Heitz Wine Cellars

Heitz Wine Cellars was founded in 1961 by Joe Heitz and his wife Alice Heitz, establishing it as one of the pioneering wineries of Napa Valley's modern era. The winery played an important role in establishing Napa Valley's reputation for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon in the decades following Prohibition.

The Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a specific vineyard in Rutherford planted by Tom and Martha May, and the first vintage released was 1966. It became one of the first widely recognized single-vineyard designated wines in Napa Valley, celebrated for its eucalyptus notes and exceptional aging potential spanning decades.

Heitz Wine Cellars is located in St. Helena in the Napa Valley, with its vineyard holdings including the famous Martha's Vineyard site in the Rutherford appellation. The Rutherford region is known for its distinctive terroir that produces structured, complex Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Heitz Wine Cellars has been known for its traditional approach, including extended aging of its Cabernet Sauvignon in large French oak tanks before bottling, a method less common in modern Napa winemaking. This long aging regimen contributes to the structured, age-worthy profile for which their single-vineyard Cabernets are recognized.