Araujo Estate

Araujo Estate Wines Acquired by Owners of Château Latour

Araujo Estate Wines, producer of distinctive wines from the iconic Eisele Vineyard in Napa Valley, has been acquired by France’s Pinault family through its holding the Artémis Group, parent company of Château Latour in Bordeaux, Domaine d’Eugénie in Burgundy and Château Grillet in the Rhône Valley. The purchase includes the 38-acre Biodynamic and organically-farmed Eisele Vineyard, the winery and cave complex in northern Napa Valley, the Araujo Estate brand and existing inventory. The purchase price was not disclosed.

“In 1990 we began a new chapter in our lives when we purchased the Eisele Vineyard, an event that shaped our world through the magical terroir of the vineyard, the extraordinary people who work with us to grow the best grapes and make the best wine that we can each vintage, and the very special friends and colleagues who have continued to loyally support the fruits of our labors,” said Araujo Estate founders, Bart and Daphne Araujo. “The Artémis Group is the perfect buyer of this amazing vineyard we have called home for 23 years. The rich heritage of Château Latour and its other wine properties, combined with the family’s passion for the wine business, absolute commitment to excellence, and extraordinary track record of success, assures that the stewardship of Araujo Estate and the Eisele Vineyard will continue with the best of care and intentions.”

“Araujo Estate and its jewel, the unique Eisele Vineyard, have been producing consistently one of the very best wines of Napa Valley,” said Frédéric Engerer, CEO of Chateau Latour, in a statement. “We would very much like to pay tribute to the exceptional work of Bart and Daphne Araujo, whose pioneering vision, dedication to excellence and attention to detail has built one of the most respected wine estates in the world.”

All North American staff, including the entire winemaking team, will remain with the estate under its new ownership. Bart and Daphne Araujo will stay in residence at Araujo Estate until January 2014 to assist in the transition.

Founded in 1990 by Bart and Daphne Araujo, Araujo Estate is a 162-acre wine property located in northern Napa Valley. Its focus is the 38-acre Biodynamic and organically-farmed Eisele Vineyard, one of the most respected Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Napa Valley, and a winery and cave complex designed and built specifically to vinify Eisele Vineyard grapes.

The Araujo Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has a unique allure to it. It is the finesse, purity of fruit, vivid acidity and profound mineral character that set this wine apart from the other Napa wines. Its style is almost reminiscent of Pomerol. It is a sophisticated wine with great potential.

Historical background Eisele Vineyard has been known for decades as one of the most appreciated sites in Napa Valley. It was originally planted with Zinfandel and Riesling as far back as the early 1880s, while the Cabernet Sauvignon was first planted in 1964. The vineyard reached its flair after Milt and Barbara Eisele bought the vineyard in 1969. The Eiseles soon realised that their unique site produced a crop that deserved to be sold to respected producers other than the local co-operative. They therefore decided to contact winemaker Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards. The first wines carrying the Eisele Vineyard label were produced by Ridge Vineyards in 1971. The harvests of 1972 and 1973 were sold to Robert Mondavi, who used them in the prestige blend of Reserve Cabernet. 

In 1974, the crop was sold to Conn Creek Winery who produced the second vineyard-designated Eisele Cabernet. The following year the Eiseles found a partner in Joe Phelps, who had exclusivity for the whole vineyard until 1991. Phelps produced sixteen Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon vintages, until the Araujos bought it. However, the last vintage of 1991 was actually produced by both the Joe Phelps and Araujos brands. Since the Araujos acquisition, the focus towards wine making has changed. For the first time in the history of Eisele Vineyards, there is a proprietor committed exclusively to producing the wine on estate, all the way from the vineyards to the bottling and cellaring. It is done with prime focus, devotion and absolutely no compromises

Thanks to the Araujos vineyard management, the wines are showing an increasing amount of the terroir character. The terroir There are three terroir factors that give the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon its unique character. Firstly, the vineyard is located in a cove protected by the Palisades Mountains, which draw cool air from the Sonoma coastline to the site from the western Chalk Hill Gap. This helps the grapes keep their freshness and acidity, which is often a challenge given the warm Calistoga district. The second factor is the subsoil composition, which is being shaped by the two tributaries crossing the vineyard. The subsoil is made up of volcanic cobbles derived from the Palisades Mountains.

This deep rocky subsoil is well-draining causing the vine roots to penetrate deep into the ground in search of water. As the roots penetrate the soil levels, more mineral compounds are being absorbed adding minerals and complexity to the grapes. As the vineyard lies on a gently sloping hill there are parts of the vineyard with richer soil containing volcanic ash, small stones and red clay. These parts provide more weight and complexity to the flavour profile of the grapes. The third terroir factor is formed by the Araujos themselves

Through innovative vineyard management practices, the Araujos have succeeded in transferring the unique terroir into their wines. Philosophy in winemaking The Araujos commitment to producing estate-grown wines of highest calibre and distinction has driven them to employ cutting-edge practices in farming and winemaking.

The organic and biodynamic practices are an important part of the vineyard management. The organic farming principles were adapted in 1998 and were followed two years later by the biodynamic practices. The property is free of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. With these practices the Araujos are reinforcing the unique terroir and ensuring the health of the soil and vines so that they are able to handle the most common threat to their vines – the heat stress – better than ever before.