Townsend
The wine
Townsend Cabernet Sauvignon represents the first chapter in the story of Antinori Napa Valley’s wines.
Vinification
Townsend is named for Atlas Peak neighbor June Townsend, who sold her 40-acre ranch to the Antinori Family in 1998. It is located high on a west-facing ridgeline overlooking the steep-sided Rector Canyon and Napa Valley below. The Townsend land was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon in 1999 and 2000 and swiftly proved to be one of the best vineyard sites on our wine estate. Townsend is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Cabernet Franc from top sites across the estate. The estate vineyards are planted based on Antinori’s philosophy when planting new vineyards in Tuscany, with high vine density allowing low production of fruit per vine, row direction aligned for ideal sun exposure. The grapes used to produce Townsend Cabernet Sauvignon provide for a wine of precision, balancing generous fruit and fi ne-textured tannins with freshness and lift while emphasizing structure and elegance.
Winemaking
The grapes for Townsend Cabernet Dauvignon are harvested in the cool, early morning hours and immediately taken to the winery. After destemming and berry sorting, the whole berries were transferred to a hopper then gravity fed into the four-ton conical fermentation tank. Each vineyard section is fermented individually to maintain its distinctive characteristics. After a cold soak, the tanks are warmed to start fermentation by the addition of yeast. Cap management was performed using the pneumatic punch-down system. After the new wine is removed from the skins, it is racked to 100% new French barrels to initially go through malolactic fermentation and then ageing. The wine remains in barrel for about 20 months, then the wine in each barrel is tasted and selections are made for the final blend.
Historical Data
The Antinori Napa Valley Estate was born from the dream of Marchese Piero Antinori to create a sublime expression of Napa Valley mountain terroir after his first visit to Napa Valley in 1966. Twenty years later, in 1986, the Marchese invested in Napa Valley: a 1,200-acre site of rugged high-elevation terrain in a remote corner of the Vaca Mountain range, the finest parcels of which he transformed into immaculate vineyards over the past 37 years.
Townsend Cabernet Sauvignon represents the first chapter in the story of Antinori Napa Valley’s wines.
Townsend is named for Atlas Peak neighbor June Townsend, who sold her 40-acre ranch to the Antinori Family in 1998. It is located high on a west-facing ridgeline overlooking the steep-sided Rector Canyon and Napa Valley below. The Townsend land was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon in 1999 and 2000 and swiftly proved to be one of the best vineyard sites on our wine estate. Townsend is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Cabernet Franc from top sites across the estate. The estate vineyards are planted based on Antinori’s philosophy when planting new vineyards in Tuscany, with high vine density allowing low production of fruit per vine, row direction aligned for ideal sun exposure. The grapes used to produce Townsend Cabernet Sauvignon provide for a wine of precision, balancing generous fruit and fi ne-textured tannins with freshness and lift while emphasizing structure and elegance.
The grapes for Townsend Cabernet Dauvignon are harvested in the cool, early morning hours and immediately taken to the winery. After destemming and berry sorting, the whole berries were transferred to a hopper then gravity fed into the four-ton conical fermentation tank. Each vineyard section is fermented individually to maintain its distinctive characteristics. After a cold soak, the tanks are warmed to start fermentation by the addition of yeast. Cap management was performed using the pneumatic punch-down system. After the new wine is removed from the skins, it is racked to 100% new French barrels to initially go through malolactic fermentation and then ageing. The wine remains in barrel for about 20 months, then the wine in each barrel is tasted and selections are made for the final blend.
The Antinori Napa Valley Estate was born from the dream of Marchese Piero Antinori to create a sublime expression of Napa Valley mountain terroir after his first visit to Napa Valley in 1966. Twenty years later, in 1986, the Marchese invested in Napa Valley: a 1,200-acre site of rugged high-elevation terrain in a remote corner of the Vaca Mountain range, the finest parcels of which he transformed into immaculate vineyards over the past 37 years.
Antinori Napa Valley
The Antinori Napa Valley Estate was born from the dream of Marchese Piero Antinori to create a sublime expression of Napa Valley mountain terroir after his first visit to Napa Valley in 1966.
