Remembering Donn Chappellet

Donn Chappellet, one of Napa Valley’s true pioneers, passed away on May 22 at 84. Inspired by the great wines of Bordeaux he admired so deeply, Chappellet found his true calling atop Napa Valley’s Pritchard Hill, a region whose potential he was the first to champion. Sadly, I never met Donn Chappellet, I only knew him from his wines, Cabernets that remain among my personal favorites.

Donn and Molly Chappellet bought the core of their hillside estate in 1967 on the advice of André Tchelistcheff. Two years later, a young Philip Togni made Chappellet’s 1969 Cabernet Sauvignon, which went on to establish itself as one of the truly iconic, legendary wines of Napa Valley. A succession of talented winemakers followed, including Tony Soter, Mia Klein, Cathy Corison and Phililp Corallo-Titus, all of whom cut their teeth at the large, barn-like winery that was built in 1967 and is still in use.