Opus One Winery stands in Oakville, at the centre of Napa Valley. Conceived as a Franco-American joint venture, the estate focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux-style red wines shaped by its own vineyards and extended maturation in French oak.
Quick Facts
- Location: Western Oakville AVA, Napa Valley, California
- Established: Partnership formed in 1978; first vintage produced in 1979
- Founders: Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi
- Estate vineyards: Four parcels — two within To Kalon, plus Ballestra and River
- Key varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec
- Core wines: Opus One and its second wine, Overture
History and Identity
The project was agreed in 1978 after the founders met at Château Mouton Rothschild. Their aim was to make a Napa Valley wine through close collaboration between French and American teams. The first vintage followed in 1979, while the purpose-built Oakville winery received its inaugural harvest in 1991. The name uses the musical term “opus” to describe the partnership’s first work.
Vineyards and Winemaking
Four parcels occupy western Oakville. Two holdings within To Kalon total 100 acres, while the Ballestra and River parcels add a combined 70 acres around the winery. Oakville’s gravelly alluvial soils, warm days and morning fog suit Cabernet Sauvignon while helping fruit retain acidity. Harvesting and sorting are conducted carefully, and the estate has maintained CCOF organic certification since 2021. Blends and maturation vary by vintage, with current releases typically aged for about 18–19 months in French oak.
Style and Portfolio
Opus One is Cabernet Sauvignon-led, with a structured profile that may show cassis, blackberry, violet, graphite, cedar and fine-grained tannins. Overture is selected from the same estate vineyards and has been vintage-dated since 2021. Both wines use blends that change with each harvest rather than a fixed varietal formula.
The estate remains relevant for its enduring French-American partnership, focused portfolio and detailed vintage-specific approach to Oakville wine.
