Futo Estate

Futo Estate is one of the most meticulously farmed properties in the Stags Leap District, a 40-acre estate where the precision of the viticulture borders on the obsessive and the resulting wines reflect that extraordinary level of care. Founded in 2004 by Tom and Kyle Futo, the estate was built on the belief that the Stags Leap District's volcanic terroir could produce wines rivaling the greatest Bordeaux, but only if every vine received individual attention. The Futos hired a full-time team of vineyard workers whose sole job is to tend the 40 acres, a ratio of labor to land that few estates in the world can match.

The 40-acre vineyard sits on the volcanic soils that define the Stags Leap District, backed by the dramatic palisades that trap afternoon heat and create the microclimate responsible for the appellation's signature combination of power and elegance. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon with supporting blocks of Sauvignon Blanc, and the farming employs a level of precision that extends to measuring individual vine canopy size and adjusting crop loads accordingly. The result is fruit of remarkable uniformity and concentration, harvested at precisely the right moment from every block.

Winemaker Ruben Solorzano works with this extraordinary fruit to produce Cabernets of seamless polish and power. The estate Cabernet is dense and layered, with the silky tannins and dark fruit that the Stags Leap District is known for, enhanced by a mineral depth that reflects the volcanic soils. The Sauvignon Blanc, from the estate's coolest blocks, is a wine of surprising elegance and complexity. Total production is limited, and the wines are available primarily through the mailing list and select fine wine retailers.

Tastings at Futo are by appointment only and limited to very small groups, reflecting the estate's commitment to exclusivity and quality in every interaction. The experience includes a tour of the vineyard, where the precision farming practices are visible and palpable, followed by a seated tasting of current and library vintages. The attention to detail extends to the hospitality, with every aspect of the visit calibrated to enhance the tasting experience. The $175 fee reflects the estate's positioning among the Stags Leap District's most exclusive producers.

Futo represents the extreme end of precision viticulture, a place where no detail is too small to merit attention and no expense is spared in pursuit of the perfect grape. The wines that emerge from this level of care are among the most polished and complete Cabernets in the Stags Leap District, and they justify the obsession that produces them. For visitors who believe that great wine begins with great farming, Futo is the ultimate expression of that philosophy.