Stags' Leap

Stags’ Leap Winery is one of Napa Valley’s oldest wine estates, established in 1893, in the heart of the Stags Leap District AVA. Known for elegant, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon with structure, refinement, and strong cellaring potential. Key expressions: Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon (dark cherry, vanilla, smooth entry), Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (black currant, forest floor, savory herbs), Karia Chardonnay (ripe pear, apple, creamy oak), and Investor Red Blend.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Stags Leap District a distinctive Napa Valley appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon?

The Stags Leap District is a compact AVA on the eastern side of the Napa Valley floor, running along the base of a dramatic series of volcanic palisades — the “stags leap” rock formations that give the district its name. The appellation’s soils are primarily volcanic tuff and alluvial gravels from ancient lava flows, which drain well and produce lower-vigor vines with more concentrated fruit than the heavier clay soils of Rutherford and Oakville. The palisades create a natural thermal air funnel: warm afternoon air rises up the rocks and is replaced by cool evening air descending from the bay, producing significant diurnal temperature variation that preserves acidity and aromatic complexity in the Cabernet while still allowing full physiological ripeness. The result is a regional character that Napa Valley wine professionals describe as “iron fist in a velvet glove” — substantial structure and aging potential in a more immediately approachable, texturally softer package than the bigger, more tannic Cabernets of Rutherford and Oakville. The 1976 Judgment of Paris — where Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon beat French first-growth Bordeaux in a blind tasting — was won by a Stags Leap District wine, establishing the appellation’s international reputation.

What is the difference between Stags’ Leap Winery and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars?

This is one of the most frequently confused naming pairs in American wine. Stags’ Leap Winery (the estate at Wooden Cork, established 1893, now owned by Treasury Wine Estates) and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (founded 1972 by Warren Winiarski, won the 1976 Judgment of Paris) are two entirely separate wineries in the same Stags Leap District AVA with confusingly similar names. The apostrophe placement is the technical differentiator: Stags’ Leap Winery places the apostrophe after the “s”; Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars places it before. The two wineries litigated their naming rights for decades — a case that went to the US Supreme Court in 1984 — and ultimately both retained the right to use their respective names. The Judgment of Paris wine was from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, not Stags’ Leap Winery. Both produce high-quality Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon, but they are distinct producers with different histories, ownership, and winemaking approaches.