Abreu Vineyards (Winemaking, Best Wines, Prices 2024)
Keen to add a bottle or two of Abreu Vineyards fine wine to your collection?
This esteemed Napa Valley winery focuses on single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon blends. Made using unique winemaking practices, Abreu wines have garnered worldwide acclaim and frequent 100-point scores by wine critics.
How is the Abreu Vineyards wine made? What makes it an exquisite wine to invest in?
In this article, you’ll discover more about this wine’s history, winemaking process, and which wines you should buy in 2024. You’ll also discover the simplest route to investing in this Napa wine.
Further reading
- Want to find out how to expand your wine portfolio? Here’s A Great Article On Wine Investing.
A Quick Intro to Abreu Vineyards
The Abreu Vineyards winery in Napa Valley, California was founded by viticulturist David Abreu in 1980. It released its first vintage to consumers in 1987.
Four varieties of Bordeaux grapes are used in their Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Merlot
- Petit Verdot
“Plush” and “opulent” best describe what you can expect when you take a sip of one of these Napa wines
Now, let’s jump into Abreu Vineyards’ fascinating past!
The History of Abreu Vineyards
David Abreu is a third-generation rancher and vineyard manager from St. Helena, California. He grew up in Rutherford and Napa was David Abreu’s playground.
In the late ‘70s, David spent a lot of time in Bordeaux, learning everything he could about producing French wine. He worked with many wine producers like:
- Harlan Estate
- Staglin Family Vineyard
- Colgin Cellars
- Bressler Vineyards
- Kalon Vineyard
- Blankiet Estate
- Araujo Estate Wines
- Sloan Estate
- Pahlmeyer Vineyards
- Bryant Family Vineyard
- Grace Family
- Inglenook Winery
After a degree in Viticulture, he founded David Abreu Vineyard Management Inc in 1980, following his father and grandfather in the business of vineyard farming.
He spent much of his adolescence working in Napa's original vineyards. As Napa Valley’s leading viticulturist, he also collaborated with famous Californian wineries like Screaming Eagle in Oakville.
He had a knack for growing grapes and acquired the Madrona Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. He made just a few barrels of wine in 1986, but did not release it for sale as the vintage was not good enough.
David’s first official vintage was released in 1987. He began leaving wine bottles for staff at restaurants around the valley, asking them to try it. If they liked it, they could reach out to buy it.
Abreu’s wines quickly rose to popularity - today it is a sought-after brand among wine connoisseurs worldwide.
Read more: Who said it has to be Sunday brunch to enjoy a classic cocktail? These Mimosaand Sangria recipes are great to use (and drink) anytime.
Abreu Vineyards Viticulture
Cumulatively, Abreu Vineyards owns nearly 70 acres of vineyards in Napa. These are the four vineyard plots:
1. Madrona Vineyard
1986 was the year David bought his first vineyard property — all 23 acres of the Madrona Vineyard. This beautiful vineyard site stretches from the eastern end of the Mayacamas mountains all the way to the Spring Mountain base.
2. Thorevilos Vineyard
David planted the Abreu Thorevilos vineyard (now known as Ecotone Vineyard) in 1990. Until 2019, he and Ric Forman (winemaker and co-founder of David’s business and Abreu Vineyards) managed the estate. It lies between St. Helena and Howell Mountain.
3. Capella
Capella is a 6-acre hilly parcel that’s close to St. Helena. First developed in 1869, Capella is one of the oldest vineyards in the Napa appellation.
4. Las Posadas Howell Mountain
This 18-acre vineyard sits on one of the highest elevations (2,000+ feet) in Howell Mountain, a part of the sub-appellation known as Las Posadas.
These vines and soils enjoy a rare micro-climate, thanks to the high altitude. This terroir includes a combination of volcanic stone, limestone, and red clay soil.
The elevation also puts the vineyard above the fog line. This is why the fruit can fully ripen, and its tannins are fine-grained — an achievement very difficult for mountain fruit.
The Vinification Process
Abreu Vineyards’ chef turned winemaker Brad Grimes can often be seen working hands-on in the cellar. The dynamic duo of David and Grimes continues to raise the bar with the best wines from Napa every year.
The winemaking process includes:
- Harvesting: The grapes are harvested early in the morning while the temperature is still cool. The fruit is sorted twice prior to fermentation.
- Fermentation: The different grape varieties ferment together (a rare practice in the winemaking world), with the berries preserved intact. After this, the wine goes through malolactic fermentation.
- Aging: The wine ages in 100% new French oak barrels for two years. After bottling, the wine stays for two more years at the wine house before being released for sale.
On average, Abreu Vineyards has a very limited production of about 500 cases of wine per year.
Also read: Delve into more delectable wine varieties like the delicious Malbec wine or the exquisite Champagne.
Abreu Vineyards Wines
The Abreu wines are refined, elegant, and balanced. They have ample amounts of ripe fruit and silky tannins.
The winery produces five different wines:
- Madrona Ranch: This blend consists of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon grape varietal, about 40% Cabernet Franc, and the rest is Merlot and Petit Verdot.
- Thorevilos: The Thorevilos blend is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, around 50% Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot with a hint of Merlot.
- Capella: This signature wine blend has about 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest being Cabernet Franc and some Petit Verdot.
- Las Posadas Howell Mountain: The Las Posadas wines are a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and a tiny portion of Petit Verdot.
- Rothwell Hyde: This wine is a blend of the fruit from the four vineyards.
Abreu Vineyards’ wines are a favorite among wine critics like Robert Parker. Robert Parker has given 100-point scores to nine Abreu Vineyards vintages.
The Artistic Abreu Vineyards Labels
The Abreu Vineyard labels are as splendid as the wines!
They include illustrations by Robert Swartley, a self-taught Master Engraver. After he passed away in 2016, his drawings were printed on 150-year-old printing presses for the Abreu bottles.
Read more: Hosting a dinner? Nail your table etiquette with this comprehensive guide to Champagne glasses.
How to Enjoy and Serve Abreu Vineyards Wine
A great wine like Abreu Vineyards deserves to be served impeccably. Pour it at 15 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) to retain its freshness.
Decant young vintages for about one to three hours, allowing for sufficient time to soften them and enhance their fragrance. Older vintages may need less decanting time, enough to remove the sediment.
What food do you pair Abreu Vineyards with?
Enjoy this red wine with flavorful classic meat dishes such as venison, beef, duck, pork, lamb, and roast chicken. Mature and hard cheeses also go well with this wine.
Further reading:
Find out more about Barbera d’Asti wine, Chianti wine, Rose wine, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling wines.
Now let’s explore Abreu Vineyards’ best vintages.
Best Abreu Vineyards Wines to Buy in 2024
We’ve picked some of the most exquisite Abreu Vineyards wines that you can buy in 2024.
1. 2013 Abreu Vineyard Las Posadas, Howell Mountain
Here we have an incredibly concentrated wine that’s invigorated with mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, and dark berries. This red wine is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, 12% Merlot, and 7% Malbec.
Price of 2013 Abreu Vineyard Las Posadas, Howell Mountain: $679
2. 2002 Abreu Vineyard 'Thorevilos' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
This full-bodied, complex wine has notes of barbeque smoke, incense, Christmas fruitcake, and an abundance of blue fruits. It’s delightfully textured with a sweet tannin that integrates the flavors together.
Price of 2002 Abreu Vineyard 'Thorevilos' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley: $1,033
3. 2016 Abreu Vineyard Cappella Proprietary Red, Napa Valley
This magnificent vintage is elegant, refined and has floral notes, iron shavings, and red fruit on the nose. On the palate, the silky texture elevates the flavors of plum and cherry.
Price of 2016 Abreu Vineyard Cappella Proprietary Red, Napa Valley: $643
4. 1997 Abreu Vineyard Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
This opulent California wine is concentrated with an aroma that engulfs you and flavors that hit all the sweet spots on your taste buds.
Black-purple in color, this vintage has flavors of blackberry, charred earth, mineral, creme de cassis accompanied by the aroma of smoked meat. With an intensity on the palate to match the scents, this wine is a definite must!
Price of 1997 Abreu Vineyard Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley: $868
5. 2013 Abreu Vineyard Howell Mountain Red, Napa Valley
On the nose, this inky purple-hued wine has sweet mulberry, deep graphite, burnt earth, wood, and charcoal aromas. This is accompanied by tasting notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, and black truffle.
Price of 2013 Abreu Vineyard Howell Mountain Red, Napa Valley: $665
6. 2010 Abreu Vineyard Rothwell Hyde Red, St Helena
Here, we have a dense, complex wine that’s a deep purple hue. It has notes of creamy white chocolate, deep incense, mocha, blackcurrants, and berries, along with aromas of oak and forest elements.
Price of 2017 Abreu Vineyard Rothwell Hyde Red, St Helena: $197
Read more: Try something different like the vibrant Chateauneuf du Pape, the exotic Zinfandel wine, or the luscious Barbera wine.
Why Abreu Vineyards Is a Good Investment Wine
Abreu Vineyards’ rich, complex Napa Valley wines have tremendous aging potential (between 30 and 50 years) and consistently high critics’ scores. This makes them the perfect investment wines to add to your portfolio.
Abreu wine is among the higher-priced ones from the Napa region. As for price appreciation, the 2014 vintage of Abreu Vineyard Las Posadas, Howell Mountain, has gone up by 8.4%, going from $559 in 2019 to $606 in 2021.
The 1991 Abreu Vineyards Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, saw a pricing increase of 31% from $226 in 2019 to $296 in 2021.
Abreu Vineyards is also popular at auctions. A magnum 2007 vintage of Abreu Vineyard Madrona Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon, sold for $868. At the same auction, a 750ml bottle of the 2014 vintage sold for $992.
Also read: Explore the fascinating world of Pinot Blanc wines!
So how should you go about purchasing these exceptional wines?
You can invest in prestigious wines like these in just a few minutes through Vinovest!
Invest in Abreu Vineyards and Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest
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- Fill out a questionnaire about your appetite for investment.
- Finance your account (you’d need a minimum of $1,000.)
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Abreu Vineyards: A Truly Worthy Investment
Any wine from Abreu Vineyards grabs you from the start. They’re complex, opulent, and delectable with extraordinary depth.
The masterful winemaking process coupled with excellent aging potential and price appreciation makes these wines ideal for any wine collector.
Now’s the time to sign up and build your portfolio through Vinovest. So, what are you waiting for? The fascinating world of wine awaits you!
