Ehlers Estate: A picturesque, historic stone winery in St. Helena, CA
Headed north from the city of Napa on Highway 29, after you pass through the town of St. Helena and just before you reach the Calistoga AVA, you’ll see a beautiful old stone winery appear on your right hand side. It’s not rare to see gorgeous wineries dot the Napa landscape, but it certainly is rare to find one that’s stood since 1886. The original vision and product of gold-rush-era grocer, Bernard Ehlers, the building and winery still bear his name today. The property changed hands, owners, and wine labels multiple times after prohibition, but in the late 1990’s Jean and Sylvaine Leducq purchased the property and in 2001 started producing wines under the Ehlers label.
Hailing from France, the Leducq’s sought out a property that could produce wines as great as those from the best houses in Bordeaux. Enter the Ehlers Estate. Their original purchase of the property included 10 acres of vineyards and a gorgeous Olive grove. Over time, they managed to acquire a total of 40 contiguous acres of vineyards and planted them to Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot. Though both Jean and Sylvaine have since passed on, their desire to create a world class winery is certainly a major part of their legacy. Of note, the Leducq’s legacy is so much more than just wine. The Leducq Foundation has committed over $300 million to fight cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases worldwide. There’s so much more that’s inspiring about the Leducq’s story and their foundation and its direct tie to Ehlers Winery, but some stories are best saved to be heard when you visit this special place.
While the stone winery itself was erected in 1886, the interior of the building has been completely redone to house a rustic-modern tasting room. A tasting experience at Ehlers – which can start as early as 9:30AM – begins with a splash of weighty, tropical 2018 Sauvignon Blanc and a quick little guided jaunt around the property. The exceptional hospitality cannot be understated as team members take you through a tasting that includes truly elegant wines which are all sourced directly from the 40 acres of estate vines. Not to be missed are the 2016 Cab Franc, the 2016 J. Leducq Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2015 1886 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Furthering the longstanding commitment to world class wine, the Ehlers team recently brought on new head winemaker Laura Diaz Muñoz who spent the last 10+ years with Jackson Family Wines, launching Galerie wines and serving as the associate winemaker for Cardinale, Lokoya, La Jota, and Mt. Brave. The Ehlers brand is obviously in excellent hands.
Location: St. Helena, Napa Valley – just off Hwy 29 on Ehlers Lane.
Highlights: Excellent wine.Tasting in their original, beautifully restored 1886 stone winery. Learning the history of the winery and legacy of the Leducq’s while strolling around the gorgeous property and gardens.
Must try Wines: 2016 Cab Franc ($65), 2016 J. Leducq Cabernet Sauvignon ($90), 2015 Portrait Red Blend ($75), and 2015 1886 Cabernet Sauvignon ($135).
Visit: Open daily by appointment only from 9:30AM to 4:00PM.
