Jarvis Estate, Napa

Perched 1,200 feet above the city of Napa, in the mountains bordering the valley’s east side, Jarvis Estate is the world’s first entirely subterranean winery. Founded by William and Leticia Jarvis, who planted their first vines in 1986, the estate was built with the vision of producing world-class wines in a setting that combines nature, innovation, and craftsmanship. Today, their son, Will Jarvis, along with winemaker Scott Morrison, continues this legacy of excellence.

At the heart of the estate lies a 45,000-square-foot cave, a remarkable feat of engineering that houses the entire winemaking process-from the moment grapes are harvested to the extended bottle aging. Traditionally, wineries use caves for barrel storage due to their consistent temperature and humidity, but Jarvis Estate broke new ground by incorporating every stage of production inside the cave. This vision was realized with the help of a geotechnical engineer and advanced computational modeling from the University of California, Berkeley.

Jarvis Estate cultivates just 37 of its 1,320 acres, selecting prime vineyard sites with high elevation, volcanic soils, and a cooling maritime influence for optimal grape development. Nestled between Mount George and Milliken Canyon, the vineyards produce intensely flavored fruit, leading to complex, well-structured wines. Known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, the estate also crafts small lots of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Tempranillo-all from hand-harvested, estate-grown grapes. Vinified in its cave and aged for up to a decade, each vintage is released only when deemed ready by the family-led winemaking team.

Visitors to Jarvis Estate can explore its vast cave winery on an exclusive 1.5-hour tour, featuring the Cuve Gallery’s oak fermentation vessels and an underground waterfall for climate control. The tour ends with a tasting of six limited-access wines from the Estate and Reserve Collection, available only to Inner Circle members and visitors. Renowned for its unique subterranean setting and dedication to quality, Jarvis Estate offers a standout Napa Valley experience for wine enthusiasts.