In the spring of 1987, Ron and Diane Miller accepted the gracious invitation of Franco Biondi-Santi to stay at Il Greppo, his family’s villa, and to see his part of Tuscany in the heart of Montalcino. Inspired by the visit and the wines, Ron and Diane began looking for a little Tuscany in their own back yard.
In 1990 they found Felix Borreo’s old estate half way up Soda Canyon to Atlas Peak. A century earlier Borreo was a major purveyor of nearly everything for the town of Napa and beyond. Most of what he sold, he grew himself on the estate, which produced hay, firewood, oranges, peaches, plums, blackberries, chestnuts, figs, olive oil and wine. His original plantings of olive trees still thrive among our Sangiovese and Zinfandel vines. His original stone and redwood winery, built in 1888, still stands as a noble reminder of our obligation to protect the legacy of all of Napa’s winemaking pioneers for future generations.
The vineyard itself is steep and rocky with perfect western exposures to the late afternoon sun. Colder temperatures, due to the altitude and the canyon shading, make for longer growing seasons which produce bright cranberry and cherry flavors in our Sangiovese and blackberry and black pepper flavors in our Zinfandel.
Soils
Boomer-Forward-Felta Complex, Cortina Very Gravelly Loam
First Planted
1881, by Nathaniel G. B. Ellis
Current Plantings
1993, by Ron and Diane Miller
Grape Varieties
Sangiovese -- 11 acres
Zinfandel -- 3 acres
Sangiovese Clones
UCD 2 & 3, Atlas Peak, Rodeno
Zinfandel Clones
Hayne, Mendocino, Peterson
Rootstock
420A, 5C, 110R
Olive Varieties
Picholine, Santagetese, Manzanillo, Mission
First and Current Plantings
1883 by Felix Borreo