Staglin Family Vineyard

Let’s meet a family that produces one of Napa Valley‘s greatest wines and is very involved in charity

Staglin is a family winery located in Napa Valley and specifically in the Benchlands, Rutherford. The property covers 62 acres (approximately 25 hectares).
Staglin Family Vineyard was established in 1985 by Garen and Shari Staglin. Passionate about the wine for a long time, they had the opportunity to buy 50 acres of land that had belonged to Beaulieu Vineyards since the late 19th century. Previously the grapes from these vines were used in particular for the development of the famous Georges de Latour cuvée made by Beaulieu Vineyards.

Wishing from the beginning to bet on the quality, to produce great Cabernet they initiated pedological studies which gave birth to the great work of plantation and restoration of the vineyard. In order to produce great wines, they knew how to surround themselves from the beginning with famous names of oenology such as Michel Rolland who is still their consultant.
In 2007 they acquired the John Steckter House, a historic Napa Valley monument built in 1864. They restored it as the current Visitor Reception Center. This man was one of the great pioneers of viticulture in Napa Valley.

For the little anecdote, if you have the chance to go there you can enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace, facing a magnificent view overlooking their vineyards and much of Rutherford and Oakville.
The Staglin family is particularly famous for its many contributions to charities such as One Mind Institute and the Napa Valley Auction. They have the leitmotif of saying “Great wines for great causes”.

Currently Staglin Family Vineyard is still managed by Shari and Garen Staglin but also by their daughter Shannon Staglin. In 2007 they recruited Fredrik Johansson to occupy the place of “winemaker”. Let’s go together to meet the Staglin family and Fredrik.

Where does the name of the winery come from?

“Staglin is our family name, it’s of Italian origin. My paternal grandfather came from Calabria. He came to the USA as a child, at the time of the Great Depression. His name was Pascalie Stagliano but during his naturalization he changed his name to Staglin to allow a better integration.” (Shannon Staglin)

Why did you choose to work in the world of wine, in the familial company?

“I grew up on the property. Although I knew from my adolescence that I wanted to work in the family business I still started studying something else. I first graduated with a degree in Anthropology from UCLA University. I then returned to Napa Valley where I did various small jobs in vineyards (harvest …). I then began to take a little more interest, to learn more about wine, about gastronomy … I then saw all the magic, the natural energy, the symbolism and the complementarity that there is behind the wine, cooking and I liked it! So I decided to go back to school (marketing, hospitality, consumer sale) at UC Davis University so that I could come back and work in the family vineyard. However after having graduated and to acquire more knowledge and enrich my skills I made the choice to go to work in another sector. In 2011, after working a decade outside Staglin I went back to the Winery to apply everything I learned.

I think that what I like in this job, this lifestyle is the diversity of what to do. You have to not only get involved in the work of the vineyard, be interested in what is done in the cellars, review decisions, preconceived ideas, rethink working methods … I work in the winery in harmony with Frederic. We talk a lot about what will make Staglin in the future, what footprint, what to change, improve or what to keep. The other facet of my job is the meeting with customers, exchanges, listening to stories of convivial meals around our wines, to travel, to meet restaurateurs or merchants. Each of these people has a story, an anecdote to tell me about our wines, a point of view to bring us. There is also just as many opportunities for me to promote the fruit of the work of the family, our passion and our terroir. There is also a lot of exchange with other winemakers whether it’s Californians or European winemakers it’s very interesting to see what they do, why they do it … there is always something to learn! This plurality of jobs, facets of my work I like a lot! ” (Shannon Staglin)

What is the signature of Staglin wines? What makes it possible to recognize them in tasting?

“The goal is to always produce the most qualitative wines possible. Our wines are fine, powerful and elegant. We often find in our Cabernet Sauvignon a fine salinity, a racy but balanced power, a nice ‘drinkability’. It expresses a nice aromatic palette, fruit and secondly some secondary notes. The tannins are very fine and offer a nice grain. The wood is always well integrated.

We find grace and a good structure in our wines. The tannins are ripe. The extractions are precisely mastered. We do not have exuberant materials. We bring a lot of meticulousness in the development of our wines. I like when the terroir appears at the tasting, that one can feel where it comes from, the Benchlands. During tasting what also often indicates that we are on Staglin is the aromatic characteristics brought by our very old vines / clones: small notes of berries, menthol, camphor… ” (Shannon Staglin and Fredrik Johansson)

What makes the specificity of your terroir?

” We are located on an alluvial fan of volcanic soils and gravel.  The soils are deep and very well drained, perfect for making great Cabernet Sauvignon.  We also have 19.5 hectares planted with Chardonnay on clay soils.

The location of our vineyard is also very important. We are on the slope, at the base of the mountains, exposed East. We therefore benefit from the first ray of the day that warms the coolness of the night but also the first shade of the afternoon that protects the heat of the day. It’s conditions allow the vine to grow in good conditions, to have a slow development of aromatic maturity. » (Shannon Staglin and Fredrik Johansson)

If you had to describe the vineyard, the wines and the atmosphere of Staglin, what would you say?

” Difficult question. I would say: terroir, community / family, wines and growth.” (Shannon Staglin)

Side anecdote

For the little anecdote the Staglin family is very involved in sustainable development, better integration in biodiversity (planting trees, flowers, groves …). A few years ago, they installed solar panels on the property that produce 75% of the energy used on the Winery. This desire to respect nature also applies to vineyards where vines have been managed in organic farming for many years.

Thanks to the Staglin family for their warm welcome.

Choukroun Chicheportiche Jonathan

Staglin Family Vineyard
1570 Bella Oaks Ln,
Rutherford, CA 94573,
United-States
+1 707-963-3994
www.staglinfamily.com