The Stags Leap Wine District stretches for three stunning miles along Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail and is home to some of the valley’s finest wines. The region gets its name from the legendary tale of a stag that eluded hunters by leaping to freedom across the distinct peaks of the Stags Leap Palisades. Cabernet Sauvignon is the star of this region and the cabs that come from Stags Leap vintners are often described as soft and lush yet intense, making them wonderful wines to pair with food or to enjoy on their own.
Stags Leap is one of my favorite stretches of the Silverado Trail due to the beautiful and rugged geography of the area as well as the amazing wines that come from the rich and unique soils. At just two square miles in size, Stags Leap packs a long list of Napa Valley’s preeminent wineries into its small district. These wineries include Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Shafer Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Stags’ Leap Winery, Chimney Rock Winery and many others.
Cabernet is king in this region and helped put Napa Valley on the map during the infamous 1976 Paris Tasting when a Cabernet Sauvignon from the area beat out its French rivals for first place. You can also find some amazing Petite Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc here. The distinctive soils, including both river sediment and volcanic erosions, made Stags Leap the first Napa Valley AVA to be called out and defined.
A trip to Napa Valley would not be complete without visiting this unique region. Here are a few of our favorite wineries to visit.
Stags’ Leap Winery – One of the earliest wineries in the region, the Stags Leap Manor was originally a prominent retreat in the Napa Valley. The winery is tucked into a small “valley within a valley” and once you drive up the long tree-lined drive, you know you’ve arrived at a magical place. Open to the public by appointment only and space for tours is extremely limited, so plan early. Stags’ Leap Winery is known for their Petite Syrah and their distinct Cabernet Sauvignon. My favorite is the Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon called The Leap. You really can’t go wrong with any of their wines.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars – Not to be confused with Stags’ Leap Winery (notice the different placement of the apostrophe), Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars made its name during the famous 1976 Paris Tasting. At this tasting, Warren Winiarski’s 1973 Stag’s Leap S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon beat out its French counterparts for first place, including some of France’s first growths. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is definitely known for its cab but they also make a great Sauvignon Blanc.
Quixote Winery – it’s worth visiting Quixote winery even if you go only to see the magnificent architecture of Friedensreich Hundertwasse. The winery is the only building created by this famous Viennese architect in the United States and the use of curvy lines, color and unique textures makes for a magnificent sight. Almost as if an added bonus, the wines are sourced from the family’s 27-acre organic Stags Leap vineyard and they focus on a Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their 2005 Quixote Petite Syrah is a stunning wine.
Written by Linzi
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