Sculpted by Centuries Our Legacy of Napa Valley’s Ancient Soils
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.
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