Napa Valley’s acclaimed Chappellet winery is excited to announce that it has been invited to become a Relais & Châteaux Preferred Partner. With this honor, Chappellet becomes the first American winery to be invited to become a Preferred Partner and joins an exclusive list of some of the world’s top wineries to be named a Relais & Châteaux Preferred Partner.
Why Chappellet is the perfect Relais & Châteaux Partner
Established in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association of over 580 hotels and restaurants around the world operated by independent innkeepers, chefs, and owners who share a passion for excellence and a desire for authenticity in their relationships with their clientele.
Preferred Partners are selected based on their shared values with Relais & Châteaux and their ability to provide unique and unforgettable experiences in their signature areas of expertise.
Founded in 1967 by vintners Donn and Molly Chappellet, Chappellet was the second post-Prohibition winery established in the Napa Valley. Inspired by the notion that “Bacchus loves the hills,” the Chappellet family settled on Pritchard Hill in the eastern mountains of Napa Valley, where they became some of the earliest pioneers of high-elevation vineyard planting.
Though grapes grown above 1,000 feet represent only about 3% of total production in California, mountain-grown wines represent a significant portion of the most sought-after wines in America. Chappellet’s mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignons from Pritchard Hill are globally recognized as benchmarks for their region, having received multiple 100-point scores and glowing comparisons to the First Growths of Bordeaux from top wine critics.
Chappellet has partnered with a number of Relais & Châteaux properties in North America over the past decade, hosting curated weekends for their collectors at prestigious properties that include Triple Creek Ranch in Montana, The Wauwinet in Nantucket, Massachusetts, Planters Inn in Charleston, South Carolina and Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley, California.
What does the invitation mean for Chapellet?
Commenting on the Relais & Châteaux honor, Cyril Chappellet, the second-generation President and Chairman of Chappellet, said, “As a multigeneration, family-owned-and-operated winery that shares Relais & Châteaux’s values and passion for excellence, we are thrilled to build on our relationship with Relais & Châteaux as a Preferred Partner.”
“Since 1967, our family’s winery on Pritchard Hill has been dedicated to crafting world-class, mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Like each Relais & Châteaux property, we strive for perfection in everything we do, from the meticulous way we organically farm our vineyard to the deep and enduring bonds we forge with our customers,” added Cyril Chappellet.
“Over the years, we have enjoyed remarkable relationships with many Relais & Châteaux owners and properties in North America. We look forward to building on these strong connections as we grow our presence around the globe,” added Cyril Chappellet.
What is the Relais & Châteaux members’ take?
Molly Smith, General Manager of Triple Creek Ranch, said, “I have worked with Chappellet at multiple Relais & Châteaux properties for the last 15 years. The history, familiarity, and elegance that the winery has carried through to the guests has elevated experiences.”
David Fink, the proprietor of Relais & Châteaux property L’Auberge Carmel, said, “Over half a century ago, Donn Chappellet left his corporate life in Los Angeles to find one of the most idyllic places to raise a family and become a wine grower. Today, the Chappellet family carries Donn’s vision forward and has created some of the most special wines made in California.”
As a Preferred Partner, Chappellet will be hosting special “Collectors’ Weekends” for Relais & Châteaux members and Chappellet collectors at Relais & Châteaux properties across North America in 2023. The winery will also be developing ways to engage with Relais & Châteaux members and its global association, including vintner dinners, tasting events, wine education experiences, and the expansion of Chappellet’s “Collectors’ Weekends” into Europe and Asia.
