Our Vineyards & Growers
How Elyse Makes Wines with a Sense of Place
Every aspect of the vineyard — soil, elevation, slope, weather, and the farming practices — imbues finished wines with character. This distinctiveness is what draws many wine lovers to vineyard-designate wines, where terroir is most observable.
We have been so fortunate to work with many of Napa and Sonoma's very best growers to make terroir-driven wines since the very beginning of Elyse Winery. What started with a handful of barrels of Zinfandel from the Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford has grown into a portfolio of wines we are so delighted to share.
Rutherford AVA
The Most Famous Dust in Napa Valley
The Rutherford appellation's warm climate, dusty soils, and afternoon winds create world-reknown powerful red wines with distinctive "velvety" tannins. Elyse's first wines were crafted in the most famous region of Rutherford, the Rutherford Bench, and we have worked here every year since.
Yountville AVA
Home of Elyse Winery
The Yountville Appellation is touched by San Pablo Bay's marine layer in the morning and enjoys breezes through the afternoon, fostering a moderate climate. This air conditioning makes for long times on the vine, perfect for complex, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc rooted in loam, sand, and gravel.
Spring Mountain District AVA
Vineyards above the Fog
High in elevation atop the Mayacamas range, Spring Mountain AVA sprawls across both Napa and Sonoma County. This cooler mountain climate has depleted soils that create wines dark in color and rich in tannins with an earned reputation for aging well.
St. Helena AVA
Balanced by the Mountains
St. Helena Appellation is at the narrowest part of Napa Valley. This region is exposed to direct sunlight and heat from the Vaca Range and Mayacamas Mountains, but its hourglass shape funnels cool breezes to tend to the vines overnight. These temperature patterns combined with a myriad of soils types create wines that are both balanced and vibrant.
Sonoma Vineyards
Elyse crafts wines from several Sonoma Appellations, from arid Dry Creek for Zinfandels to foggy Russian River Valley for Chardonnays. Always up for experimentation and exploration, we release small-lot vineyard-designate Sonoma wines as opportunities and inspirations arise.
Elyse Grower Atlas
No matter how amazing the dirt, grapes do not all grow equally well in the same places — that is why your favorite Pinot Noir is likely not from the same vineyard as your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon!
Elyse Winery selects vineyards across California to bring you our favorite expressions of each varietal, from rugged dry-farmed Petite Sirahs to delicate Chardonnays.
Beyond our Estate Cabernet Vineyard, all that we offer you is because of our amazing grape growers and their partnerships with us over generations of their families. Thank you!
