Exclusive Announcement: Trinchero Family Estates and David Abreu Collaborate on New Napa Wine Venture Chris Lehoux, March 28, 2024 Cabernet grapes from all four of Abreu’s Napa vineyards will go into a new brand for Trinchero’s luxury portfolio Wine Spectator has learned that famed Napa grapegrower David Abreu and Trinchero Family Estates (TFE) have agreed to partner on a new wine brand in the TFE portfolio using grapes grown from Abreu’s four Napa Valley vineyards. The deal links one of Napa’s top names in vineyards with one of its most respected companies. Abreu is a third-generation farmer who founded Abreu Vineyards in 1980. He also consults on grapegrowing for some of the wine world’s top brands, planting and farming vineyards for names including Spottswoode, Harlan and Bryant. With Brad Grimes in charge of winemaking since 2005, Abreu’s own wines have garnered multiple scores of 95 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s 100-point scale. “[This] is a big deal for us,” TFE’s CEO Bob Torkelson told Wine Spectator. TFE has been acquiring grapes from Abreu since 2021 and incorporating them into the Trinchero Napa Valley wine program. Torkelson believes the Trinchero and Abreu families are both “Napa stalwarts” that have been developing a mutual respect for a decade. Abreu is considered a critical component of the Heritage Division, TFE’s recently introduced luxury wine collection. They anticipate unveiling this new label utilizing the 2024 vintage grapes. Torkelson emphasizes the importance of the fruit and applauds David’s attention to detail in the vineyard. TFE is amongst the world’s biggest family-managed wine businesses, with over 50 wine and spirits labels. The company was established in 1948 by Italian immigrant Mario Trinchero, who relocated from New York City to Napa Valley and bought an forsaken Prohibition-era winery named Sutter Home in St. Helena. Presently, Trinchero Napa Valley, Napa Cellars, and Neyers Vineyards are among its Napa wineries. In addition, it owns Ménage à Trois, collaborates with Joel Gott Wines, and imports brand names like Famiglia Cotarella, Ceretto, Bodegas Terras Gauda, and Echo Bay. Abreu controls four Napa Valley Cabernet vineyards—Madrona Ranch, Thorevilos, Cappella, and Las Posadas—all located between St. Helena and Howell Mountain, with a total of 85 cultivated acres. In 2021, TFE bought grapes from Las Posadas, which were vinified by TFE winemaker Landon Donley. Torkelson mentioned that Abreu was impressed with what Landon produced. For TFE, obtaining produce from these vineyards was the “first phase.” The subsequent steps includes developing a brand name, a shared vision, and a wine style. The current objective is to make a single wine, though this could evolve. Abreu and Grimes will provide consultation on this new venture, with Donley serving as the winemaker. Donley has also recently introduced the Quattro Theory wine range for TFE. The Abreu Vineyards wines will not be incorporated into the TFE collection and will continue to be overseen by Abreu. “This is very exciting,” said Abreu in a statement. “We look forward to partnering with the Trincheros, who have been so committed and engaged within the Napa Valley.” Stay on top of important wine stories with Wine Spectator‘s free Breaking News Alerts. About the Author: Chris Lehoux Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored! Wine