The story of Lithology dates back centuries with soils rich in volcanic rock, ash, and Napa history. Situated at the base of Howell Mountain, the property at the Lithology Estate was part of the historic 1841 Rancho Carne Humana land grant. Gradually, the land was divided and in 1860, our 13-acre parcel was sold to prominent Napa blacksmith John Howell, for whom Howell Mountain is named.
While the land had many uses over the years, vines were first planted here in 1975 by Jim and Nina Talcott. They constructed a stone winery to vinify the property’s grapes and this winery later served as the “Founders Room” for the wine portfolio of H. William Harlan, including the founding location of Promontory Wine and the first vintages of The Napa Valley Reserve.
When international vintner Alejandro Bulgheroni purchased the estate from the Harlan Family in 2014, he knew it was a textbook environment for cultivating world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Bulgheroni, who entered into the wine industry in 2007, brought a lifetime of studying land and soil as an oil and gas engineer to the site. He founded Lithology with the approach to let the wines be an authentic representation of place.
In addition to crafting wine from the estate, Bulgheroni wanted to highlight the diverse microclimates and unique topography throughout Napa Valley. He recognized the undeniable quality of fruit from the Beckstoffer Vineyards and began sourcing from these coveted vineyards for single-vineyard expressions within the Lithology portfolio. Today, Lithology honors its rich history while continuously advancing Napa Valley winemaking, producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroirs of esteemed vineyards in Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena.
Distinguished by its mineral-rich volcanic soils and unique topography, the terroir of the Lithology Estate vineyard allows the grapes to mature slowly and develop the complex secondary and tertiary flavors coveted by wine connoisseurs worldwide. Certified organic and situated at the base of Howell Mountain and the Vaca Mountain Range, this vineyard produces wines characterized by depth, structured firm tannins, and longevity suitable for extensive cellaring.
Located at the base of the western hills in St. Helena, this celebrated vineyard was first planted in 1858 by Dr. George Belden Crane. The vines here are vigorous with extensive leaf coverage as they thrive in the rocky terrain and gravelly loam soils. Producing wines of unparalleled quality and uniqueness, this vineyard is a testament to the excellence of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Named for the rocks and pebbles that lie within the rich alluvial soil, the Las Piedras Vineyard shares a history with our Estate vineyard as they were both part of the Rancho Carne Humana land grant. The vineyard is situated at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains and provides a lot of drainage and high stress for the vines, challenging them for vigor and producing fruit of incredible concentration and vibrancy.
First planted in 1868, To Kalon is one of the finest “Grand Cru” vineyards in the world. Our wines are crafted from the heart of this iconic vineyard where the vines grow slower and provide a full canopy every year. Influenced by the cooler conditions and longer hang time, the harvest is usually around two weeks later than our other vineyards. These wines are celebrated for their extraordinary depth and exquisite character.
At Lithology, we believe that the whole is invariably greater than the sum of its parts, a philosophy that permeates every aspect of our winemaking process. It is with this guiding principle that our esteemed team of winemakers collaborates. Winemaking maestros Matt Sands and Mark Pittman oversee the day-to-day artistry at our stone winery in St. Helena. Working alongside them, a cadre of consulting winemakers — Michel Rolland, Philippe Melka, and Maayan Koschitzky — lend their world-renowned expertise, ensuring every drop of Lithology wine exudes unmatched elegance, depth, and balance.
Embracing over 15 years of winemaking from New Zealand to California, Matt Sands focuses on the pure expression of terroir in each of his wines. Matt first came to California through snowboarding but his love of winemaking soon followed. He joined Lithology in 2015 and brought along international experience at Passage Rock Winery, Man O’ War, and Stonyridge Vineyard in New Zealand and harvests at Screaming Eagle and Bryant Estate.
Mark Pittman, our indispensable assistant winemaker, seamlessly blends dedication and hard work, evolving from the cellar to stand among the world’s winemaking elite. His journey is a testament to his commitment to learning and passion for winemaking, elevating the wines of Lithology with his meticulous attention to detail.
Michel Rolland began consulting in 1985 and has worked with hundreds of wineries on four continents, helping to create scores of successful wines. A luminary in the winemaking sphere, Michel combines old-world techniques with new-world innovation. Known as the pioneering “flying winemaker,” his philosophy emphasizes lush structures and ripe fruit profiles, setting the bar for contemporary winemaking. His remarkable contributions to Napa Valley’s modern winemaking narrative reflect his unparalleled understanding of vinification.
Philippe Melka would be the first to tell you that soil primarily influenced his career. With his roots in Bordeaux, Melka marries French winemaking traditions with cutting-edge techniques, creating wines renowned for their depth and complexity. Since 1995, he has been putting his stamp on Napa Valley’s wine industry, spearheading the programs for some of the region’s most revered wineries while garnering a list of accolades and 100-point scores along the way.
Maayan has amassed an impressive winemaking resume spanning from the vineyards of Israel to Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle here in Napa Valley. Serving alongside Philippe Melka since 2014, Maayan’s multidimensional role includes not only winemaking but also orchestrating winery development for clients, leveraging his engineering background and diverse experience to refine and elevate every facet of Lithology’s vinicultural journey.