This rugged terrain first made history in the 1800s, when the gentleman bandit Charles Earl Bowles, known as Black Bart, robbed the daily stagecoach that traveled over the hill from St. Helena to Monticello. Early German settlers discovered the well-drained soils and perfect growing conditions, and their grapes brought some of the highest prices in the Napa Valley. Soon, a nearby luxury mineral spa was attracting visitors from San Francisco and beyond. But by the early 1900s, the increased deer population devastated the vineyards, and by Prohibition, viticulture was abandoned on these hills.

In 1991, Dr. Jan Krupp saw an ad in the San Francisco Chronicle selling a Napa Valley property with good soils. His interest grew when, on his first site visit, he noticed a few old vines, perhaps 100 years old. With the help of a few good friends, he began developing the property in 1995, defying what many local experts had claimed was an impossible task. It took seven years to clear more than a billion pounds of volcanic rock.

Then, there was the issue of water, which hadn’t yet been found on the arid land. Jan hired a world-renowned geologist, who identified five potential locations. Drill to 300 feet, he advised, and when no water was found, he recommended against purchasing the property. Instead of quitting, Jan hired a “water witch” who walked the property with her apparatus of two copper rods, stopping abruptly at one spot. Drill here, she said. At 400 feet, an underwater stream was found, as well as water at the five places identified by the geologist, but at the witch’s recommended depth.

In 2017, E. & J. Gallo Winery purchased Stagecoach Vineyard®. Now, with over 600 acres planted to vine, the Cabernet-focused Stagecoach Vineyard® is the largest contiguous vineyard in the Napa Valley. The 1,300+ acres of rocky, volcanic terroir extends from the southern edge of Pritchard Hill overlooking Oakville to the westernmost regions of the Atlas Peak appellation.

More than 70 wineries craft luxury wines from the fruit harvested on this challenging, dramatic terrain. Growing numbers of Napa’s best vintners are seeking the character and complexity found in our mountain grapes.

In addition to its stature as a premium vineyard, the rugged beauty of Stagecoach Vineyard® is home to several indigenous flora and fauna. Among the sprawling acres of thriving vines and volcanic chaparral slopes are the gnarly remnants of an old vineyard created by the area’s first settlers. The storied Water Witch’s Well lies near the vineyard entrance to Stagecoach Vineyard®, evidence of the powerful union of luck and perseverance that made this place possible. The spirit of Black Bart – who intimately knew and rode this verdant backcountry – is clearly still at home.

Images provided by Dawson Diaz for Stagecoach Vineyard®. All rights reserved.