the time".
In the early 90s, the Bella Oaks Vineyard suffered from the disease eutypa
Eutypa
Eutypa is a genus of fungi in the family Diatrypaceae.-External links:*...
and replanting became necessary. No 1991 and 1992 vintages were made of this cuvée. Also in the early 90s, phylloxera
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
afflicted Martha's Vineyard, and no vintages were made in the mid-1990s.
Comptetitions
The 1970 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon appeared in several wine tasting competitions, including the "Judgment of Paris" tasting, where it placed ninth out of the ten red wines, and its subsequent 'rematches'. In the San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978 it placed second out of seven wines, in the French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting of 1986 it placed seventh out of nine wines, in the Wine Spectator Wine Tasting of 1986 it placed first out of ten wines, and in the 2006 "Judgment of Paris" 30th Anniversary tasting it tied for a third place out of ten wines.Production
The estate amasses 375 acres (151.8 ha) of vineyards, in addition to its purchase agreements, VinesVitis
Vitis is a genus of about 60 species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus is made up of species predominantly from the Northern hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, both for direct consumption of the fruit and for fermentation to produce...
are cultivated by organic
Organic wine
The most widely accepted definition of Organic wine is wine made from grapes grown in accordance with principles of organic farming, which typically excludes the use of artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides....
principles per certification. Heitz Wine Cellars annually produces approximately 40000 winecase of wine.
-
- Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
from Oakville, oak aged for 3.5 years.
-
- Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, oak aged for 3.5 years.
-
- Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, oak aged for 3.5 years.
-
- Varietal wines
The estate's varietal labeled wines
Varietal
"Varietal" describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot...
, consist of the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage and blanc due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France., a possible descendant of savagnin...
, Petit Verdot
Petit verdot
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen, it is added in small amounts to add tannin, colour and flavour to the...
, Grignolino
Grignolino
Grignolino is a red Italian wine grape variety commonly grown in the Piedmont region. It makes light colored wines and rosés with very fruity aromas, strong acidity and tannins. The name Grignolino derives from the word grignole which means "many pips" in the local Piedmontese dialect of the Asti...
and Zinfandel
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century...
-
- Grignolino rosé
From 100% St. Helena Grignolino, there is produced a dry rosé
Rosé
A rosé is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques.- Production techniques :There are three major ways to produce rosé...
.
-
- Fortified wine
The estate produces two non-vintage fortified wines, In addition to a "Grignolino Port", there is a "Ink Grade Port" made from classical Portuguese grape varieties Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional is a variety of red wine grape, considered by many to be Portugal's finest. Despite the low yields from its small grapes, it plays a big part in the blends used for ports, and is increasingly being used for table wine in the Douro and Dão. Touriga Nacional provides structure and...
, Tinta Roriz, Souzão
Souzão
Souzão is Portuguese wine grape that is used in the production of port wine. While originating in the Minho regions, it is used primarily in Australia, California and South Africa. In Portugal, it is also an authorized planting in the Douro, and Dão-Lafões area...
, Tinta Cao
Tinta Cão
Tinta Cão is a red Portuguese wine grape variety that has been grown primarily in the Douro region since the sixteenth century. The vine produces very low yields which has led it close to extinction despite the high quality of wine that it can produce. Improvements in bilateral cordon training and...
, Tinta Bairrada, Tinta Madeira, Tinta Amarela
Tinta Amarela
Tinta Amarela is a red wine grape that is commonly used in Port wine production. The grape is noted for its dark coloring. Its use in the Douro region has been increasing in recent years. The vine is susceptible to rot and performs better in dry, hot climates....
and Bastardo
Bastardo
Bastardo is a proper noun for at least two referents, each of them probably cognate with the common noun bastardo, meaning bastard in several Romance languages:*Bastardo Spanish hiphop artist, based in Ibiza....
.