Eisele Vineyard is one of Napa Valley’s most legendary and historically significant wine estates, located in Calistoga at the northern end of Napa Valley. First planted in the 1880s, the site is renowned for its gravelly alluvial soils, exceptional drainage and unique microclimate, which together produce some of California’s most age-worthy and terroir-driven Cabernet Sauvignon.
The vineyard rose to fame in 1971 when Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards produced one of California’s earliest vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignons from Eisele fruit — a landmark wine now considered historic in Napa Valley winemaking. Over the following decades, producers such as Joseph Phelps and Conn Creek further cemented the vineyard’s reputation before Bart and Daphne Araujo purchased the estate in 1990 and began producing estate wines under the Araujo label.
In 2013, the estate was acquired by François Pinault’s Artémis Domaines (owners of Château Latour), and the winery was officially renamed Eisele Vineyard Estate. Today, the estate is farmed organically and biodynamically, with extremely low yields and meticulous vineyard management focused on expressing site rather than power. The wines are known for combining Napa concentration with remarkable freshness, minerality and precision — often described as more restrained and Bordeaux-inspired compared to richer modern Napa styles.
The flagship wine is the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, widely regarded as one of California’s greatest cult Cabernets. The estate also produces highly acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and small-production wines, all reflecting the vineyard’s distinctive mineral character and longevity.
Ben’s Recommendation: At Wine More Cellars, Eisele Vineyard sits among the absolute elite of Napa Valley — alongside Harlan Estate, Screaming Eagle and Dominus — but stylistically it’s often the most “old world” and terroir-driven of the group. Compared to blockbuster Napa Cabernets, Eisele is more restrained, mineral and age-worthy, with extraordinary finesse and balance. It’s the kind of wine serious Bordeaux collectors often gravitate toward because of its precision and longevity. For collectors, Eisele is not just cult Napa — it’s one of the great Cabernet terroirs of the world.
