Screaming Eagle

Screaming Eagle is an American winery located in Oakville, north of the city of Napa in the Napa Valley (California). It is especially famous for its very rare, limited production Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

History of Screaming Eagle

This winery was founded in 1986 by Jean Phillips, who sold grapes to several Napa Valley wineries. She purchased the 57-acre Oakville vineyard in 1986, which was planted with a mix of varieties, most of which were sold to various Napa wineries, except for 80 vines of Cabernet Sauvignon. For this one acre of Cabernet, Philips solicited the opinions of Robert Mondavi Winery employees on the commercial potential of its wine before hiring Richard Peterson as a consultant, and then met with Peterson's daughter, Heidi Peterson Barrett, who became Screaming Eagle's first winemaker. The entire vineyard was replanted in 1995 with three grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The 1992 vintage, released in 1995, through a combination of very low production numbers and very positive reviews, made Screaming Eagle one of the most celebrated and expensive wines in the Napa. In 1992, she released the first vintage Screaming Eagle wine. On March 17, 2006, the estate was sold to Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks. The new owners had exciting plans to keep the vineyard small, but raise the bar in terms of quality. In April 2009, Charles Banks left Screaming Eagle, leaving Stan Kroenke as the sole owner.

Production of Screaming Eagle

Screaming Eagle's production is rare, with a strong focus on quality. The vineyard is relatively small and the team takes a practical and precise approach to every aspect of winemaking. The vineyards extend over 48.21 acres (19.51 ha), planted with the varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Sauvignon blanc. The vineyards are managed by David Abreu Vineyard Management and cared for by Jorge Delgado and his team. In 2006, 34 hectares were replanted. Annual production ranges from 400 to 750 cases (between 5,000 and 9,000 bottles of 750 ml). The winemakers are Nick Gislason, Robert Black and Michel Rolland. Screaming Eagle is known for its extremely limited production, typically producing only a few hundred cases of wine per year. This limited availability has contributed to its reputation as one of the most exclusive and sought-after wineries in the world. This producer's Cabernet Sauvignon are highly praised for their exceptional quality, complexity and depth. Their reviews from wine critics are almost always excellent and the wines are considered among the finest wines produced in Napa Valley. The rarity and quality of Screaming Eagle wines make them among the most expensive in the world. They are often sold through allocation to a select group of customers, and prices on the secondary market can be exorbitantly high.