Our Carneros Vineyard
The most special part of running Davis Estates is getting to do it with family. That touch of home is infused in each grape and bottle of wine produced by our estate – and that begins in the vineyard.
Our Los Carneros Vineyard
Our Carneros ranch is home to Mike and Sandy’s oldest son, Brandon Davis and his wife, Erica, along with their two children, Chase and Lily. If you visit the property, you’ll often find the kids out roaming and playing in the vineyards, with Brandon keeping a close eye on it all – he lives among the vines and knows them like the back of his hand.
Discover the details that make our Los Carneros vineyard the perfect spot for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.
The Estate
Davis Estates is the culmination of a lifelong dream. When our family discovered this beautiful century-old estate winery, we knew the historic site was the perfect place to create a distinguished Napa Valley winery of our own.
After purchasing the property in 2011, we began the ambitious restoration project, breathing new life into the estate and restoring it far past its former glory to become a winery of the highest caliber – a modern, sophisticated space that carries the rich beauty and history of wine country into the 21st century.
Today, our world-class team is committed to building a sustainable property while crafting premier Napa Valley wines to be enjoyed not only today, but for generations to come.
The Fruits of Our Vines
Two grapes reign supreme in our Carneros vineyard: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. When we first acquired the Carneros property, it was only planted with Chardonnay, but it didn’t take us long to realize that it was ideal land to also grow Pinot Noir. We quickly pivoted, replanting half the ranch with Pinot Noir. Now, we produce both stunning varietals, and love seeing the gorgeous harvest this vineyard yields year after year.
Pinot Noir
Our Carneros Pinot Noir is extra special because it’s used to craft our 2024 Lily Fleur Rose – yes, named after our very own Lily, who loves running through the Carneros vineyard with her brother on sunny summer days.
Our Pinot Noir grapes are also used to craft classic Pinot Noir wines with oomph! If you love wines with great structure, the Davis Estates 2023 Pinot Noir features notes of black tea, red plum, and dried cranberry, with the shine and color of sun-darkened mahogany. It’s a wine that sings – and every note echoes the land it comes from.
Chardonnay
One of the most popular white wine grapes in the world, our two acres of Chardonnay thrive in the long, cool growing season of the Los Carneros appellation. At Davis Estates, we love to produce rich, creamy Chardonnay wines with delicate oak influence and a silky finish – and the Carneros vines are the perfect place to begin the process.
The Los Carneros AVA
One of the most unique wine appellations in California, the Los Carneros AVA straddles the southern region of both the Napa and Sonoma valleys. Our vineyard is located in the Napa portion of the appellation, and sits just above sea level, where the Napa River flows through the wetlands to the San Pablo Bay.
The appellation dates back to the 1830s, when the region was still under Mexican control. During this time, General Mariano Vallejo was key in establishing many wine appellations that still exist to this day as he would give plots of land to friends and family members. Three of these plots are now a part of the Carneros AVA.
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Initially, however, the land was not predominately used for growing wine grapes – it was used for large ranches and dairies. The first winery in the region began in 1870, and was owned by William Winter.
The area faced the same challenges as the rest of California wine country – lost crops during phylloxera, production shutdowns during Prohibition. However, iconic winemaker Louis M. Martini began to breathe new life into the area in 1942, and wine production began to ramp up in a major way.
The Los Carneros AVA was officially established in 1983, and is now home to more than 20 wineries and over 8,000 acres of vineyards. It’s a thriving corner of wine country – and at Davis Estates, we’re proud to be a part of it.
VIneyard Climate
Our Carneros vineyard is special because it’s located in one of the coolest growing regions in Napa. The morning fog and maritime breezes from the bay create a longer, cooler growing season that allows grapes to develop beautifully, growing in depth and complexity the longer they stay on the vine. It’s a prime terroir for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and we love watching our crops flourish.
Sitting just above sea level, our vineyard is made up of clay subsoil and a loam topsoil, which is great for growing fruit with balanced color, flavors, tannins, and acidity.
The rainfall is some of the lowest in Napa Valley – only up to 24 inches annually. However, the cool temperatures and breezes keep the vineyard from ever getting too dry, as temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees, even during the hottest days of the year. Cool climate wines thrive in Carneros vineyards – and so do we.
