The history of the Staglin Family Vineyard has its origins in the 19th century within the wine-growing area of Rutherford Bench in Napa Valley. In 1864 John Steckter and his wife Mary purchased a 148 hectare plot in one piece from Serranus Clinton Hastings, one of the first capitalists to identify the potential of California land.
Following this acquisition, the couple got down to major land clearing work, the construction of their farm and annex barns. Just over 24 hectares are planted with vines, the rest of the area being given over to cattle and wheat.
Following the death of her husband, Mary Steckter sold the property in 1904, which subsequently passed through the hands of several owners until 1922, when Frank G. Manley, a gold and oil magnate, bought it.
In 1963 the Sullivan family, which is related to the de Latour family, founders of the Beaulieu Vineyard estate in 1900, bought the estate but sold the original Steckter farm. When Louise Sullivan died in 1984, the property passed to her stepson Walter H. Sullivan, Jr.
In 1985, the Staglin family bought this historic estate with the ambition of developing it while respecting the work initiated by the former owners. Like their predecessors, the Staglins collaborate with André Tchelistcheff, a famous winemaker who has largely contributed to the development and reputation of the greatest Californian wines. In 2007, the Staglin family bought the farm built by the Steckter couple, thus restoring the estate to its original configuration of 150 years ago.
Covering an area of 24 hectares, the Staglin estate vineyard is located on the western slope of the highest mountain in the Mayacamas range, Mount Saint John. From the mid-1860s, the first settlers recognized the great potential of this exceptional terroir, planted on rich volcanic soils, and planted vines there.
Produced in very limited quantities, the wines of Staglin Family Vineyard are made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Attentive to its terroir and respectful of the environment, the Staglin family has been running its vineyard in Organic Agriculture since its acquisition of the estate. Michel Roland has been the estate's consulting oenologist since 2000 and since 2002, ageing has been carried out in an underground cellar whose constant temperature and hygrometry (humidity level) are naturally mild and ideal for ageing of these internationally recognised wines. Solar panels have been installed to reduce the environmental impact and supply electricity to the entire estate.
In addition to the wines signed Staglin Family Vineyard, cuvées are produced under the name Salus. All profits from SALUS wine sales from Staglin Family Vineyard are donated to brain and neurological disease research. Over $450 million has been raised over the past 30 years.
