May 5, 2013
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Cuvaison Winery
| Owner(s) | Schmidheiny Family |
| Web site | www.cuvaison.com |
| Link to this site |
Cuvaison’s historic winery is situated on the historic Silverado Trail in northern Napa Valley. In 1969 Thomas Cotrell and Thomas Parkhill, both Silicon Valley engineers, founded Cuvaison with a 27-acre vineyard at the winery’s Calistoga location. New York publisher Oakleigh Thorne purchased the winery in 1974 and then appointed the Swiss-born Philip Togni as Winemaker. In 1979, the Schmidheiny family of Switzerland purchased Cuvaison as well as 400 acres of prime vineyard land in the Carneros region in southern Napa Valley. The Fall of 1998 marked the purchase of the historic 170-acre Brandlin vineyard on Mt. Veeder. Today Cuvaison has the historic winery in Carneros as well as a new facility in the heart of the Carneros estate.
Known for its Cabernet Sauvignon in the past, Cuvaison is now equally adept at Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Cuvaison has been producing Pinot Noir from their estate vineyards in Carneros since 1987. With a renewed commitment to quality and a new winery in the vineyard specifically constructed for the production of Pinot Noir, the wines have gone from good to great. Cuvaison farms 315 acres of the 400-acre Carneros estate, mainly to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Winemaker Steve Rogstad crafts 4,500 cases of Pinot Noir annually, divided into three estate grown bottlings - Carneros, Mariafeld, and Block F5.
Total annual production is 48,000 cases with 100% of wines estate grown. There are tasting rooms in Calistoga (North Napa Valley) and Carneros (South Napa Valley), both open daily.
Cuvaison has tasting rooms in Calistoga and Carneros. The Carneros tasting room is new and airy with large windows offering views of Milliken Peak. Much of the wine is widely distributed and is sold on the website.
Articles About Cuvaison Winery
Reviewed Wines
2007 Cuvaison Clone 115 Carneros Pinot Noir
(barrel sample)
·
Inky, candied oak on the
nose, plenty of grip, flashes of alcohol, lots of fruit and an expanding finish. Promising, but not
ready for prime time.
Reviewed March 23, 2008
ARTICLE »
2007 Cuvaison Estate Carneros Pinot Noir
5,557 cases, $30. Cuvaison
produces Pinot Noirs exclusively from its 400-acre vineyard in Carneros. The
winery has been owned by the Schmidheiny family of Switzerland since 1979. A
new winery devoted to Pinot Noir was built in Carneros and completed for the
2004 vintage. A tasting room on site is open by appointment. Steven Rogstad has
been the winemaker since 2001 and he has consistently produced masterful Pinot
Noirs. He also crafts the Cuvaison Block F5 Pinot Noir, a more intense expression
of the winery’s Carneros fruit. The wines are available on the website and widely
distributed.
·
Appealing mix of loamy and spiced cherry and berry aromas with
impeccable balance. The tannins are silky, the richness is evident but understated,
and the whole package drinks smoothly.
Reviewed April 18, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Cuvaison Block F5 Carneros Pinot Noir
Very Carneros, pretty in the best sense of the
word. Red cherry and dirt, sappy, substantial and delicious although quite tannic. Peacock tail
finish.
Reviewed March 23, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 Cuvaison Block F5 Carneros Pinot Noir
Cuvaison has been producing Pinot Noir from their
estate vineyards in Carneros since 1987. With a renewed commitment to quality and a new winery in
the vineyard specifically constructed for the production of Pinot Noir, the wines have gone from good
to great. Winemaker Steve Rogstad crafts 4,500 cases of Pinot Noir annually, divided into three estate grown
bottlings - Carneros, Mariafeld, and Block F5.
·
$50. This is the best Cuvaison Pinot Noir I have ever
sampled. A serious wine with earth, toast and dusty black cherry flavors and appealing notes of minerality
and spice. Very tasty.
Reviewed August 6, 2007
ARTICLE »
2007 Cuvaison Clone 115 Carneros Pinot Noir
(barrel sample) · Inky, candied oak on the nose, plenty of grip, flashes of alcohol, lots of fruit and an expanding finish. Promising, but not ready for prime time. Reviewed March 23, 2008 ARTICLE »
2007 Cuvaison Estate Carneros Pinot Noir
5,557 cases, $30. Cuvaison produces Pinot Noirs exclusively from its 400-acre vineyard in Carneros. The winery has been owned by the Schmidheiny family of Switzerland since 1979. A new winery devoted to Pinot Noir was built in Carneros and completed for the 2004 vintage. A tasting room on site is open by appointment. Steven Rogstad has been the winemaker since 2001 and he has consistently produced masterful Pinot Noirs. He also crafts the Cuvaison Block F5 Pinot Noir, a more intense expression of the winery’s Carneros fruit. The wines are available on the website and widely distributed. · Appealing mix of loamy and spiced cherry and berry aromas with impeccable balance. The tannins are silky, the richness is evident but understated, and the whole package drinks smoothly. Reviewed April 18, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Cuvaison Block F5 Carneros Pinot Noir
Very Carneros, pretty in the best sense of the word. Red cherry and dirt, sappy, substantial and delicious although quite tannic. Peacock tail finish. Reviewed March 23, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 Cuvaison Block F5 Carneros Pinot Noir
Cuvaison has been producing Pinot Noir from their estate vineyards in Carneros since 1987. With a renewed commitment to quality and a new winery in the vineyard specifically constructed for the production of Pinot Noir, the wines have gone from good to great. Winemaker Steve Rogstad crafts 4,500 cases of Pinot Noir annually, divided into three estate grown bottlings - Carneros, Mariafeld, and Block F5. · $50. This is the best Cuvaison Pinot Noir I have ever sampled. A serious wine with earth, toast and dusty black cherry flavors and appealing notes of minerality and spice. Very tasty. Reviewed August 6, 2007 ARTICLE »
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