#Opus one wine manual
The vineyards are, for the most part, managed with traditional practices, like manual harvest of the fruit. Today Opus One is produced from four different parcels in the western zone of the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley: two parcels forming the famous 40-hectare To-Kalon vineyard and the River and Ballestra Parcels, which form 28 hectares in total and surround the present-day Opus One Winery. In 1981, Mondavi sold part of his share of the vineyard to the newly launched Opus One venture, providing high-quality grapes that serve as the backbone of the blend. It is generally regarded as the best winemaking land Napa has to offer. The To Kalon vineyard is jointly owned by a number of famed Napa producers. Of The Blend Comes From Napas Legendary To Kalon Vineyard Following years of planning, they formed a joint venture in 1980, to which Mondavi sold 35 acres from his famous To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, Napa. It all started in Hawaii at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in 1970, where Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi met for the first time. They originally established Opus One to combine the best of Old and New World wine making expertise in one of the most sought after plots in the Napa Valley. Sadly no longer with us, they have both been responsible for great innovation which will continue to shape the fine wine industry for the foreseeable future. The Opus One index is up 33% in the last 5 yearsĬalifornias famous Opus One is the product of the shared vision of two of the most influential winemakers of all time, Chateau Mouton Rothschilds Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Napa Valleys Robert Mondavi.UK remains the largest overseas market for Californian investment wines.Californian investment wines account for 7% of trade share on Liv-ex in 2021.The Liv-ex California 50 index hit an all-time high in August 2021.We look at one of the regions iconic cult wines the product of a marriage between Bordeaux aristocracy and New World talent Opus One. Other materials include clear weathered California redwood, natural oak and stainless steel hardware.Īll interior design elements including selected furniture, carpets and lighting fixtures were designed to extend the architectural composition of the building and to reflect a unity of winemaking, food and artful living.Californias investment wines are enjoying a golden era and the US West Coast is now home to the second most expensive fine wines in the world after Burgundy. The typical exterior cladding is domestic limestone in two finishes including a rusticated finish for large panels developed originally for this project. Barrel room cooling is provided through a radiant cooling system embedded within the primarily concrete building structure.
![opus one wine opus one wine](https://fine-wine-collectors.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/opus_one_02.jpg)
The winery has a 20,000 case capacity, with a potential expansion to 30,000 cases. The building plan and section is organized to encourage “gravity flow” of the winemaking process, wherein grapes are delivered to the winery high and fermented and barreled low, such that there is a minimum of mechanical movement and disturbance of the wine. Other functions on this level include fermentation, barrel cleaning, barrel storage, bottling and delivery. The space beneath the berm shelters the Grand Chai where first year barrels are on display, overlooked by the main tasting room.
![opus one wine opus one wine](https://www.tkwine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_8094-e1563413185642.jpg)
The lower level is exclusively devoted to winemaking. The semicircular courtyard is surrounded by perimeter arcades which link public functions including spaces for reception, wine tasting, administrative offices, public relations and kitchen facilities. A landscaped approach to the front of the winery bisects the berm and leads to a turfed courtyard shaded by olive trees. This earthen form blends into the backdrop of the hills and neighboring vineyards as it changes colors with the passing of the seasons. The unique, 70,000 square foot, low profile structure is concealed from view by a crescent-shaped berm which is landscaped in native grasses, shrubs and wildflowers. The winery is set in 100 acres of vineyards in the heart of the Napa Valley, California’s preëminent wine-growing region. The Opus One Winery, a joint venture of the Robert Mondavi Winery and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, is a unique collaboration between a renowned California vintner and a celebrated European Winemaker.