Opus One
Opus One is among California’s leading wine estates. It was founded as a joint venture between two leading wine producers: Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the owner of Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac; and Robert Mondavi, one of the most influential figures in Californian wine history.
The History of the Estate:
Opus One was created in 1978 by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the legendary owner of Château Mouton Rothschild, and the famous Napa Valley wine producer Robert Mondavi. It is located in the Oakville sub-region of California’s Napa Valley. There are four estate-owned vineyards, including considerable holdings in the prestigious To Kalon vineyard. By combining both families’ winemaking traditions and innovations, the partners aimed to create an exceptional wine in the heart of the Napa Valley. Opus One was a success and has been acclaimed as a “Californian First Growth”. Opus One has 55 hectares of vines planted with Bordeaux grape varieties. Baroness Philippine de Rothschild inaugurated the new Opus One winery, one of the architectural gems of the Napa Valley, in 1991.
Constellation Brands acquired Robert Mondavi Winery in 2004 and reached an agreement with Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA in the following year to continue Opus One as a 50/50 joint venture. Asserting its independence and striking a perfect balance between its two partners, Opus One’s sole aim is to maintain its founders’ vision and passion for future generations.
The Vineyard:
The Opus One estate is made up of 4 parcels located in the western part of the famous Oakville wine region. Two parcels, covering 40 hectares, are part of the famous To Kalon vineyard. To these can be added the 28 hectares of the Ballestra and River parcels that surround the Opus One estate.
The vines are cultivated using traditional methods, such as harvesting by hand where this is the best option. In addition, if modern techniques can improve our viticultural methods, we study and evaluate them rigorously before implementing them.
The Wines:
While the exact proportions of the blend vary from vintage to vintage, Cabernet Sauvignon remains the emblematic grape variety, complemented by Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec in homage to Bordeaux tradition and the flagship varieties of Bordeaux’s left bank. From the vineyard to the cellar, every stage in the production of Opus One wines bears witness to the utmost care and attention. The wines are matured for 18 months in new French oak barrels. After bottling, the wine is aged in bottle for a further 15 months before being released on 1 October each year. These rigorous, uncompromising choices have produced the exceptional grand cru that is Opus One.
