History
The Kapcsandy story is a classic American story on how to succeed in the land of opportunity with hard work and determination.
After fleeing his homeland in the days after the brutal crushing by the Soviet Army of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution (for more details, see Lou’s biography), Lou Sr. came to America and eventually settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. He married Roberta Henson in 1964, eventually settled in Seattle, Washington at the end of 1973, with their son, Louis Jr.
As Lou began his working career in the chemical engineering and manufacturing fields, his fondness for the best wines produced in the world grew. Through colleagues working in the wine business, he began sourcing the finest wines of France. Almost simultaneously, he began socializing and advising an up-and-coming group of Washington entrepreneurs who would become early icons of the Washington State wine industry.
In 1998, on a visit to Bordeaux, France, Lou and Bobbie experienced a seminal moment that ironically set them on the path of being vineyard owners themselves. With great anticipation, Lou and Bobbie arrived at the centuries-old estate Leoville Las Cases (St. Julien), on a beutiful summer day, on invite for a private luncheon hosted by the estates’ patriarch, Michel Delon. Over the course of the next five hours they were astounded by Mr. Delon’s warmth and generosity, as was Mr. Delon fascinated by Lou’s encyclopedic knowledge of not just the wines and history of Leoville Las Cases and Bordeaux, but of Burgundy, Champagne and the American estates and their terriors Lou was convinced could rival their hallowed French counterparts.
After returning from France, Lou and Bobbie began discussing their dreams for his post retirement from the General Contracting business planned for 2003. They were planning to put together a wine based business that could be done in partnership with their son Louis, Jr., and wanted to retire in Napa Valley, CA.
During the early days of touring for-sale properties, Louis Jr., visited his parents to tour potential sites. The true genesis of Kapcsandy Family Winery (and vineyard), began taking shape through marathon discussions centering on the father and son’s burgeoning idea of partnering in a venture together. An initial opportunity through contacts made on the 1998 visit to Bordeaux culminated in Lou and Louis travelling to Bordeaux in March, 2000, for en primeur events. After several days tasting the 1999 vintage, a decision was made to launch a modest import company (Grand Cru Imports LLC) to import Bordeaux wines into the USA. Thereafter, Louis Jr., remained in Bordeaux for the following nine months to stabilize the venture and develop the necessary network for the business.
In January 2000 to the whole family's utter surprise they came upon a famous 20 acre parcel with it's vineyard ripped out after Phylloxera destroyed it in 1999. In May, 2000 they closed escrow on the former Beringer Estate State Lane vineyard that was the home for many years of the Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon program.
The Kapcsandy’s embarked upon a complete replant of their vineyard site to 15 specific blocks, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. However, for one full year before setting in rootstocks, the entire field was seeded to a safflower-mix, and then tilled into the dirt in order to encourage an invigoration of nutrients and also installed a major drainage field before the re-planting.
Within three days of harvest 2005, a state of the art winery was completed on the property, to allow for maximum precision throughout the winemaking process. The best, as they say, is yet to come.
Vineyard Management
Looking across the State Lane vineyard one immediately senses that the vineyard is different. Cultivated with passion and a singular vision, the 16 acres are meticulously hedged and maintained. There is continuity in the way the vines are planted, cared for and harvested that will insure that there is unwavering quality of grapes for each vintage.
We know that it’s an old “Cliché” that great winemaking begins in the vineyard. However, it is true and we believe in it and we practice it. In other words “We walk the talk” with fervent passion.
Ilsley Vineyard Management does all of the farming from pruning to harvesting. They share our phylosophy about how sacred the vineyard is and how it is the most important part of a great bottle of wine.
From the moment we were blessed with the opportunity to purchase State Lane Vineyard we dedicated ourselves to maximize the soil, the soul, the spirit and the proprietors’ fanatical commitment to quality and the expression of this famous vineyard in every single bottle that will be produced.
Grape Growing Philosophy
The vineyard is planted 4-5 times more densely than is typical for Napa Valley. We have 2,640 vines/acre compared to the more typical 660 vines/acre. In fact we’re planted more like the “First Growths” in Bordeaux at 6,500 – 7,000 vines/hectare. At the higher density spacing the vines produce smaller berries with higher skin-to-juice ratios and more intense flavors and aromas.
The higher density spacing also induces natural stressing of the vines without artificial human intervention, like shutting watering off or withholding critical nutrients.
We aim to grow grape clusters with uniform small berries that will give our wines intense flavors with complex aromas and a full bodied structure that will be in harmonies balance.
We take extraordinary measures to make sure that only the very best grape clusters are harvested, leaving many clusters out in the vineyard. We normally drop around 5 tons/acre and only bring in around 3-3-1/2 tons/acre.