Opus One

The history of the estate

Baron Philippe de Rothschild is the proud owner of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, Robert Mondavi is an icon of American wine history. This meeting of talents could only augur well. Although their relationship was tumultuous, it was through difficulties, disagreements and questioning that excellence was born. The name Opus was chosen in 1982; it means "work" in Latin.

Opus One Winery gave birth to a unique wine of exceptional quality with the ambition to create the equivalent of a First Grand Cru Classé of Bordeaux in mind. It is this constant quest for excellence that still guides each vintage and will continue to do so in the future.

In 2004, the Robert Mondavi Corp. that owns Opus One was acquired by Constellation Brands. Since that time, the winery has been run by one person, David Pearson, with a single winemaker, Michael Silacci.

The winery : between respect for tradition, a spirit of innovation and a constant desire for improvement

Opus One Winery has 55 hectares of vineyards planted with Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec.

The estate consists of 4 parcels located in the western zone of the famous Oakville wine region, benefiting from an exceptional terroir. 2 parcels are part of the famous To Kalon vineyard.

The work in the vineyards is done according to traditional methods. In parallel, modern techniques are rigorously studied and evaluated.

The current winemaker, Michael Silacci, has remained true to the values and ambitions of Opus One's founders. He uses his intuition and expertise to carry out his dual mission as winemaker and cellar master.

It's a real work of goldsmith: tasting the grapes on the bunch to the prolonged maturation in new French oak barrels through a meticulous sorting of the berries, each step of the winemaking process is subject to special attention. The wine is bottled after approximately 18 months of aging, and then stored for an additional 15 months, until it is released on October 1 of each year.

The particular climatic conditions of California, which could be likened to a Mediterranean climate, can be summed up as warm days and cool nights

Environmental Protection

Opus One is directly concerned with the future of the environment, especially in the California region. The winery believes that environmentally sustainable practices benefit the estate, the surrounding area, as well as the final product for consumers.

Opus One Winery is Napa Green certified, a label attesting to its commitment to sustainability and ecological responsibility. About 100 favorable and environmentally protective procedures have been put in place to optimize energy consumption, limit waste production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the estate's carbon footprint, commit to social equity,...

Internal practices follow a responsible and reasoned consumption policy in the use of resources and treatment of vines.

Opus One Wine

Opus One is an elegant and abundant wine with a strong personality. Its complex aromas of red fruits, spices, flowers, cocoa, citrus make it a true taste experience.

Opus One is both rich and smooth. Each vintage has its own particularities, the proportions of grape varieties vary from year to year although Cabernet Sauvignon remains the mainstay, testifying to meticulous work.

Each step of the winemaking process is the object of a very particular requirement and attention. It is at the price of this intransigence that Opus One is born each year and continues to make neophytes and wine connoisseurs dream.

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