Dominus Estate

Within the famous Californian wine-growing area of Napa Valley lies the prestigious Dominus Estate, which has established itself over the years as one of the most important American wine estates in terms of quality. In the area of Napanook, where the winery has its vineyards, George Yount planted the first vines in the entire Napa Valley back in 1838, testifying to the special vocation of this territory. The estate is owned by Christian Moueix, a renowned and experienced Bordeaux winemaker with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology from the prestigious University of California, Davis, who can boast decades of experience at renowned wineries such as Petrus.
Dominus Estate cultivates 54 hectares of vineyards located in Napanook, in a natural amphitheatre at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains in the western part of Napa Valley. In this beautiful environment, following the principles of organic farming, the winery mainly grows Cabernet Sauvignon, flanked by smaller percentages of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The vines are rooted on gravel-rich clay-loam soils, characterised by gentle slopes of between 3 and 10%. To encourage biodiversity, Dominus Estate is committed to planting local flowers and plants, which also provide shelter for wildlife. In addition to sustainability, the agronomic approach adopted by the estate is based on 'dry farming', a series of practices aimed at favouring the biological balance of the plant by rationalising water supplies. In order to preserve the quality of the grapes, the oenological orientation is minimalist, based on careful manual sorting of the grapes, delicate pumping over and decanting by hand so as not to stress the wine. The ageing phase then takes place in French oak barrels, 20-40% of which are new.
There are only two labels made by the Dominus Estate winery: the 'Dominus' and the 'Napanook', two Bordeaux blends of rare quality and class. In particular, the 'Dominus' stands out for its extraordinary elegance and complexity, qualities that have consistently brought this red wine to the attention of international critics, who have rewarded it over the years with numerous awards.