1888
Assessment List, County of Napa, property owned by H.B. Chase: 700 acres of land, Farming Utensils value $100, 2 American horses $50 each, 1 American cow, $25, Acreage planted to grapes 110.
Tradition
A working ranch, this property has supported not only grapes, but also fruit orchards, nuts, olives, an abundant kitchen garden
Wine grapes have been growing on the lands of Stags’ Leap Estate since the 1880s, and the property itself has always been a working ranch. A legacy of horticulture has dressed this place not only in grapes, but also fruit orchards, nuts, olives, an abundant kitchen garden. Traditional winemaking techniques here arise out of this farming tradition, not only the knowledge but a certain stubbornness passed down by California’s wine pioneers.
Doumani era photo (above), Stags’ Leap archives
Chase era photo (left) courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California
