Letting Great Sites Speak at Home and Beyond
Freemark Abbey’s vineyards embody the distinct character of each site, from the storied Bosché and Sycamore vineyards to the elevated Stagecoach and historic Keyes sites. Each vineyard imparts its own personality to the wines, whether through bold structure, layered complexity, or subtle refinement. Decades of attentive cultivation and careful stewardship allow every site to reach its fullest potential. These vineyards form the foundation for wines that are expressive, balanced, and a true reflection of their origin. Together, they create a collection that celebrates the land, the craft, and the enduring legacy of Freemark Abbey.
Climate
Warm days and cool nights define Napa Valley’s Mediterranean climate, allowing grapes to ripen slowly while retaining natural acidity. This balance creates wines with richness, structure, and remarkable longevity.
Soil
Rutherford’s gravelly loams, Howell Mountain’s volcanic rock, and Atlas Peak’s rugged terrain each impart their own character. The diversity of soils brings depth, minerality, and distinct personality to every vineyard expression.
Elevation
From valley floor to mountain slope, our vineyards span a striking range of elevations. Higher sites yield concentrated fruit and firm tannins, while lower sites offer plush textures and classic Napa Valley elegance.
Heritage
Freemark Abbey’s deep roots in Napa Valley date back to 1886, and its vineyard legacy continues through Bosché, Sycamore, and beyond. Decades of careful stewardship and a library spanning seven decades reflect a timeless pursuit of excellence.
Boshé Vineyard
Bosché Vineyard, long recognized as one of California’s premier sites for Cabernet Sauvignon, has been a cornerstone of Freemark Abbey for over 50 years. Planted by John Bosché in the mid-1960s on gravelly, well-drained soils in Rutherford, the vineyard’s unique Cabernet and Merlot fruit has been harvested exclusively for the estate, making it a monopole in Napa Valley terms. Freemark Abbey’s Cabernet Bosché was one of the valley’s first vineyard-designated wines, celebrated for its concentration, balance, and aging potential, with library releases from vintages like 2005 and 2015 still showing remarkable vitality. Nestled near some of Napa’s most renowned properties, the vineyard’s terroir and careful stewardship have created a singular expression of Rutherford Cabernet that continues to define the estate’s signature wines.
Sycamore Vineyard
Sycamore Vineyard, located in Rutherford just a few miles from Bosché, has long served as a counterpoint in Freemark Abbey’s Library Experience tastings. Planted in the mid-1970s with eastern sun exposure and gravelly soils, it produces balanced Cabernet fruit that complements its older neighbor, Bosché Vineyard. Originally purchased and restored by the late Freemark partner John Bryan and his family, Sycamore remains family-owned, with fruit sold exclusively to the estate. For head winemaker Ted Edwards, both vineyards are like children—distinct yet equally cherished—each yielding Cabernets that stand on their own while telling the broader story of Rutherford’s classic terroir. Together, these vineyards highlight the depth, nuance, and enduring legacy of Freemark Abbey’s Napa Valley Cabernets.
Colline Vineyard
Colline Vineyard marks a new chapter in Freemark Abbey’s single-vineyard legacy—its first addition in over four decades. Nestled in Oakville on gently sloping, stone-studded terrain, the site was once home to winemaker Robert Pepe’s “Collina di Sassi,” or “hill of stones,” a name that inspired its revival and modern expression. The vineyard’s bale clay loam soils mirror those of neighboring icons like Bosché, Sycamore, and To Kalon, yielding Cabernet of remarkable depth and structure. Low-vigor vines produce small, concentrated berries that translate into a wine layered with blackberry compote, blueberry, and hints of graphite and baking spice. With its balance of power and elegance, Colline Vineyard Cabernet represents both Freemark Abbey’s respect for heritage and its continual pursuit of excellence in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Napa Valley
Freemark Abbey’s reputation has long been built on its single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, Bosché and Sycamore, which have graced labels since 1970 and 1985 and earned acclaim among collectors and critics alike. Beyond these storied Rutherford properties, the portfolio draws from more than 15 additional Napa Valley vineyards, allowing the winemaking team to craft a full spectrum of reds that reflect the region’s diversity. From mountain vineyards to sites stretching from Calistoga to Yountville, the wines celebrate both single-AVA expressions and multi-vineyard blends, including the landmark 130th Anniversary Wine, which combines fruit from ten vineyard sites across seven appellations for a complex and distinctive Napa Valley red. Together, these vineyards and their careful stewardship tell a story of enduring quality, depth, and the heritage of St. Helena winemaking.
