This month, we released two incredible wines – the 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2021 La Perla Cabernet Sauvignon – both with deep roots in our La Perla Ranch. Situated near the top of our property, with undulating rows of vines that stretch to the ridgeline, La Perla is the jewel of Spring Mountain. Home to the first Cabernet Sauvignon ever planted in this AVA, it also has a rich and storied past that dates back to the late 19th century. You don’t have to know the history to enjoy the wines, but it sure does make conversation over a bottle a lot more interesting. For that reason, we thought now was a great time to share its story.
It began in 1874, when Charles Lemme, a German immigrant and jeweler in San Francisco, bought approximately 285 acres of land on Spring Mountain. He planted a 65-acre vineyard and built a quaint stone and redwood winery, which he named La Perla "the pearl." According to a local newspaper at the time, “There was an orchard, a fish pond 100-ft long, and a fine view of Napa Valley.”
After Lemme’s death, the vineyard was sold to the Schilling family, who expanded the property and wine operations, incorporating it as the Spring Mountain Vineyard Company in 1903. Around the same time, Jacob and Fritz Beringer purchased a 150-acre parcel just below, where they terraced 70 acres in and around stands of redwoods. When Bay Area developer Jerome Draper purchased the property in 1945, he combined La Perla and the adjoining Beringer hillside vineyard. But Draper was never interested in making wine and he chose to sell the grapes instead. Eventually, Mr. Draper retired and built a beautiful home at the top of the La Perla Vineyard overlooking the Napa Valley. He was a great steward of the land, and kept the property in his family until his death.
In 1996, it was united with Miravalle, Chateau Chevalier, and Alba to create the current estate that we know today. At this time, the vineyard was completely modernized. Over a dozen weather stations were installed and climate and soil were studied intensely. With this knowledge, each block of the vineyard was planted to maximize the character of the varietals and create wines that spoke of both beauty and place.
Sadly, La Perla was badly affected by the Glass Fire in 2020 and we lost the old stone winery, but the beauty of the property, with its unique location and world-class vineyards remain. Rising from 600-ft to 1600-ft, it is the largest of our ranches with 112 acres of vines. Planted mainly to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it continues to play a dominant roll in many of our wines, from the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon to 2021 Occassus. This year – for only the third time in our history – we also made a small-production bottling of La Perla Cabernet Sauvignon.
It’s an exciting time, bridging both our past and our future. Keep an eye out - not only for great wines, but also memorable experiences that will take you into this incredible vineyard.
