Heitz Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Founded in 1961 by Joe and Alice Heitz, Heitz Cellar was born at a time when Napa Valley’s wine industry was still small and quiet. Trained under the legendary André Tchelistcheff, Joe brought a combination of technical skill and vision to his new venture, purchasing an 8.5-acre vineyard near St. Helena and setting the stage for one of Napa’s most influential wineries.

In 1965, Joe struck a handshake deal with Tom May to source Cabernet Sauvignon from the May family’s Oakville vineyard. So impressed by the fruit, Joe decided to bottle it under the vineyard’s name — Martha’s Vineyard — making it Napa’s first vineyard-designated Cabernet. This single decision shifted the way Napa thought about terroir and continues to define Heitz’s identity.

Heitz’s reputation grew quickly. The 1971 Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet was part of the legendary 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, where California wines proved their standing against Bordeaux. In later re-judging, the same wine scored even higher, cementing its place as a Napa benchmark.

Over the years, Heitz expanded to sites across Napa Valley, from Oakville and Rutherford to St. Helena and Howell Mountain. Farming has long been organic, with the belief that healthy soils are the only way to make wines of clarity and longevity.

Since 2018, the winery has been under the stewardship of the Lawrence family, who continue to invest in its vineyards and legacy. Winemaker Brittany Sherwood, who joined Heitz in 2012, leads the cellar today, balancing tradition with a thoughtful modern touch.

The wines remain faithful to Joe’s original vision: age-worthy Cabernets that balance power and elegance, alongside smaller bottlings that highlight Napa’s varied terroirs. Above all, Heitz is a story of family, foresight, and the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard — and should always carry the name of the place it comes from.