Heitz Wine Cellars

Heitz Wine Cellars is a winery in Napa Valley with vineyards across six different appellations spanning 425 acres. The estate practices organic farming throughout its vineyard operations and maintains two locations where visitors can experience tastings.

Joe and Alice Heitz founded the winery in 1961 and pioneered single vineyard designation in 1966 with their Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This innovation changed how American wines were categorized and recognized in the marketplace.

The winery is known for making pure varietal wines that reflect the distinctive character of each vineyard location. This focus on single-variety expressions shapes how visitors experience the wines and understand the different terroirs represented here.

Visitors can arrange tastings at two locations: the Estate or the Salon, both situated along different roads in the valley. It is helpful to plan ahead and check current hours since these may shift with the seasons.

A particular vintage from Martha's Vineyard in 1968 became one of the most celebrated American wines of that era and remains frequently referenced in wine history discussions. This recognition helped establish the winery as a pioneer in producing world-class California wines.