Bella Oaks

welcome

In a quiet corner of the famed Rutherford Bench is a vineyard with a legacy for producing some of Napa Valley’s earliest and most noteworthy single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. Quietly, over the last decade, visionary proprietor and steward Suzanne Deal Booth breathed new life into Bella Oaks, beginning with a replanting and revitalization of the vineyard in 2010 by vineyard manager David Abreu. Now, with a formidable team of specialists, including winemaker Nigel Kinsman and master blender Michel Rolland, Suzanne’s mission to preserve and elevate this historic site sees Bella Oaks poised to inscribe its name once more in Napa Valley’s rich history.

The

Labyrinth

The Labyrinth

“In life we all seek moments of clarity and connection.”

Suzanne Deal Booth

Emblem & Allegory

The labyrinth that graces our label can be found on the estate, nestled beneath a ring of old olive trees. Crafted with stones sourced from the streets of Dublin, Boston, and the mountains of Montana, the design references the medieval labyrinth in the French cathedral city of Chartres.

Introspection and intention are required of everyone who walks a labyrinth. The building of anticipation while practicing patience in the observance of each step offers a vivid allegory for our work here in this historic place.

The

Vision

The Vision

Preservation is not passive.

True stewardship requires unceasing devotion to revitalizing both a place and the ideal it represents. From safeguarding a palpable sense of serenity to nurturing a new diversity of life and perspective, the future of Bella Oaks is filled with optimism and possibility.

While soil and vine are the framework of every estate, it is the home and its inhabitants that give it meaning. Bella Oaks founders Barney and Belle Rhodes helped birth the enduring legacy of hospitality and culinary culture that defines the Napa Valley today. So our charge is not only to make great wine, but through community, art, and culture, write a new chapter at Bella Oaks that will ring out for generations to come and offer a path to those that follow.

Suzanne Deal Booth has led a life dedicated to the stewardship and preservation of art and culture. Her keen understanding of cultural heritage imbues her title as vintner with the dual roles guardian and visionary. Her singular dedication to realizing the highest potential for Bella Oaks guides her and the Bella Oaks team.

Woman and man standing next to mirror sculpture

The

Vineyard

The Vineyard

“There is little question that the soils here are special.”

Frank J. Prial
New York Times 1991

Between the vast expanse of the valley floor and the imposing heights of the Mayacamas Mountains sits a gentle, providential slope called the Rutherford Bench. This quiet corner birthed the valley’s first distinct terroir. With a wine-growing legacy dating back to the mid-19th century, Bella Oaks was at the forefront of Napa Valley’s earliest and most legendary single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons.

The vineyard’s future is plotted by one of the valley’s most attentive and renowned grape growers. David Abreu’s careful revitalization of Bella Oaks began in 2010 and continues alongside a conversion to organic and biodynamic farming with an emphasis on biodiversity.

The

Wines

The Wines

“A majestic and totally riveting wine.”

Antonio Galloni

Bella Oaks Proprietary Red Wine represents for the very first time the distinction of this historic site matched with the exacting standards of estate winemaking. Building upon a rich history 50 years in the making, this singular wine is the culmination of our decade of stewardship, revitalization, and discovery in this storied place.

Le Génie is a cabernet that foretells Bella Oaks' bright future. The fruit of a fastidious replanting of this historic vineyard, Le Génie offers the exuberance of young vines and a wine that does not demand cellaring. Ultimately, Le Génie is a tribute to both the hard working hands and the hand of fate that guide the destiny of Bella Oaks.

A site of such distinction requires an able winemaker, finely attuned to the true character of Bella Oaks. Nigel Kinsman’s winemaking track record is surpassed only by his commitment to craft wines of character and place. His intimacy with Bella Oaks forms the palette from which master blender Michel Rolland elevates the vintage to its final incarnation.

We warmly invite you to join our mailing list so that we may continue to share the journey of Bella Oaks with you. Thank you for visiting our virtual home and pausing for a moment to discover the past, present, and future of our beloved Bella Oaks.

The

Art

The Art

“I hope it’s a special encounter that they take with them when they leave.”

Suzanne Deal Booth

Art is often viewed indoors, in environments hushed and controlled. The vineyard landscape, with the sights and sounds of seasonal inflections and the imposing backdrop of the Mayacamas, is a dynamic setting in which to experience art. It is this enchanting and ever changing interplay between nature and art which forms a new chapter in Bella Oaks’ cultural legacy.

Bella Oaks is home to twelve site-specific works of art representing commissions, collaborations, and acquisitions of twelve artists from five countries. Each piece inhabits an intentional place. Some works draw you into moments of quiet repose while others cast themselves in stark relief to their natural surroundings.