Opus One Winery
Opus One Winery | |
---|---|
Location | Oakville, California, USA |
Appellation | Oakville AVA |
Founded | 1978 |
First vintage | 1979 |
Key people | Robert Mondavi co-founder; Philippine de Rothschild, co-owner; Michael Silacci, Winemaker |
Parent company | BPhR, Constellation Brands |
Cases/yr | 25,000 |
Known for | Opus One |
Varietals | Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot |
Tasting | by appointment |
Website | opusonewinery |
Opus One Winery is a winery in Oakville, California, United States. The wine was called napamedoc until 1982 when it was named Opus One. The winery was founded as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi to create a single Bordeaux style blend based upon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It is located across State Route 29 from the Robert Mondavi Winery. The creation of this winery venture in 1980[1] was big news in the wine industry; de Rothschild's involvement added an air of respectability to the burgeoning Napa wine region. The first vintage, 1979 was released in 1984 at the same time as the 1980 vintage. For a while it was the most expensive Californian wine, and to date still ranks among the most expensive red wines produced in the Napa Valley, with the 2014 vintage retailing for $325 per bottle.[2] In 1989 a new winery was built just down the road, the first vintage from the new winery was from 1991 and was released in 1994.[3]
Since 1993, they have produced a second wine, Overture.[4][5]
History
The genesis of Opus One wine can be traced to 1970 at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii where Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild met for the very first time and began their collaboration to merge old world and new world wine styles into one grand opus.[6] The joint venture between Mondavi and Baron Rothschild was announced in 1980, though plans for the winery had been developing between the two men since the early 1970s.[7]
The first vintage was made in 1979[8] with grapes from Mondavi's To Kalon Vineyard in the Oakville AVA. In 1980, Mondavi sold 35 acres of this vineyard to the joint venture that would serve as the backbone for the blend. The first vintage from this block was released in 1985.[7] From 1989 to 1991, the estate built the large limestone winery in Oakville that has become an icon of the Napa Valley.[7][8]
In the 1990s, Opus One became the California cult wine to be widely sold in Asia and Europe. Following Constellation Brands' 2004 takeover of Robert Mondavi winery, the estate of Baron Rothschild negotiated with Constellation Brands control of marketing, vineyard management, and administration of the winery.[7]
Winery
Opus One's first vintage was in 1979, but the construction of the Opus One Winery started ten years later. It was built in front of the Mondavi winery. The winery, designed by architect Scott Johnson, was conceived to sit in the continuity of the cratered terrain of the valley floor, with a classical allure.[8]
The winery sits atop a high water table, which made the excavation delicate. Its soil is warmed by nearby geothermal springs.[8]
The winery contains 108 acres of vines, with a distribution of 2,200 vines per acre.[9]
References
- ^ Opus One "History" Accessed: January 7, 2011
- ^ "Opus One, Napa Valley, USA: prices | Opus One". Opus One Winery. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
- ^ Sullivan, Charles Lewis (1998). A companion to California wine. University of California Press. pp. 245. ISBN 9780520213517.
opus one wine history.
- ^ Overture
- ^ "Opus One's Second Wine – Overture". January 15, 2014.
- ^ "Robert Mondavi Winery - About Us - Milestones". www.robertmondaviwinery.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-29.
- ^ a b c d J. Gordon (ed) Opus Vino pg 33, DK Publishing New York 2010, ISBN 978-0-7566-6751-1
- ^ a b c d Prial, Frank J. (26 July 1989). "Opus One Is to Get Its Own Winery". The New York Times.
- ^ Berger, Dan (1991-11-14). "Opus One: Reaching Toward a C Note". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
External links
- Opus One Winery website
38°26′29″N 122°24′00″W / 38.441287°N 122.399988°W / 38.441287; -122.399988
- v
- t
- e
companies
- Rothschild & Co
- RIT Capital Partners
- Edmond de Rothschild Group
- de Rothschild Frères
- S. M. von Rothschild
- Imerys
- Eramet
- Club Med
- Libération
- Economist Group (The Economist)
- Mouton Cadet
- Opus One Winery
- Chemins de Fer du Nord
- Vítkovice Mining and Iron Corporation
- Palestine Jewish Colonization Association
- Yad Hanadiv
- Creditanstalt
- British South Africa Company
- Rio Tinto
- De Beers
- Caspian and Black Sea Oil Company
- Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway
- Asia Resource Minerals
- Genel Energy
- Alliance Assurance
- Rothschild properties in the Home counties
- Ascott House
- Aston Clinton House
- Champneys
- Eythrope
- Exbury Gardens
- Gunnersbury Park
- Halton House
- Mentmore Towers
- Tring Park Mansion
- Waddesdon Manor
- Spencer House
- Palais Rothschild
- Château Mouton Rothschild
- Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay
- Château Clarke
- Château de Ferrières
- Château Lafite
- Château de Laversine
- Château des Laurets
- Château de la Muette
- Château Rothschild, Boulogne-Billancourt
- Haras de Meautry
- Hôtel Lambert
- Hôtel de Marigny
- Hôtel de Pontalba
- Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild
- Talleyrand Building
- Salomon Mayer von Rothschild
- Anselm Salomon von Rothschild
- Mathilde Hannah von Rothschild
- Nathaniel Mayer Anselm von Rothschild
- Ferdinand de Rothschild
- Salomon Albert Anmselm von Rothschild
- Ludwig (Louis) von Rothschild
- Eugéne Daniel von Rothschild
- Jeanne Stuart von Rothschild
- Alice Charlotte von Rothschild
- Alfred de Rothschild
- Amschel Mayor James Rothschild
- Sir Anthony de Rothschild, 1st Baronet
- Anthony Gustav de Rothschild
- Anthony James de Rothschild
- Charles Rothschild
- Charlotte Henriette de Rothschild
- David Mayer de Rothschild
- Dorothy de Rothschild
- Edmund Leopold de Rothschild
- Emma Georgina Rothschild
- Evelina de Rothschild
- Evelyn Achille de Rothschild
- Sir Evelyn de Rothschild
- Ferdinand de Rothschild
- Hannah de Rothschild, Countess of Rosebery
- Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild
- Kathleen (Nica de Koenigswarter) Rothschild
- Leopold de Rothschild
- Leopold David de Rothschild
- Lionel de Rothschild
- Lionel Nathan de Rothschild
- Lynn Forester de Rothschild
- Mayer Amschel de Rothschild
- Miriam Louisa Rothschild
- Nathaniel de Rothschild
- Nathan Mayer Rothschild
- Nathan Rothschild, 1st Baron Rothschild
- Nathaniel Rothschild, 5th Baron Rothschild
- Nicky Hilton Rothschild
- Serena Rothschild
- Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild
- Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild
- Alphonse James de Rothschild
- Aline Caroline de Rothschild
- Ariane de Rothschild
- Arthur de Rothschild
- Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
- Benjamin de Rothschild
- Betty von Rothschild
- Charlotte de Rothschild
- Bethsabée de Rothschild
- David René de Rothschild
- Edmond Adolphe de Rothschild
- Edmond James de Rothschild
- Édouard Etienne de Rothschild
- Edouard Alphonse de Rothschild
- Élie de Rothschild
- Elisabeth de Rothschild
- Guy de Rothschild
- Hélène de Rothschild
- Henri de Rothschild
- Jacqueline Rebecca de Rothschild
- James Armand de Rothschild
- James Mayer de Rothschild
- Marie-Hélène de Rothschild
- Nadine de Rothschild
- Nathaniel Robert de Rothschild
- Nicole de Rothschild
- Pauline de Rothschild
- Philippe de Rothschild
- Philippine de Rothschild
- Salomon James de Rothschild
- Maurice de Rothschild
- Gustave de Rothschild
- Robert de Rothschild
- Alain de Rothschild
- Éric de Rothschild
- Marie Angliviel de la Beaumelle
- Category: Rothschild family