Chimney Rock, in the Stags Leap district of Napa Valley, California, was founded in 1980 when Sheldon Wilson, a former Pepsi executive, and his wife Sheila bought the Chimney Rock Golf Course and bulldozed half of it to make way for vineyards. The first vintage was in 1984. In 2000 the Terlato Wine Group of Chicago, one of the nation’s largest importers of high end wine, bought into the estate. In 2004 the Terlato group took full ownership of Chimney Rock. The closely-held Terlato Wine Group also owns Rutherford Hill, Alderbrook and Sanford Winery. Today the winery is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, though it also produces Fume Blanc, Rose, and several Bordeaux-style blends. Wine Advocate has often complimented the estate’s wine, as in 2005, when the reviewer wrote that “elegant reds and whites routinely emerge from Chimney Rock. In fact, those who claim California wines lack finesse and delicacy should check out these offerings.”