Since its establishment in 1886, Ehlers Estate Winery has a reputation for its historic legacy and for making excellent Napa Valley wines. With Winemaker Adam Casto joining the team in 2014, the winery embarked on a transformative journey. Drawing from his extensive French training and industry expertise, Casto brought fresh insights and innovative strategies to Ehlers Estate, resulting in several notable changes targeted to improve the winery’s overall quality and experience. From refreshing the brand identity to redesigning the tasting room to supplementing the existing team members, each adjustment was crafted to align with Ehlers Estate’s enduring commitment to excellence and the new path of the winery.
I had a chance to meet with Adam on his trip through Dallas a few weeks ago, and he shared with me all the changes that have happened. “This is a phase of good change. We had to ask questions of what we do and why we continue to do it to get better,” he said. “We’ve reached a point that it’s all about fine-tuning and focusing on viniculture, wine growing, winemaking methodologies, and vineyard management.”
The winery is in the “belt buckle of Napa,” by the Mayacamas Mountains in Saint Helena. It is an organically farmed, 42-acre vineyard with a stone winery dating back to 1888 when the winery was established by Bernard Ehlers, a Danish immigrant. Ehlers was a Sacramento grocer who made his fortune selling tools to miners who had traveled to California in search of gold. In 1885, he relocated his family to Napa Valley and established the winery. Ehlers replanted the vineyard and olive trees that bear fruit today. As of 1997, the winery was owned by the Leducq Foundation with a mission of continuing the legacy of winemaking at Ehlers Estate while also supporting cardiovascular research through the profits generated.
The Leducq Charitable Trust was established by Jean and Sylviane Leducq in 1996. After spending time in Paris and establishing a winery in Virginia, their passion for food, great Bordeaux, and the American Dream brought them to Napa Valley. They took a French approach and modeled the property after a traditional Bordeaux château, bought blocks of vineyard land one piece at a time and planted vines that produce Bordeaux varietals.
Interestingly enough, both Bernard and Jean died young, and the legacy of the winery was continued by their wives to run.
About Adam
With a wine background that includes New Zealand, Chile, Australia, and France, Adam brings experience and expertise in crafting wines of distinction and elegance. Before joining Ehlers, he spent 11 years under the guidance of Philippe Melka at both DANA and Gandona Estates. During his tenure at Gandona, he was promoted to winemaker and director of vineyard operations.
I last visited the winery in 2016 when a different winemaker was in place. Casto’s leadership ushered in advancements in practices including using more technology in the vineyards, replanting some of the vineyards, experimenting with different varietals, and taking farming of the vines in-house.
“We learned from the French to be lazy winemakers, he said. “Ehlers has three distinct soil types and we wanted to be intentional in the three different parts of the vineyards what varietals are grown and thrive.”
In terms of sustainability, Adam told me that they are thinking of a 100-year vision with action-oriented outcomes. The vines are certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers nonprofit organization (CCOF), and they are looking at sustainable glass options for their bottling. The vines are certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers nonprofit organization (CCOF).
One big change is that the winery is now making white wine and it is delicious. The 2022 Ehlers Estate Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc shows they take white wine seriously. It’s a blend of 90 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 10 percent Semillon. It has notes of tropical fruit, a great minerality, and is well-balanced.
We also had a chance to try the 2021 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Franc, which is a new offering (been made as of three years ago). I love a good Cabernet Franc! The 2021 had notes of floral, blackberry, herbs and tomato. This was a layered and complex wine that will age well.
It was fun to see Adam’s passion for the Cabernet Franc and the 2018 Ehlers Estate Merlot from St. Helena and the evolution of what is to come. In the Merlot, I tasted notes of blackberries, currants, mocha, vanilla, and spice. Both wines deserve Adam’s praise. What is important to him is that the vines produce the best fruit they can to make sure the blocks shine showing their sense of place.
We also tried three additional red wines including the flagship wine of the Estate. Click here for a link to the wines.
2021 Ehlers Estate Portrait Red Blend, Napa Valley – I tasted notes of chocolate, espresso, black pepper, and herbs. It was a layered wine that I would have liked to explore with more time. The Portrait Red Blend shows the best attributes of several grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Adam talked about the name “Portrait,” which is specific to Ehlers’ vision of creating a wine that represents a picture of their estate and approach.
We then moved to the 2019 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley. It was a lovely Cabernet with notes of black cherry, cassis, blueberries, blackberry pie, pencil shavings, cedar, tobacco, and spice.
Our finale was the 2021 Ehlers Estate 1886, the winery’s flagship wine. Adam told me that changes aren’t always necessary and the 1886 bottle, which looks like an antique bottle of perfume will remain. “Why change anything when the wine is beautiful, that’s a great story behind it and there is nothing that should be changed?”, he said. It was delicious and I tasted blackberry, black cherry, cocoa, espresso, licorice, and black pepper.
Under Adam Casto’s leadership, Ehlers Estate has undergone a remarkable transformation while honoring its past. The winery has embraced sustainable and innovative practices that not only enhance the quality of its wines but also ensure the preservation of the land for the next 100 years. Adam’s expertise and dedication have introduced new varietals and refined existing ones. Ehlers Estate continues to be a beacon of excellence, blending tradition with modernity, and producing wines known for their complexity, elegance, and sense of place. As Ehlers Estate moves forward, it remains committed to crafting exceptional wines that tell the story of its unique terroir and legacy, ensuring the vineyard’s rich heritage continues to thrive.
