Upon his discovery of the 124-acre Napanook vineyard in 1981, Christian Moueix founded Dominus Estate to produce one of Napa Valley’s most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons. The vineyard’s volcanic, well-draining soils are specifically suited to growing Bordeaux varietals, and winemaker Tod Mostero vinifies each dry-farmed parcel separately. Attention to detail is second to none, with minimal intervention allowing the terroir to fully express itself in the wine.

The Napanook vineyard is nestled in a natural amphitheater at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains on the west side of the Napa Valley. Encompassing 134 acres, its gravelly clay loam soils gently slope 3-10%, ensuring natural drainage. Fed by winter rains, its underground springs flow through ancient riverbeds and provide a natural supply of water to its grapevines, allowing them to develop deep roots. Over centuries this fertile benchland’s microclimate has provided ideal conditions for crops and grape growing. 

A pioneer of adaptive viticulture, Christian shapes vineyards to meet the evolving demands of climate and terroir. They produce wines that reflect the purity, complexity and character of grapes grown exclusively from the Napanook vineyard. Their philosophy is that the character of a wine is defined by the grapes at harvest. With their extensive efforts in the vineyard, once the grapes are in hand, their winemaking practice is minimalist.