Located in a miniature “valley within the valley” these four sites typify the fruit expression that the Stags Leap District is so well known for, where slightly cooler portions of the vineyard provide exuberant fresh fruit character and warmer sections of the vineyard provide richness, depth and silky smooth, yet concentrated tannins. Learn more about our Stags Leap District Estate vineyard’s layout with our Stags Leap District Vineyards Map
Named for our vineyard situated at the northern most part of the district, this 6.9-acre vineyard sits at the corner of Silverado Trail and Yountville Cross. This vineyard is our first to escape the morning fog and sees the most direct sun. We manage these vines with careful pruning to ensure a fuller leaf canopy to create shade for the clusters allowing for evening ripening and bold rich wines brimming with dark berry and baking spice.
Ask Winemaker Josh Widaman his favorite vineyard to work with and he’ll likely tell you Circle Hill. Just a mile north of the winery, Circle Hill is a distinctively planted parcel that winds in single row vines around a hill, like the shell of a nautilus. Each block is night harvested separately and blended before bottling. Cabernets from this vineyard are bold, intense, and age worthy. Marked by dark cherry, mocha, and baking spice on the palate with a long brooding finish.
In 1978, only our intrepid Founder Gary Andrus could have looked at the steep slopes of our home estate and envisioned the potential for one of the most unique and picturesque vineyards in Napa Valley. From the entrance, most visitors never notice how far the terraced vineyards traverse back into the hillsides to create 23.5 acres of planted vines climbing 400ft from the winery below. Tucked into the center of a horseshoe shape hill, Andrus Vineyard is capped with a crown of pines. It’s this unique shape that creates a play of swirling winds afternoon shadows that creep across the vines allowing a long growing season. Resulting wines are bright with red cherry, graphite, and ripe plum notes.
A mile south of the winery, Locked Horns is situated on a gently sloping alluvial fan, with very deep soils formed in stratified gravel and sandy alluvium. The vineyard shares a property line and soil classification with the adjacent Fay and S.L.V. vineyards owned by Stags Leap Wine Cellars. This wine is classic Stags Leap District – elegant acidity balanced with bold dark berry and assertive tannin that is ready to age.
