1979 The Christian Brothers Mont La Salle Vineyard Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon

Christian Brothers was a historic Napa Valley winery founded in 1882 by the Christian Brothers, a Catholic teaching order, and run by the brothers until 1989, when it was sold to Heublein, the international spirits conglomerate. Heublein acquired the estate’s 1,200 acres of prime vineyards as well as the historic winery. In the mid to late 20th century Christian Brothers was known for making brandy and high quality wines.

Mount Veeder AVA was established in 1993, though its origins as a wine producing district date to the 19th century. A German Presbyterian pastor named Peter Veeder was one of the first landowners in the area, and by 1864 one of his neighbors, a German sea captain named Stelham Wing, was producing wine commercially. The area continued to attract German agricultural entrepreneurs, some of whom established the estate that would later become the Christian Brothers Mont La Salle winery. Today the AVA includes about 1,000 acres of vineyards, most of them at relatively high altitudes. The Mayacamas vineyard, for instance, is at 2,400 feet. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape, followed by Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.