Dominus

The Napanook vineyard's story starts in 1836, when Yountville's founder George Yount planted the valley's first vines here. It passed through a string of owners before John Daniel Jr. — who also owned the historic Inglenook estate — bought it in 1946.

When Christian Moueix, of the Bordeaux family behind Petrus, first saw Napanook in 1981, he recognized land good enough to build something serious around. On Robert Mondavi's own recommendation, he partnered with Daniel's daughters, Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, in 1982; Dominus released its first vintage in 1983 and took full ownership of the vineyard in 1995. The striking Herzog & de Meuron-designed winery followed in 1997, and the estate became CCOF-certified organic in 2021.