Opus One Winery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Opus One Winery |
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| Location | Oakville, California, USA |
| Appellation | Oakville AVA |
| Founded | 1978 |
| First vintage | 1979 |
| Key people | Robert Mondavi co-founder; Philippine de Rothschild, co-owner; Michael Silacci, Winemaker |
| Parent company | BPhR, Constellation Brands |
| Cases/yr | 25,000 |
| Known for | Opus One |
| Varietals | Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot |
| Tasting | by appointment |
Opus One Winery is a famous place in Oakville, California, where special wines are made. It was started by two very important people: Baron Philippe de Rothschild from France and Robert Mondavi from California. Their goal was to create a unique wine that mixed old European styles with new American ones.
For a short time, the wine was called "napamedoc," but in 1982, it got its well-known name, Opus One. The winery is located right across the road from the Robert Mondavi Winery. When it was first created in 1980, it was big news in the wine world. Baron Rothschild's involvement helped the Napa Valley wine region become more respected.
The very first wine from Opus One was made in 1979. It was released in 1984, at the same time as the 1980 wine. For a while, Opus One was the most expensive wine from California. Even today, it is still one of the most costly red wines made in the Napa Valley. In 1989, a brand new winery building was constructed. The first wine made in this new building was from 1991 and came out in 1994.
Since 1993, Opus One has also made a second wine called Overture.
How Opus One Started
The idea for Opus One wine began in 1970. Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild met for the first time in Hawaii. They started talking about working together to blend old and new wine styles. This partnership was officially announced in 1980. However, the two men had been planning the winery since the early 1970s.
The very first wine was made in 1979. The grapes came from Mondavi's To Kalon Vineyard in the Oakville AVA. In 1980, Mondavi sold 35 acres of this vineyard to the new company. These grapes became the main part of the Opus One wine blend. The first wine made from this specific vineyard section was released in 1985.
Between 1989 and 1991, the winery built its large limestone building in Oakville. This building has become a famous landmark in the Napa Valley. In the 1990s, Opus One became one of the first special California wines to be sold widely in Asia and Europe.
After a company called Constellation Brands took over Robert Mondavi winery in 2004, Baron Rothschild's family made an agreement. They worked with Constellation Brands to manage the marketing, vineyards, and daily operations of Opus One Winery.
The Winery Building
Even though Opus One's first wine was made in 1979, the actual winery building started construction ten years later. It was built right in front of the Mondavi winery. The building was designed by an architect named Scott Johnson. He wanted the winery to look like it was part of the natural landscape of the valley. It also has a classic and elegant look.
The winery building is located above a high water table. This made digging the foundations very tricky. The soil around the winery is naturally warmed by underground hot springs.
The winery owns 108 acres of grapevines. There are about 2,200 grapevines planted in each acre of land.
