Regusci Winery

Regusci Winery sits on one of the most historically significant pieces of land in the Stags Leap District, a property that has been in continuous agricultural use since 1878 when Gaetano Regusci, an Italian immigrant, established a cattle and horse ranch on the Silverado Trail. The transition from ranch to vineyard happened gradually over the following century, and the Regusci family officially launched their winery in 1996, making wines from vines that had been quietly growing on the property for decades. The original stone building from the 1870s still stands and houses the tasting room, one of the most authentic historic structures in the valley.

The estate encompasses 200 acres on the Silverado Trail, with vineyards in both the Stags Leap District and the broader Napa Valley appellation. The property's terroir reflects the Stags Leap District's volcanic origins, with well-drained soils that produce Cabernet of the district's signature elegance and structure. The estate also includes some of the last remaining Zinfandel vines in the Stags Leap District, a variety that was widely planted before Cabernet became the appellation's dominant grape.

Winemaker Rich Trombetta produces a portfolio that honors the estate's diverse agricultural history. The Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship, showing the dark fruit, silky tannins, and mineral complexity that define the appellation's finest wines. The estate Merlot is plush and aromatic, and the old-vine Zinfandel preserves a piece of the Stags Leap District's pre-Cabernet identity. The Angelo J. Regusci Cabernet, a reserve bottling named after the family patriarch, represents the best lots of each vintage.

The tasting room in the 1878 stone building is one of the most atmospheric in the valley, with thick stone walls, original wooden beams, and a sense of history that no new construction can replicate. The outdoor patio overlooks the estate vineyard and the dramatic palisades that define the Stags Leap District skyline. Tastings are welcoming and personal, with the staff sharing the family's four-generation story alongside the wines. At $55, the experience offers authentic Stags Leap District wine and history at a fair price.

Regusci's importance lies in the continuity it represents. While many Stags Leap District properties have changed hands multiple times, the Regusci family has been on this land for nearly 150 years. The old stone building, the family stories, and the wines that emerge from soil that has been farmed by the same family for generations create an experience that connects visitors to the valley's agricultural past in a way that few other wineries can match.