Stags’ Leap has long history in Napa

Just seven miles north of Napa, in a valley within a valley, lies the century-old, 240-acre wine estate known as Stags' Leap. Little has changed here since 1893, the year the winery was founded by Horace Chase and his wife, Minnie Mizner Chase, the daughter of a prominent San Franciscan who was a U.S. senator and ambassador to Central America.

The property was named "Stags' Leap" after an old Indian legend. In addition to the old stone winery, the Chases built a gracious manor house and guest house that still stand, excavated the first wine storage caves on the east side of Napa Valley and installed what is thought to be the first in-ground fresh-water swimming pool in Northern California.

Stags' Leap became a center of social life, attracting the era's most prominent politicians, artists and writers. Friends making a journey from San Francisco crossed the Bay by ferry to Vallejo, boarded a train to Yountville, and made the last leg of their journey to Stags' Leap in horse-drawn carriages.

Perhaps it is the power of the land itself. Perhaps only providence. For whatever reason, those who have owned the Stags' Leap estate have taken it upon themselves to be stewards: committed to maintaining the rich natural heritage of this charmed valley.

Most remarkable among these individuals was Mrs. Frances Grange, who acquired Stags' Leap from Horace Chase in 1913. She carefully transformed the property into a working ranch and the Napa Valley's preeminent resort.

Stags' Leap soon became a refuge for San Franciscans escaping the cold July fog and film stars dogged by press and fans. By day they sequestered themselves in the good care of Mrs. Grange and her staff, lounging, hiking and swimming. Evening found them dining on the grand porch against a brilliant backdrop of orange and scarlet, painted by the sun as it slipped behind the Mayacamas Mountains.

After the Grange era, the winery, manor house and cottages fell into disrepair. Wine production began again in earnest in 1971 when the property was purchased by Carl Doumani and underwent a vast restoration. In 1988, Doumani hired winemaker Robert Brittan and charged him with the task of making wines that express the unique qualities of the estate's vineyard.

In 1997, Stags' Leap was purchased by Beringer Wine Estates, which in 2000 was purchased by the Australian company Foster's Brewing Group, whose two wine groups combined and are now Foster's Wine Estates Americas.

Robert Brittan continued the revitalization of the vineyards and winery until 2005. In the spring of 2005, Kevin Morrisey was named winemaker and director of operations. Morrisey worked as the winery's enologist and assistant winemaker from 1998 to 2003, followed by two years as winemaker at Etude, before coming back full circle to make wine at Stags' Leap.